Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of conventional and wave front guided (WFG) EpiLASIK with a 500 Hz Excimer Laser System.
Methods: :
278 consecutive eyes of 201 patients (mean age 35,3±17,4 years) with mild to moderate myopia (mean SE –4,27 D ± 2,61 D) that underwent conventional (conv.) EpiLASIK and 58 consecutive eyes of 44 patients (mean age 33±23,3 years) with myopia (mean SE –3,54 D ± 1,97 D) that underwent wave front guided (WFG) EpiLASIK were included in the study. An epithelial flap with a nasal hinge was generated using an EpiLASIK Keratome (EpiTome, Gebauer, Germany). Photoablation was performed with a Wavelight Concept 500 Excimer Laser (Wavelight, Erlangen, Germany). After photoablation the epithelial flap was repositioned and secured with a soft bandage contact lens (Pure Vision, Bausch & Lomb). 3 days after surgery the contact lens was removed.
Postoperative outcomes included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle–corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and spherical equivalent refractions (SE).
Results: :
At 4 weeks, 41,5% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK, and 66,0% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after WFG EpiLASIK, while 95,3% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK and 94,0% achieved 20/40 or better in the WFG group. SE was –0,01D±0,86D and 0,07D±0,64D, respectively. 70,9% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA and 97,8% achieved 20/40 or better BSCVA after conventional EpiLASIK, while 86,7% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA and 100,0% achieved 20/40 or better BSCVA after WFG EpiLASIK.
At 3 months, 61,0% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK and 67,2% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after WFG EpiLASIK. 97,9% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK and 100,0% achieved 20/40 or better in the WFG group. SE was 0,00D±0,56D and –0,03D±0,56D, respectively.
82,8% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA and 100,0% achieved 20/40 or better BSCVA after conv. EpiLASIK, while 100,0% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA after WFG EpiLASIK.
At 6 months, 65,6% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK and 70,0% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA after WFG EpiLASIK, while 98,8% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA after conv. EpiLASIK and 100,0% achieved 20/40 or better in the WFG group. SE was 0,11D±0,69D and 0,13D±0,41D, respectively.
85,0% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA and 100,0% achieved 20/40 or better BSCVA after conv. EpiLASIK, while 100,0% achieved 20/20 or better BSCVA after WFG EpiLASIK.
Conclusions: :
Both conventional and wave front guided EpiLASIK are safe and effective procedures for the correction of mild to moderate myopia.