Customized corneal ablation

Corneal curvature, asphericity, and aberrations after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis for myopia: A prospective comparative study

Purpose:

We aimed to compare transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK) and femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for myopia treatment by analyzing corneal curvature, asphericity (Q-value), and corneal aberration.

Methods:

Corneal topography was measured before and 6 months after the TPRK or FS-LASIK surgery. We measured and compared corneal curvature (sagittal curvature in the 1- to 7-mm zones), change in keratometric measurements (Kmpost – Kmpre, ΔK), Q-values (from the vertex of the 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-mm zones), higher-order aberration (HOA), vertical and horizontal trefoil (Z3^-3 and Z3³), vertical and horizontal coma (Z3^-1 and Z3¹), and spherical aberration (Z4⁰) between the two surgery groups.

Results:

The sagittal curvature Δ K in the 1-mm zone after TPRK was significantly higher than after FS-LASIK. The Δ K/ΔSE (ΔSE [spherical equivalent] = SEpre – SEpost) ratio in the 1- to 4-mm diameter zones was significantly higher after TPRK than after FS-LASIK. The preoperative Q-values of the 6- and 7-mm zones did not differ between the treatment groups, but postoperative values were significantly higher following FS-LASIK than following TPRK. HOA, Z4⁰, and Z3^-1 were all significantly higher after surgery in both groups. Postoperative Z3^-3 was significantly higher following TPRK but not following FS-LASIK. There were no postoperative differences in aberrations in either group; however, the change in HOA and Z3^-1 was significantly greater following FS-LASIK.

Conclusion:

TPRK changes the corneal curvature to a greater extent and the visual quality (Q-value, aberrations) to a lesser extent than FS-LASIK.

Laser Vision Correction in Treating Myopia

Myopia is a generally benign refractive error with an increasing prevalence worldwide. It can be corrected temporarily with glasses and contact lenses and permanently with laser vision correction. The 2 main procedures currently being performed for myopia correction are photorefractive keratectomy and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. Each technique has its advantages, but they appear to yield similar visual outcomes 1 year after surgery. Laser vision correction for myopia was considered a paradigm shift because healthy eyes could now undergo a surgical procedure to permanently and safely correct the error by altering the center of the cornea, which was previously off limits because of the potential for loss of transparency. Customized ablation using wavefront aberrometry and its optimized profiles were created to correct higher-order aberrations and give more vision quality to patients. Topography-guided ablation, initially used for complex retreatments, shows potential to make vision even better than glasses and contact lenses in a recent study on previously untreated eyes. One major concern is to identify corneas that are at risk of developing ectasia after the procedure. Topographic and tomographic screening indices have been implemented clinically, but there is still much to learn about corneal biomechanics. A more recently developed procedure for myopia correction is small-incision lenticule extraction, in which a lenticule is created in the cornea's stroma with a femtosecond laser and extracted through a small corneal incision. Long-term outcomes and new complication risks need to be better understood as this procedure develops.

Visual outcome after correcting the refractive error of large pupil patients with wavefront-guided ablation

Purpose

To investigate the efficacy and predictability of wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) treatments using the iris registration (IR) technology for the correction of refractive errors in patients with large pupils.

Setting

Horus Vision Correction Center, Alexandria, Egypt.

Methods

Prospective noncomparative study including a total of 52 eyes of 30 consecutive laser refractive correction candidates with large mesopic pupil diameters and myopia or myopic astigmatism. Wavefront-guided LASIK was performed in all cases using the VISX STAR S4 IR excimer laser platform. Visual, refractive, aberrometric and mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS) outcomes were evaluated during a 6-month follow-up.

Results

Mean mesopic pupil diameter ranged from 8.0 mm to 9.4 mm. A significant improvement in uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA) (P < 0.01) was found postoperatively, which was consistent with a significant refractive correction (P < 0.01). No significant change was detected in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (P = 0.11). Efficacy index (the ratio of postoperative UCDVA to preoperative CDVA) and safety index (the ratio of postoperative CDVA to preoperative CDVA) were calculated. Mean efficacy and safety indices were 1.06 ± 0.33 and 1.05 ± 0.18, respectively, and 92.31% of eyes had a postoperative spherical equivalent within ±0.50 diopters (D). Manifest refractive spherical equivalent improved significantly (P < 0.05) from a preoperative level of −3.1 ± 1.6 D (range −6.6 to 0 D) to −0.1 ± 0.2 D (range −1.3 to 0.1 D) at 6 months postoperative. No significant changes were found in mesopic CS (P ≥ 0.08), except CS for three cycles/degree, which improved significantly (P = 0.02). Magnitudes of primary coma and trefoil did not change significantly (P ≥ 0.34), with a small but statistically significant increase in primary spherical aberration.

Conclusion

Wavefront-guided LASIK provides an effective correction of low to moderate myopia or myopic astigmatism in large pupil patients without deterioration of visual quality.

Efficacy of an aspheric treatment algorithm in decreasing induced spherical aberration after laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE

To determine the effectiveness of an aspheric laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) algorithm for myopia with and without astigmatism in minimizing postoperative induction of spherical aberration.

SETTING

Four sites in Asia.

METHODS

Patients with -1.00 to -10.00 diopters (D) of spherical myopia with -4.00 D or less of astigmatism were recruited. Patients randomly had bilateral Zyoptix aspheric algorithm (aspheric group) or bilateral conventional Zyoptix Tissue Saving algorithm (control group). A Technolas 217z100 excimer system was used for LASIK ablation. Visual effectiveness, safety, higher-order aberrations, and corneal asphericity (Q value) were evaluated postoperatively.

RESULTS

The aspheric group comprised 86 eyes and the control group, 84 eyes. At 3 months, the high-contrast uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 78% of eyes in the aspheric group and 83% of eyes in the control group. The control treatment induced 0.22 microm of spherical aberration, which was significantly higher than the 0.04 microm induced with the aspheric treatment (6.0 mm pupil) (P<.0001). The aspheric treatment induced significantly less vertical coma and trefoil (P = .02). Eyes in the aspheric group had significantly lower Q values (P<.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the manifest refraction spherical equivalent between the 2 groups (P >.05). Although high- and low-contrast corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was similar between the groups, the aspheric group gained more lines of low-contrast CDVA.

CONCLUSION

The aspheric algorithm was more effective than the conventional algorithm in reducing induced spherical aberration and maintaining corneal asphericity after myopic LASIK.

Corneal Higher-Order Aberrations After Customized Aspheric Ablation and Conventional Ablation for Myopic Correction

PURPOSE

To investigate and compare the corneal wavefront aberrations and corneal asphericity after customized aspheric and conventional myopic ablation.

METHODS

Fifty-eight myopic patients from two laser centers were enrolled in this study. The patients were treated with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) randomly with customized aspheric algorithm (32 patients, group A) and conventional algorithm (26 patients, group B). There was no significant difference in preoperative mean equivalent sphere (p = 0.954). The manifest refraction, corneal asphericity, and corneal wavefront data were taken into account to generate the customized aspheric ablation profile. Corneal wavefront aberrations, and corneal asphericity were analyzed and compared before and 6 months after the treatment.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, no significant difference was found in corneal asphericity and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) between two groups (p = 0.833 and p = 0.459, respectively). Root mean square (RMS) value of corneal HOAs, spherical aberration, and corneal asphericity increased postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.05), but the smaller increase was shown in group A (p < 0.05). The Zernike third-order aberration increased by 10% (p = 0.088) but without significance in group A compared with significant increase by 27% (p < 0.01) in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

The customized aspheric ablation induced smaller increase in corneal higher-order aberrations and corneal asphericity. It provides a good option for the customized myopic correction.

Advances in technologies for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has become the most widely used form of refractive surgery today. The objective of this surgical technique is to modify the anterior corneal shape by ablating tissue from the stroma by means of the excimer laser after creating a hinged corneal flap. This way, we are able to change the refractive status of the patient, providing better unaided vision. Continuous improvements in the original technique have made the surgical procedure safer, more accurate and repeatable. These progressions are due to the development of novel technologies that are the responsible for new surgical instrumentation, which makes the surgical procedure easier for the surgeon, and better excimer laser ablation algorithms, which increase the optical quality of the ablation and thus the safety of the vision correction procedure. This article aims to describe the more relevant advances in LASIK that have played an important role in the spread and popularity of this technique.

[Aspheric profiles for refractive laser ablation of the cornea]

Conventional ablation profiles for excimer lasers for myopic refractive correction of the cornea are of spheric geometry. Therefore, they induce additional imaging aberrations into the optical system of the eye, most notably spherical aberration. This is a major cause of the observed deterioration of visual quality after such corrections, especially under low illumination and ensuing larger pupil diameter. Therefore, aspheric ablation profiles compromizing the preexisting imaging/visual quality of the eye as little as possible are currently being developed and optimized for all laser platforms. Employed methods include customized correction profiles on the basis of individual wavefront data of the anterior corneal topography on the one hand, and correction profiles that minimize the induced spherical aberration in a "standardized" way on the other hand. We demonstrate for a particular laser platform how such profiles must be developed and optimized. Mathematical theoretical calculations appear to be an indispensable but insufficient prerequisite. The biological reaction of the corneal stroma and epithelium ("biodynamic response") can only be determined experimentally and must lead to adjustment of the calculated ablation algorithm. The results show that aspheric profiles developed on this basis can lead to significant reduction of induced spherical aberration. The obtainable effect is, however, limited by the biological response and the ensuing peripheral ablation depth and volume.

Corneal wavefront-guided retreatments for significant night vision symptoms after myopic laser refractive surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the results of corneal wavefront (WF)-guided enhancements in patients with night vision symptoms and significantly high positive spherical aberration (SA) after myopic laser refractive surgery.

DESIGN

Noncomparative, interventional case series.

METHODS

Twenty-eight eyes of 20 patients with significant night vision symptoms and positive corneal SA (Z(4)(0)) higher than 0.5 microm after myopic laser refractive surgery were included in the study at Vissum-Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante, Spain. Enhancement surgery was planned to remove residual refractive error and corneal SA (Z(4)(0)) in all cases. All patients underwent corneal WF-guided excimer laser retreatments using the ESIRIS/SCHWIND excimer laser system (Schwind Eye Tech Solutions, Kleinostham, Germany). The main outcome measures were visual symptoms, change in corneal SA (Z(4)(0)), and corneal asphericity (Q-value).

RESULTS

Subjective reports of night vision symptoms were improved in all patients. Mean corneal SA (Z(4)(0)) decreased from 0.75 +/- 0.19 microm before surgery to 0.43 +/- 0.42 microm after surgery (P < .001). Mean asphericity in the 4.5-mm zone significantly decreased from 1.02 +/- 1.07 before surgery to 0.52 +/- 0.88 after surgery (P = .008), and the mean asphericity in 8 mm did not change significantly (P = .362). The mean spherical equivalent significantly shifted to hyperopia from -0.22 +/- 1.14 diopters (D) before surgery to 0.33 +/- 0.54 D after surgery (P = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

Cornea wavefront-guided retreatment was effective in improving subjective night vision symptoms, reducing corneal SA, and decreasing asphericity in eyes that underwent myopic laser refractive surgery.

Higher-order aberrations and visual acuity after LASEK

BACKGROUND

To determine ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in eyes with supernormal vision after myopic astigmatic laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and to compare the findings with those in eyes with natural supernormal vision.

METHODS

Ocular HOAs were measured after LASEK in 20 eyes of 12 myopic astigmatic patients with postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of >20/16 (group 1). Patients who were included in the study had no visual symptoms like glare, halo or double vision. The measurements were taken 8.3 +/- 3 months after LASEK surgery. In group 2 ocular HOAs were examined in 20 eyes of 10 subjects with natural UCVA of >20/16 as a control. Measurements were taken across a pupil with a diameter of 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm. Root-mean-square (RMS) values of HOAs, Z(3)-1, Z(3)1, Z(4)0, Z(5)-1, Z(5)1 and Z(6)0 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean RMS values for each order were higher in group 1 when compared with group 2 at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm pupil diameters. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in spherical and coma aberrations (P > 0.05). Mean RMS values for total HOAs were 0.187 +/- 0.09 microm at 4.0 mm and 0.438 +/- 0.178 microm at 6.0 mm pupil in group 1 and 0.120 +/- 0.049 microm at 4.0 mm and 0.344 +/- 0.083 microm at 6.0 mm pupil in group 2. The difference between groups in total HOAs was statistically significant at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm pupil diameters (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ocular HOAs exist in eyes with supernormal vision. After LASEK, the amount of HOAs of the eye increases under both mesopic and photopic conditions. However the amount of HOA increase does not seem to be consistent with visual symptoms.

Comparison of higher-order aberrations between eyes with natural supervision and highly myopic eyes in Koreans

Purpose

To describe the characteristics and investigate the differences of higher-order aberrations (HOAs) between the eyes with a natural, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/12 and eyes with highly myopic eyes in Korean adults.

Methods

Thirty-one eyes of 20 subjects with UCVA of 20/12 (Group 1) and 54 eyes of 36 myopic patients with greater than -6 diopters (Group 2) were analyzed for type and magnitude of HOAs across a 6.0 mm pupil. HOAs were measured by Wavescan (VISX, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in natural scotopic conditions and were presented as root-mean-square (RMS:µm) in Belle aberration maps.

Results

The mean spherical equivalent (SE) of manifest refraction was -0.15±0.25 D (range: +0.37 to -0.50 D) in Group 1 and -7.25±0.78 D (range: -6.00 to -9.25 D) in Group 2. The total root-mean-square (RMS) values of HOAs for Group 1 and Group 2 were 0.28±0.09 µm and 0.27±0.087 µm, respectively (P>0.05). The mean values of coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration were 0.14±0.091 µm, 0.14±0.089 µm, 0.091±0.059 µm in Group 1 and 0.16±0.077 µm, 0.14±0.073 µm, 0.082±0.059 µm in Group 2, respectively.

Conclusions

This study helped establish ocular aberration standards for those with natural supervision and those with highly myopic eyes among Koreans. Individuals with natural supervision had significant amounts of HOAs, and there was no significant difference in the amount of HOAs between the two groups. The index of higher-order aberrations may not be a perfect predictor of the amount of refractive error.

Diurnal Variation of Higher Order Aberrations in Human Eyes

PURPOSE

To evaluate diurnal variation of higher order aberrations in human eyes.

METHODS

A prospective study of 20 myopic eyes was performed. Cycloplegic aberrometry (Zywave) and refraction were measured at 2-hour intervals for five time points beginning at 10:00 AM. Changes in measured magnitude for third and fourth order Zernike coefficients were compared over time. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test for statistically significant differences across time points for each Zernike coefficient. A separate prospective study was performed of 11 myopic eyes to determine and compare diurnal variation with the repeatability coefficient of individual Zernike coefficients measured using the Zywave aberrometer.

RESULTS

Mean refraction was -0.75 +/- 1.25 diopters (D) sphere and -0.57 +/- 0.43 D cylinder. No statistically significant change (ANOVA) was noted over the period of observation for any individual Zernike coefficients. Only Z3(-3) (vertical trefoil) showed an average increase of 0.029 microm (P = .98) towards the end of the day; however, this trend was not statistically significant. The standard deviation of individual Zernike coefficients ranged from 0.035 microm (Z4(4)) to 0.165 microm (Z3(-1)).

CONCLUSIONS

No statistically significant diurnal variation of higher order aberrations was measured by Zywave aberrometer. The trend of Z3(-3) increasing later in the day was most likely a Zywave measurement error artifact.

Effects of reference axes used during measurements of ocular and corneal higher-order aberrations in patients following LASIK

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of the reference axes used during the measurements of ocular and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in patients before and after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

METHODS

Wavefront sensing and corneal topography were determined for 29 eyes of 15 patients before and after LASIK. Ocular and corneal HOAs were calculated for 4-mm- and 6-mm-diameter pupils with the instrument aligned with the line of sight (LOS) or with the vertex normal (VN).

RESULTS

For ocular HOAs after surgery, the spherical-like aberration was significantly larger when the VN axis rather than the LOS axis was used for pupils of both diameters. For corneal HOAs before surgery, in addition to the larger spherical-like aberration for VN, coma-like aberrations were significantly larger with LOS than with VN for both pupil diameters. For corneal HOAs after surgery, the spherical-like aberrations and total HOAs for 4-mm-diameter pupils with VN were significantly larger than those with LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

The HOAs were significantly different depending on the axes used and should be described on the basis of a common axis. These results suggest that the anterior surface of the normal or post-LASIK cornea is more rotationally symmetrical along the VN than along the LOS.

Depth-of-focus of the human eye: theory and clinical implications

The depth-of-focus, or the perceptual tolerance of the human eye to retinal defocus, is important to and imbedded in many aspects of clinical refraction and physiological optics. Although the depth-of-focus is a common concept in classical optics, there is relatively little detailed discussion of its implications as related to normal vision function and to vision anomalies. With current advances in refractive surgery and ophthalmic lens design, the demand for knowledge in this topic is both timely and important. This review of our current understanding of the depth-of-focus should prove to be useful to clinicians, researchers, and students as an introduction to the subject. Two areas will be considered: 1) basic definitions of and factors affecting the depth-of-focus, and 2) its contemporary clinical implications.

Ablationsprofile in der kornealen refraktiven Laserchirurgie

The predictability and quality of results in corneal refractive laser surgery are determined by a number of factors. Here, the calculation and choice of the ablation profile represent central elements. Our growing knowledge about the physical and optical properties of the eye in recent years has led to the development of different strategies in the generation of ablation profiles. This review describes the currently used ablation profiles with their advantages and disadvantages and provides an outlook on future methods for the calculation of ablation profiles.

Photorefractive keratectomy with aspheric profile of ablation versus conventional photorefractive keratectomy for myopia correction

PURPOSE

To analyze ocular wavefront error and corneal asphericity (Q) in patients treated with aspheric profile photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) compared with patients having conventional PRK to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism and to evaluate the effect of postoperative corneal shape on visual performance.

SETTING

Eye Clinic, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.

METHODS

Fifty eyes were treated with aspheric profile PRK using the MEL 80 flying-spot excimer laser, and 24 eyes were treated with standard PRK using the MEL 70 flying-spot excimer laser.

RESULTS

Postoperative wavefront error increased in both groups. Six months after surgery, there was a smaller increase in root mean square (RMS) of total higher-order aberrations and spherical aberration (59% and 106%, respectively) in the aspheric profile PRK group than in the conventional PRK group (94% and 136%, respectively) (P<.01). The aspheric profile PRK group showed more prolate corneal asphericities (mean Q of 0.15 +/- 0.26) than the conventional group (mean Q of 0.45 +/- 0.26) (P<.001), with increasing oblateness for higher attempted corrections. A higher percentage of patients with better low-contrast uncorrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity was observed in the aspheric PRK group than in the conventional PRK group (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Aspheric profile and conventional PRK were safe and efficient for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Moreover, aspheric profile PRK induced a smaller increment of total wavefront error, was related to a smaller increase in spherical aberration, and better maintained the physiology of the corneal surface than conventional treatment.

Topography-guided Custom Retreatments in 27 Symptomatic Eyes

PURPOSE

To evaluate the use of topography-guided ablations for refractive irregularities induced by previous surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, non-comparative trial comprised 27 symptomatic eyes with a history of LASIK for myopia that underwent topography-guided treatment with the ALLEGRETTO WAVE system. Pre- and postoperative refraction, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), corneal asphericity (Q value), low contrast sensitivity, and patient's subjective assessment of improvement were measured.

RESULTS

Preoperative data were sphere -0.84 +/- 1.37 diopters (D), cylinder -1.55 +/- 0.78 D, UCVA 20/49 +/- 0.22, BSCVA 20/32 +/- 0.15, and Q value 1.46 +/- 0.79. Postoperative data at mean 6-month follow-up were: sphere -0.61 +/- 0.81 D, cylinder -0.53 +/- 0.58 D, UCVA 20/25 +/- 0.21 (P < .01), BSCVA 20/21 +/- 0.14 (P < .001), and Q value 1.07 +/- 0.89. Contrast sensitivity scores improved by 70%. No loss of BSCVA occurred in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Topography-guided treatments may be effective in correcting the quality of vision. It should be viewed as a possible two-step procedure due to spherical adjustment that may change refraction unpredictably.

Conservation of corneal tissue with wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE

To determine whether corneal tissue can be conserved with wavefront-guided ablation compared to conventional surgery with a larger ablation zone for attempted prevention of glare and halo.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Korea.

METHODS

This prospective study was composed of 2 parts: First, 40 eyes of 20 patients were studied to determine whether a larger optical ablation could be beneficial in prevention of glare after conventional laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. One eye in each patient was treated with a 6.00 mm optical zone, and the other with a 6.25 mm optical zone. Second, 20 eyes of 10 patients with a higher-order root mean square (RMS) value of 0.3 or greater were evaluated to learn whether a wavefront-guided ablation could be as effective as a larger conventional optical ablation. One eye in each patient was treated by conventional LASIK surgery with a 6.25 mm optical zone, and the other eye was treated by wavefront-guided LASIK surgery with a 6.00 mm optical zone. All patients were analyzed with a WASCA analyzer (Carl Zeiss Meditec) preoperatively, and 1 month and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Higher-order aberrations including coma, spherical aberration, and higher-order RMS were statistically significantly increased after conventional surgery with both a 6.00 mm and 6.25 mm optical zone. High-order aberrations including comaer- and spherical aberration after conventional surgery with 6.25 mm zone were statistically significantly increased. However, coma and higher-order RMS did not show a statistically significant increase between pre-LASIK and post-LASIK in wavefront-ablated eyes with a 6.00 mm optical zone.

CONCLUSION

Wavefront ablation showed less increase of coma and higher-order RMS regardless of a smaller optical zone. This finding might provide a clinical clue for an advantage of wavefront-guided ablation from the standpoint of corneal tissue conservation.

Ocular higher-order aberrations in eyes with supernormal vision

PURPOSE

To quantify ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in eyes with supernormal vision, that is, natural uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) > or = 20/15, to analyze the correlation between ocular HOAs and age in these eyes, and to investigate the correlation of HOAs between right and left eyes.

DESIGN

Observational case series.

METHODS

Ocular HOAs were examined across a naturally dilated pupil with a diameter > or = 6.0 mm in 70 eyes of 35 subjects with > or = 20/15 UCVA (mean age 24.3 years +/- 7.7 [SD]) using the Nidek OPD scan wavefront aberrometer. Root-mean-square (RMS) values of HOA, total spherical aberration (TSA), total coma (TC), and total trefoil (TT) were analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the association between ocular HOAs and age and the correlation of HOAs between right and left eyes.

RESULTS

Mean RMS values were 0.334 +/- 0.192 microm for HOA, 0.110 +/- 0.077 microm for TSA, 0.136 +/- 0.081 microm for TC, and 0.268 +/- 0.220 microm for TT. There were no significant differences in the mean values of HOA, TSA, TC, and TT between right and left eyes. The Pearson correlation coefficient between right and left eyes for TSA was 0.764 (P<.0001). No significant correlation was found between right and left eyes for HOA, TC, and TT. No significant correlation was found between each of the ocular aberrations and age.

CONCLUSIONS

The amount of ocular HOAs in eyes with natural supernormal vision is not negligible, and is comparable to the reported amount of HOAs in myopic eyes.

Randomized prospective clinical study comparing induced aberrations with IntraLase and Hansatome flap creation in fellow eyes

PURPOSE

To measure and compare the changes in objective wavefront aberration and subjective manifest refraction after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation with a mechanical microkeratome and a femtosecond laser.

SETTING

Private practice refractive surgery center, Irvine, California, USA.

METHODS

This randomized prospective study comprised 9 patients (18 eyes) treated with a 2-step LASIK procedure: lamellar keratectomy with a Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb) or the IntraLase femtosecond laser in fellow eyes followed by non-wavefront-guided (standard) excimer laser treatment with the Technolas 217A (Bausch & Lomb) excimer laser 10 weeks later. Fellow eyes were matched to within 0.75 diopter (D) sphere and 0.50 D cylinder. Patients were followed for 3 months after excimer laser treatment. Preoperative and post-flap creation wavefront aberrometry using a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer and manifest refraction were compared between the 2 groups. The same tests were performed 3 months after excimer laser ablation.

RESULTS

Statistically significant changes were seen in defocus wavefront aberrations after Hansatome (P=.004) and IntraLase (P=.008) flap creation. A hyperopic shift in manifest refraction was noted in the Hansatome group after the creation of the corneal flap (P=.04); no statistically significant changes in manifest refraction were seen in the IntraLase group. Statistically significant changes in total higher-order aberrations (HOAs) (trefoil and quadrafoil Zernike terms) were seen after flap creation in the Hansatome group (P=.02). No significant changes in HOAs were noted after flap creation in the IntraLase group. After the flap was relifted and standard excimer laser ablation was performed, a statistically significant increase in coma occurred in the Hansatome group (P=.008). Standard refractive outcomes in the 2 groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

The creation of the LASIK flap alone can modify the eye's optical characteristics in low-order aberrations and HOAs. A significant increase in HOAs was seen in the Hansatome group but not in the IntraLase group. This may have significant clinical implications in wavefront-guided LASIK treatments, which are based on measurements made before flap creation.

Alignment in Customized Laser in situ Keratomileusis

PURPOSE

To identify fundamentals of beam alignment in customized laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with a special focus on the Nidek NAVEX system.

METHODS

Analysis of Nidek specifications and recommendations for beam alignment with regard to a critical case example are presented. The potential impact of misalignment (tilt and defocus) is calculated. Cyclotorsional error evaluation in a normal LASIK population was performed by video image comparison. Potential problems of infrared-based eyetracking systems are discussed.

RESULTS

The laser beam should be aligned with reference to the line of sight (LOS) when customized segmental laser ablation is applied. Only in cases with significant offset between the LOS and the visual axis it is recommended not to use segmental ablation and to manually align the beam toward the visual axis. Eye drift (tilt) as well as defocus should be avoided since undercorrection and irregular astigmatism can result. Almost 30% of eyes in a normal LASIK population showed a torsional error of 5 degrees to 10 degrees (9% more than 10 degrees) on video-based image comparison. Eye-trackers not only are defined by take-up speed and latency, but also by their sensibility (picking the real center of the pupil) and robustness (keeping it tracked during surgery). Errors due to parallax and reflex effects can systematically influence the performance of an eyetracker.

CONCLUSION

Correct alignment is difficult to achieve but is of fundamental importance in customized LASIK. Strict standardization and further improvement in the alignment strategy is necessary to achieve more consistent results in customized LASIK.

Diurnal Fluctuation of Higher Order Ocular Aberrations: Correlation With Intraocular Pressure and Corneal Thickness

PURPOSE

Optimal wavefront-guided refractive corneal laser surgery requires sufficiently exact data of optical higher order aberrations. We investigated whether these aberrations had a systematic during-the-day variation, studied the range of variation, and changes in intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness.

METHODS

In 22 eyes of 22 young volunteers the optical aberrations of higher order were measured by means of a Tscherning-type ocular aberrometer three times during one day (7 AM, 12 noon, 4 PM). In addition, in 12 of these eyes the intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness were measured. The intraocular wavefront aberration was computed using Zernike polynomials up to the sixth order, and Zernike coefficients of third and fourth order were analyzed.

RESULTS

Only the coefficient Z 2/4 (C13) showed a significant increase during the day by a mean 0.016 microm. A significant regression could be detected between changes of coefficients Z3/3, Z-2/4, Z0/4, Z4/4, and changes of intraocular pressure or central corneal thickness during the day.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the small values, the measured during-the-day changes of higher order aberrations had no direct practical consequences for the aberrometry-guided corneal laser surgery. Alterations of some Zernike coefficients during the day may be explained by the biomechanical behavior of the cornea.

Update on customized excimer ablations: recent developments reported in 2002

Customized corneal ablation is an exciting frontier in refractive surgery that incorporates wavefront technology to detect and correct higher order aberrations in addition to spherocylindrical refractive errors. The goal is to achieve super normal vision in terms of acuity and contrast. As the concept of wavefront customized ablations is still new, there are a number of aspects of its clinical application that need analysis and understanding. Numerous reports have appeared in the literature during the past year that address the developments, concerns, and limitations of wavefront technology and custom ablation. We have attempted to summarize and discuss the significant reports in this current review. Our focus is on the optical and physiologic limits of wavefront customized correction, including the effect of accommodation, aging, and flap creation on the aberration profile. In addition, we also present the laser technology requirements, and clinical outcomes of customized excimer ablations that are reported to date.