Early Visual Acuity And Contrast Sensitivity Recovery Following Smartsight Lenticule Extraction

To evaluate early postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and photopic contrast sensitivity recovery following SmartSight keratorefractive lenticule extraction for myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Private Eye Clinic Profesional, Belgrade, Serbia

This retrospective study included 100 eyes of 50 patients who underwent SmartSight keratorefractive lenticule extraction for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Postoperative examinations were performed at 1 day, 5 days, and 1 month after surgery. UDVA was assessed at all visits. Binocular photopic contrast sensitivity was assessed with the Metrovision Vision Monitor (MON2018F) five days and one month postoperatively, expressed in decibels (dB), evaluated as a contrast sensitivity function across spatial frequencies, and analyzed descriptively relative to normative values.

Preoperatively 88% of eyes had best corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 or better and all eyes had 20/25 or better. Mean cumulative dose used during lenticule creation was 533±24 mJ/cm² (range 487 to 590), with spot energy ranging from 75 to 80 nJ. On postoperative day 1, 73% of eyes had UDVA of 20/20 or better, and 95% achieved 20/25 or better.  On postoperative day 5, 92% of eyes had UDVA of 20/20 or better and 100% of 20/25 or better. At 1 month, 95% of eyes had UDVA of 20/20 or better, and 37% gained one or more lines of vision. At 5 days post op, 84% of patients demonstrated photopic contrast sensitivity within physiological normative limits. After one month that percentage increased to 98% of patients (49 of 50 patients).

SmartSight lenticule extraction provided rapid visual rehabilitation, with the most pronounced improvement occurring within the first five postoperative days. Photopic contrast sensitivity recovered quickly, reaching physiological levels in great majority of patients within the first five days and nearly all patients by one month.