Visual and refractive outcomes following myopic laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy with a flying-spot excimer laser

PurposeTo investigate the visual and refractive outcomes following laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) surgery with a flying-spot excimer laser.SettingPrivate practice, Ireland.DesignCase series.MethodsIn this prospective study, the mean manifest spherical equivalent (SE), sphere, and cylinder were measured preoperatively. All eyes had LASEK surgery with an aberration-free algorithm with the Schwind Amaris excimer laser. Outcomes measured at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction, corrected distance visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, aberrometry, and complications. Accuracy, efficacy, and safety were evaluated at 1 year.ResultsPreoperatively, the mean SE, sphere, and cylinder in the 80 eyes (48 patients) were −3.58 diopters (D) ± 2.00 (SD), −3.23 ± 1.93 D, and −0.85 ± 0.65 D, respectively. One year postoperatively, the mean SE was −0.00 ± 0.22 D; 57 eyes (71%) were within −0.13 to +0.13 D of the SE, and 71 eyes (98%) were within ±0.50 D. The mean UDVA was −0.06 ± 0.07 logMAR, with an efficacy index of 1.04. The postoperative SE was stable between 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year. One eye (1%) had a change in SE by more than 0.50 D at 6 months and 1 year. There were no statistically significant differences in any aberrations at 1 year. The contrast sensitivity improved from 1.66 ± 0.17 log units preoperatively to 1.72 ± 0.15 log units at 1 month postoperatively (P=.0003), which was unchanged at 6 months and 1 year.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the effectiveness of LASEK for the treatment of myopia with this flying-spot excimer laser.Financial DisclosureNo author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.