Customized surface ablation used on patient with thin corneas

A 34-year-old engineer underwent LASEK with the Bausch & Lomb Zyoptix.

Issue: August 15, 2004

ByElizabeth A. Davis, MD

History: A 34-year-old engineer presented for a refractive surgery consultation. He was extremely well-educated about the availability and success of wavefront ablations and desired a custom treatment. He was a contact lens wearer accustomed to crisp 20/15 vision. Because of thin corneas and some asymmetry on topography, a surface ablative procedure was chosen for refractive correction. Three-month results of one eye are presented for simplicity, as results were similar for both eyes.

Preoperative topography.

Preoperative wavefront measurement.

All images courtesy of Elizabeth A. Davis MS, FACS.

Preoperative examination:

Uncorrected visual acuity: 20/400

Manifest refraction: –3.25 +0.25 3 93

Visual acuity: 20/15

Procedure: LASEK with the Bausch & Lomb Zyoptix Wavefront System

Postoperative refraction:

Uncorrected visual acuity: 20/20

Refraction: Plano sphere

Vertical coma: Reduced in magnitude from 0.18 µm to –0.01 µm

Horizontal coma: Reduced in magnitude from 0.35 µm to –0.15 µm

Spherical aberration: Reduced from –0.33 µm to –0.07 µm

Discussion: This case demonstrates the usefulness of custom treatment for surface ablation. Results are equivalent to that expected of a LASIK procedure. The patient is extremely happy with his uncorrected acuity and quality of vision.

For Your Information:

Elizabeth A. Davis, MD, FACS, can be reached at Minnesota Eye Consultants, 710 E. 24th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404; 952-885-2467; fax: 952-885-9942; e-mail: eadavis@mneye.com. Dr. Davis is a paid consultant for Bausch & Lomb Surgical.