Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, predictability, stability and complications of femtosecond laser corneal small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedure for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients (88 eyes) with myopia and myopic astigmatism were chosen to be performed SMILE procedure randomly. These patients were followed up at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively and were examined for uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal topography. The results were analyzed with paired-t test, independent-samples t test and regression analysis.
Results: SMILE procedure was performed well in all patients, only 3 cases (3 eyes, 3.4%) suffered from the suction loss, 14 cases (26 eyes, 29.5%) developed opaque bubble layer. All patients gained perfect UCVA (20/20), no eye had decrease of BCVA. The residual spherical equivalent was (-0.11 ± 0.29) D, the astigmatism was (0.01 ± 0.33) D 3 months postoperatively. The incidence of diffuse lamellar keratitis and haze was low, and no other complications were observed. The IOP was decreased slightly after 1 month(t = 6.238, P < 0.05), but no changes after 3 months (t = 0.053, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The SMILE procedure is good at the safety, efficacy, predictability and stability for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.