Visual Outcomes and Identification of Static/Dynamic Military Targets After Wavefront-Guided and Wavefront-Optimized LASIK
Purpose
To determine the visual outcomes and the ability to identify static and dynamic targets of military interest after WFG and WFO LASIK.
Methods
26 myopic military personnel (mean age 30.7±5.4 years) were randomized to undergo either WFG (n=12) or WFO femtosecond LASIK (n=14). WFG treatments were performed using CustomVue STAR S4 IR and WFO with Wavelight Allegretto Wave EyeQ laser systems. Manifest refraction, uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (UDVA and CDVA) were assessed preop and at 6 months (M) postop. Performance in discriminating objects of military interest using probability of identification (PID) of the two target sets was assessed preop with correction and 6M postop without correction. A Fisher exact test compared visual outcomes and military tasks between groups; P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Mean study population manifest spherical equivalent (MSE) was -3.73 ± 1.42 diopters. At 6M postop, all eyes (100%) that underwent either WFG or WFO LASIK achieved UDVA of 20/20 or better. MSE within 0.5 diopters of emmetropia was maintained in 80.0% WFG versus 63.6% WFO LASIK (P=0.32). There were no losses of more than 2 lines of CDVA. For military vehicle identification, 6 of 7 WFG LASIK and 9 of 9 WFO LASIK participants performed equivalent to or better than preop performance (P=0.44) at 6M postop. For discriminating handheld objects, 6 of 7 WFG LASIK and 9 of 9 WFO LASIK subjects maintained or improved performance (P=0.44) at 6M postop.
Conclusion
Vision correction using either WFG or WFO LASIK leads to excellent refractive outcomes. Military task performances, such as vehicle and handheld object identification, appear to benefit from either treatment, by maintaining or improving performance.