Comparison of Corneal and Aberrometric Changes After Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction and LASIK
Purpose
To compare the visual, refractive and corneal changes, in Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Methods
A prospective, comparative, non randomized study. Patients were treated for myopia and myopic astigmatism divided into two groups in a 6 month follow-up. One group had LASIK with ML7 (Med-Logics) microkeratome and MEL 80, (Carl Zeiss) excimer laser, the second group had SMILE using Visumax (Carl Zeiss) femtosecond laser. Parameters included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent and Scheimpflug images to assess corneal changes with regard to curvature, elevation, asphericity and aberrations.
Results
There was not a significant change in the mean keratometric power of the posterior surface at the 6-month follow-up (p = 0.642). The mean posterior corneal elevation between groups at 4mm and 6mm was not significant (p = 0.321 and p = 0.657 respectively). The positive shift in anterior corneal higher order and spherical aberrations between groups was not significant (LASIK group p = 0.232; SMILE group p = 0.272). A significant anterior positive change in asphericity (Q-value) was observed in both groups (p = 0.001).
Conclusion
Overall corneal outcomes in patients that underwent the SMILE procedure were similar to those previously reported for LASIK.