Assessment of Changes in Cap and Residual Stromal Thickness Values during a 6-Month Observation after Refractive Lenticule Extraction Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 13; no. 7; p. 2148
• Main Authors: Janiszewska-Bil, Dominika, Czarnota-Nowakowska, Barbara, Kuciel-Polczak, Izabela, Dobrowolski, Dariusz, Grabarek, Beniamin Oskar, Lyssek-Boroń, Anita, Wylęgała, Edward, Wierzbowska, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-04-2024
• Subjects: Astigmatism; Contact lenses; Cornea; Dissection; FDA approval; Laser in situ keratomileusis; Lasers; Methods; Myopia; Patient outcomes; Patients; Physiological aspects; Statistical analysis; Surgeons; Tomography; Poland; Warsaw Poland; St Louis Missouri; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; refractive surgery; cap; residual stromal thickness (RST); SMILE; ReLEx; refractive lenticule extraction small incision lenticule extraction
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072148

: In this study, the changes in corneal cap and residual stromal thickness (RST) values during a 180-day observation period after refractive lenticule extraction small incision lenticule extraction (ReLEx SMILE) were assessed.
Fifty patients underwent ReLEx SMILE using the VisuMax 500 femtosecond laser, with corneal imaging conducted pre and post procedure via anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Cap thickness in the center and 1.5 mm from the center in four meridians was measured at various intervals.
The results showed a significant decrease in cap thickness 180 days post procedure compared to earlier intervals (
< 0.05). Similarly, RST decreased gradually and significantly post procedure (
< 0.05). Notably, changes in cap thickness within the central 1.5 mm area were more dynamic than RST changes during the 6-month observation period following SMILE.
: The corneal cap thickness measured with swept-source AS-OCT within the central 1.5 mm area underwent more dynamic changes than the residual stromal thickness during the 6-month observation following SMILE.