Contact lens-intolerant optometrist receives CustomCornea LASIK

The procedure was performed with the Alcon LADARVision system.

Issue: October 1, 2005

ByWilliam Tullo, OD

History: After wearing custom soft toric contact lenses for more than 20 years, I became contact lens intolerant at the age of 42. Additionally, I was tired of my dependence on glasses.

Preoperative examination:

Uncorrected visual acuity: Right eye 20/200; left eye 20/400
Manifest refraction: Right eye –2.00 –4.25 × 022; left eye –1.00 –4.00 × 160
Best corrected visual acuity: Right eye 20/20; left eye 20/15
Pupils: Scotopic 8 mm, photopic 5 mm (both eyes)
Pachymetry: Right eye 575 µm; left eye 575 µm
Vertical and horizontal coma: Right eye 0.21 µm; left eye 0.26 µm
Spherical aberration: Right eye 0.44 µm; left eye 0.42 µm
Total higher-order aberrations: Right eye 0.62 µm at 6.5 mm; left eye 0.62 µm at 6.5 mm

Patient’s left eye.
Images: Tullo B

Patient’s right eye.

System: Alcon CustomCornea LADARVision System (software 3.62), Alcon LADARVision 4000 Excimer Laser (software 5.01 international), Moria One Disposable –1/8.0 130 plate.

Daniel S. Durrie, MD [photo]
Daniel S. Durrie,
Editor

Procedure: Alcon CustomCornea LASIK in both eyes.

Right eye: –1.07 –4.56 × 19 (+0.75 D offset)
Left eye: –0.78 –3.89 × 161 (+0.16 D offset)
Ablation depth: Right eye 120.1 µm; left eye 105.4 µm
Optic zone: 6.5 mm in both eyes

3 months postop:

UCVA: Right eye 20/15–1; left eye 20/20
Refraction: Right eye plano –0.25 × 135; left eye +0.25 –0.75 × 175
Lower-order aberrations (sphere and cylinder): Right eye –0.09 –0.70 × 142; left eye 0.19 –0.88 × 177
Vertical and horizontal coma: Right eye 0.48 µm; left eye 0.21 µm
Spherical aberration: Right eye 0.16 µm; left eye 0.17 µm
Total higher-order aberrations: Right eye 0.81 µm at 6.5 mm; left eye 0.47 µm at 6.5 mm

Discussion: I am pleased with the outcome thus far. Subjective vision is better than with spectacles and custom soft toric contact lenses prior to surgery. There have been no subjective complaints of visual disturbances and no night vision complaints. I have had fewer presbyopic symptoms postoperatively, possibly due to reduction in positive spherical aberration in both eyes.

For Your Information:

William Tullo, OD, can be reached at 609-306-5122; e-mail: bill.tullo@tlcvision.com. Dr. Tullo has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.