The 109 consecutive patients enrolled in the study underwent uncomplicated primary bilateral LASIK performed by the same surgeon (AJK) using the same refractive surgery platform (WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser and WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser; Alcon Laboratories, Ft Worth, TX, USA), between September 2009 and September 2010.
Preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was between 0.00 and −8.00 diopters (D), and up to 4.25 D of cylinder refractive error.
Exclusion criteria for the LASIK operation were: systemic or ocular diseases, eyes with history of corneal dystrophy or herpetic eye disease, topographic evidence of keratoconus (as evidenced by Placido topography) or warpage from contact lenses, corneal scaring, glaucoma, severe dry eye, and collagen vascular diseases. The average flap thickness (planned 110 μm) was 107 ± 5 μm. The average flap diameter (planned 8.00 mm) was 7.95 ± 0.05 mm. Flap thickness was measured by subtracting the central cornea pachymetry, measured with the EX500 following flap creation, from the central cornea pachymetry, measured preoperatively with the WaveLight Oculyzer™ II diagnostic device (Alcon Laboratories) (with integrated Scheimpflug topography camera) and the WaveLight OB820 biometer (Alcon Laboratories) that were both integrated within the platform.17 (link)
All eyes were evaluated preoperatively for best corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and postoperatively for uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). Preoperative evaluations included wavefront analysis, pupillometry, and contrast sensitivity. Postoperative examination included manifest and dilated refraction, slit-lamp microscopy, tonometry, and keratometry, by means of corneal topography and tomography assessment.
Postoperative follow-up examinations were conducted at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Data processed in this study represent the 3-, 6-, and 12-month visits.
Data were loaded and processed using web-based refractive analysis software (IBRA Ophthalmic Outcome Analysis System; Zubisoft GmbH, Oberhasli, Switzerland).18 (link)