Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare and determine the safety, efficacy and predictability of LASIK surgery performed by residents in myopic and hyperopic patients. Methods: Two Senior residents experienced in cataract surgery were randomly chosen for training in LASIK surgery. They underwent three levels of LASIK training (theory, practice in animal eyes and assistance to experienced surgeon) before they were enrolled in the study. Pre-treatment and six month post-operative data from 100 eyes of 50 consecutive patients who had bilateral LASIK surgery for myopia (-1.00 D to -20.00D) and hyperopia (+1.00 D to + 5.00 D) were analyzed. To evaluate and compare the statistical results between the resident (R) and the LASIK experienced surgeon (S). The patient eyes were randomly assigned and one eye was treated by the resident and the fellow eye by the surgeon. Surgical and postoperative complications were examined. Results: At three months no significant difference was seen in BCVA among groups. The proportions of patients with an UCVA of 20/20 or better and 20/40 or better in low-moderate myopia group were 88.88 %, 11.11 % (S) and 85.18 %, 14.81 % (R), in high-extreme myopia group 53.84 %, 46.15 % (S) and 46.15 %, 53.84 % (R). No significant differences were seen in the hyperopic group, 70 %, 30 % (S) and 60 %,40 % (R). After 3 months the percent of myopic eyes within 1 D of emmetropia was 93.75% (S) and 90 % (R) while in hyperopic eyes they were 95% vs 90%. The rate of intra-operative microkeratome related complications and early post-operative complications were 0% and 2% (S), and 6%, 12% (R). Conclusion: The results indicate that with the proper training and supervision, residents can obtain an acceptably low complication rate and satisfactory refractive outcomes when compared with the rate of experienced surgeons.
Keywords: 548 refractive surgery: LASIK • 546 refractive surgery: comparative studies • 455 learning