Short-term LASIK outcomes for myopia with and without astigmatism using the MEL 90 excimer laser and VisuMax femtosecond laser.

Purpose: To report on the short-term visual and refractive outcomes of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia carried out with a VisuMax femtosecond laser (for flap creation) and a MEL 90 excimer laser (for ablation) (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Methods: A retrospective non-comparative case series study was carried out analysing 382 myopic LASIK procedures (191 patients) treated at a single site (Optegra Eye Hospital, London, UK) by a single surgeon using the VisuMax femtosecond laser for flap creation and a MEL 90 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec). A triple-A ablation profile was selected at 500 Hz for all treatments and the inbuilt nomogram was selected. Attempted spherical equivalent refraction and cylinder ranged from -0.50 D to -11.00 D and 0.00-5.00 D, respectively. Outcomes were analysed at the last postoperative visit using internationally agreed methods for reporting refractive surgery outcomes. Results: There were no operative complications. Postoperative assessments were typically carried out during the first 3 months after surgery. Visually insignificant postoperative complications, such as dry eye, were noted in 84 eyes (22%). A total of 353 eyes (92%) achieved 6/6 or better unaided distance visual acuity (UDVA) postoperatively compared with 370 eyes (97%) presenting with 6/6 corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) preoperatively. In all, 359 eyes (94%) had a UDVA postoperatively within one line of preoperative CDVA. No eyes lost two or more lines of CDVA. Postoperative mean spherical equivalent refraction was within +0.50 D in 349 eyes (91%) and within +1.00 D in 376 eyes (98%). Conclusions: LASIK with the VisuMax femtosecond laser and MEL 90 excimer laser using an aspherically optimised ablation profile that also focuses on minimal tissue removal (triple-A ablation profile) at 500 Hz pulse rate is a safe, predictable and efficacious method for the correction of myopia up to -11.00 D and cylinder up to 5.00 D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]