Lasik

Take-Home Message

Data from the ongoing LASIK in U.S Naval

Aviator Study allow analyses of the benefits

of advances in femtosecond laser technology

and use of iris registration on the outcomes

of myopic LASIK. The results show statisticaliy

significant and ciinically relevant improvements

in quality and quantity of vision.

The group that had flap creation with the 60-

kHz femtosecond laser was treated from July

2008 to January 2009 and included 136 eyes

with a mean MRSE of -2.75 D (range -0.43 to

-8.62 D); 85 (62,5%) eyes had an IR-enabled

excimer laser ablation. The 150-kHz femtosecond

laser was used in 155 subsequently enrolled

patients with myopia whose mean MRSE

was -2.59 D (range -0,34 to -6.64 D); 112 eyes

(72,3%) had an IR-enabled procedure,

"The 150-kHz femtosecond laser creates a

smoother stromal bed and this undoubtedly

contributes to the higher IR capture rate," Dr,

Tanzer said,

UCVA outcomes

UCVA outcomes were excellent overall, with

100% of eyes achieving 20/20 or better by 2

weeks and 96% seeing 20/15 or better UCVA

at that visit. At 4 weeks, 84% of eyes overall

achieved UCVA of 20/12,5 and 29% could read

20/10 on the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Study eye chart. However, earlier UCVA

data showed that the use of more advanced

technology enabled faster visual recovery.

"On the first day after surgery, there was

a statistically significant difference between

subgroups [treated] with the 60-kHz femtosecond

laser with no IR and eyes that had surgery

with the 150-kHz femtosecond laser and an

IR-enabled ablation," Dr. Tänzer said.

Among 50 eyes treated with the 60-kHz femtosecond

laser and no IR, 50% achieved 20/20

UCVA on day 1, whereas among 112 eyes that

had both the 150-kHz femtosecond laser and

IR treatment, 62% achieved 20/12,5 or better.

The benefit of the more advanced technology

was maintained at 3 months. Among

eyes that had the 150-kHz femtosecond laser

and IR treatment, 92% of 39 eyes...