Examination Of Lenticule Extraction Duration Following Smartsight Femtolaser Treatments

This study aims to investigate potential correlations between preoperative patient-related factors and the duration required for lenticule removal after its creation with an IR-femtosecond laser.

Refractive laser eye clinic. Schwind ATOS femtosecond laser (Schwind-Eye-Tech-Solutions, Kleinostheim, Germany)

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 108 eyes from 58 patients, with a mean age of 32±7 years (range: 19–48 years), who underwent lenticule extraction treatments using the SmartSight method with the SCHWIND ATOS femtosecond laser. Parameters such as age, pachymetry, optical zone, cap zone, cap thickness, SEQ, corneal pachymetry, k-readings (k-max and k-mean), dose of anterior and posterior cuts, and the occurrence of OBL-pattern were correlated with lenticule extraction time. Additionally, the relationship between 1 Day postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UDVA) and extraction time was explored.

The preop SEQ was -4.04±1.64D [range -1.50 to -8.38D]. 44% of the lenticules could be extracted within 60s and 82% within 90s. Shortest lenticule extraction time was 30s and longest 198s. As weak but statistically significant correlation between lenticule extraction time and corneal pachymetry, SEQ, k-readings and lenticule thickness was noticeable. No statistical relevant correlation between lenticule extraction time and the other preoperative as well as intraoperative parameters were found. Postoperative UDVA was not correlated with the lenticule extraction time. No lenticule remnants or adverse events were noted.

SmartSight emerges as a well-accepted and safe procedure for addressing myopia and myopic astigmatism. Notably, the time required for lenticule removal was found to be statistical independent from preoperative and intraoperative parameters except a slight correlation for corneal pachymetry, SEQ and lenticule thickness.