Comparison of SMILE and FS-LASIK Corneal Procedures

LVC was performed by the same experienced operator (LH). The VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) was utilized during the SMILE procedure. It involved removing a stromal lenticule, with a 110 µm-thick cap. For FS-LASIK, the lamellar flap with a superior hinge was created by a femtosecond laser (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, Port, Switzerland). The maximum thickness ranged from 90 to 110 µm. Tissue ablation was then performed using an Amaris 750 Hz excimer laser (Schwind eye-tech-solutions, Kleinostheim, Germany). Both groups received one drop of tobramycin/dexamethasone (Tobradex) shortly after surgery. A bandage contact lens (Oasys; Johnson & Johnson Vision, Santa Ana, USA) was placed on the cornea after FS-LASIK surgery. Sodium hyaluronate 0.1% (Hylo-comod) and topical fluorometholone 0.1% were then used 4 times a day for one week. The fluorometholone dosage was tapered each subsequent week until termination one month, while the Hylo-comod dosage remained unaltered.