Comparison of Higher-Order Aberrations after LASEK between Two Different Laser Platforms for Low-to-Moderate Myopia

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To compare the differences in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) between two different laser platforms.

Methods

One hundred and seven eyes of 107 patients were included in this study. Fifty-six eyes underwent LASEK with the Triple-A profile (an ablation profile of the MEL 90 excimer laser) and 51 eyes underwent LASEK with the aspheric (Aberration Smart Ablation [ASA]) profile. Uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal topography, and ocular aberrations were measured before and 6 months postoperatively.

Results

In the ASA group, the values of horizontal trefoil, vertical coma, horizontal coma, spherical aberrations, and total HOAs increased significantly after surgery (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the vertical trefoil between the preoperative and 6-month postoperative periods. In the Triple-A group, there were no differences in vertical trefoil and horizontal trefoil values between the preoperative and 6-month postoperative periods. Compared with the preoperative values, vertical coma, horizontal coma, spherical aberrations, and total HOAs were significantly increased at 6 months after surgery (all P < 0.05). Compared to the Triple-A group, higher horizontal trefoil and horizontal coma were introduced in the ASA group at 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

The Triple-A ablation profile of the MEL 90 excimer laser at a 500-Hz pulse rate was an efficient method to correct myopia, especially for mild-to-moderate myopia, compared with the aspheric ablation model, fewer horizontal trefoil and horizontal coma were induced at 6 months after LASEK.

Abbreviations

HOAs, Higher-Order Aberrations; LASEK, laser subepithelial keratomileusis; ASA, Aberration Smart Ablation; UDVA, uncorrected distance visual acuity; CDVA, corrected distance visual acuity.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher-order aberrations
• laser subepithelial keratomileusis
• myopia

Acknowledgments

There are no acknowledgments.

Author contributions

Contributed to study conception and design: LL and JZ; Collected research data: LL, YHS, LNS, and ML; Analyzed the data: LL and ML; Contributed materials/analysis tools: FW and JZ; The manuscript writing: LL and JZ. All authors read, revised, and approved the final version of the paper.

Declaration of interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

Supported by the Shanghai Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 16ZR1426700), the Project of Shanghai Science and Technology (No. 17411950207), and Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shanghai Shen Kang Hospital Development Center (SHDC12018103) and Clinical research project of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital.