HYPEROPIC SMILE - ONE YEAR CLINICAL RESULTS

To present the clinical results of laser kerato-lenticule extraction (KLEX) for hyperopia correction following market release of ReLEx SMILE (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG), including one-year postoperative outcomes.

Gemini Eye Clinics, Zlín, Czech Republic

Thirty-six eyes of nineteen patients (11 male; median age 27 years, range 20–40) underwent hyperopia correction using SMILE laser refractive surgery. The standard protocol included an optical zone of 6.3 mm and a 2.0 mm transition zone. Postoperatively, patients received topical Levofloxacin and a combined Tobramycin–Dexamethasone regimen three times daily. Follow-ups were performed at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and post 1 year, assessing subjective and objective refraction, monocular uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA, CDVA), uncorrected and distance-corrected near visual acuity (UNVA, DCNVA), and slit-lamp findings. All data are expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IQR, 25–75%).

The subjective spherical equivalent decreased significantly from +4.6 D (3.4; 5.6 IQR) preoperatively to 0.0 D (−0.59; 0.0) at 1 week and 0.0 D (−0.09; 0.19) at 3 months. UDVA improved from 0.48 logMAR (0.30; 0.70) to 0.15 logMAR (0.06; 0.40) at 1 week and 0.05 logMAR (0.0; 0.15) at 3 months, with 95% of eyes achieving 0.2 logMAR or better. CDVA showed a transient decrease to 0.04 logMAR (0.02; 0.11) at 3 months, with recovery over time. UNVA at 3 months reached J1. Mild interface debris (11%), midperipheral light scatter (5%), and punctate epitheliopathy (16%) were observed at 3 months. Comprehensive one-year visual and refractive stability data will be presented.

Initial results confirm that hyperopia correction with SMILE is effective and safe, with ongoing one-year data providing further insight into long-term stability and visual outcomes.