Implementation And Learning Curve Of Low Energy Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction In Denmark

This study assesses visual and refractive outcomes of Cornea Lenticule Extraction for Advanced Refractive-Correction (CLEAR) procedure of a surgeon at the early stage of the learning curve process and with no prior experience with refractive lenticule extraction surgical procedure.

Memira Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Initial consecutive 34 eyes of 17 patients underwent CLEAR surgery by a single surgeon using the low energy FEMTO LDV Z8 femtosecond laser (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG). All surgeries were performed by diligently following the most updated surgical procedure guidelines issued by the manufacturer. Postoperative refraction and visual acuity were assessed at day 1, 1 week and 1 month after the surgery.

The mean attempted spherical refraction was –3,29 ± 1.63 diopters (D) and the mean cylinder was –0.81 ± 0.42 D. The mean age was 29 ± 5.49 years. At 1 month postoperatively, the SEQ was within ±0.50 D in 100% of eyes and the manifest refractive cylinder was ≤0.50 D in 100% of eyes. At 1 month after the surgery, the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/20 or better in 100% of eyes. No eyes lost two or more lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). The mean UDVA was 0.82 ± 0.21 decimal on day 1, 0.96 ± 0.09 decimal at 1 week and 1.09 ± 0.03x decimal at 1 month postoperatively. No intra- or postoperative complications (including suction loss) were observed. 

CLEAR user in his initial surgical experience achieved high accuracy in both refraction and manifest refractive cylinder correction, fast visual recovery and safety when following the latest surgical procedure guidelines issued by the manufacturer.