Femtosecond laser refractive surgery: small-incision lenticule extraction vs. femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK

• Published in: Current opinion in ophthalmology Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 260 - 264
• Main Authors: Lee, Jimmy K, Chuck, Roy S, Park, Choul Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01-07-2015
• Subjects: Biomechanical Phenomena; Cornea - physiology; Corneal Stroma - surgery; Elasticity - physiology; Humans; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ - methods; Laser Therapy - methods; Microsurgery - methods; Myopia - physiopathology; Myopia - surgery
• ISSN: 1040-8738; 1531-7021
• DOI: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000158

PURPOSE OF REVIEWSmall-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a novel technique devised to correct refractive errors. SMILE circumvents excimer laser photoablation of cornea, as the stromal lenticule cut by femtosecond laser is removed manually. Smaller incisions and preservation of anterior corneal biomechanical strength have been suggested as some of the advantages of SMILE over femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK (FS-LASIK). In this review, we compared previous published results of SMILE and FS-LASIK. The advantage, efficacy and safety of SMILE are compared with FS-LASIK.
RECENT FINDINGSSMILE achieved similar efficacy, predictability and safety as FS-LASIK. Greater preservations of corneal biomechanical strength and corneal nerves were observed in SMILE when compared with LASIK or PRK. Additionally, the incidence of postoperative dry eye syndrome was found to be less problematic in SMILE than in FS-LASIK.
SUMMARYSMILE is a promising new surgery for refractive error correction. Prospective and retrospective studies of SMILE have shown that results of SMILE are similar to FS-LASIK. With advances in femtosecond laser technology, SMILE may gain greater acceptance in the future.