High patient satisfaction with Visx wavefront ablation, study says

NICE, France — The Visx WaveScan ablation method for custom laser vision correction appears to be safe and effective, according to early results from a multicenter trial

Douglas Koch, MD, presented the 1-month data from five centers in the United States using the Visx Star S3 laser for wavefront-guided ablation here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

At 1 month postoperatively, 95% of 103 eyes that underwent bilateral wavefront-guided LASIK treatment achieved 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and more than 70% achieved 20/16 UCVA. Mean spherical equivalent was –0.1 ±0.2, compared to a preoperative mean manifest spherical equivalent of –3.1 ±1.5 D (–0.8 to –6.5). Ninety-seven percent of patient were within ±0.5 D of emmetropia.

Postoperative UCVA was the same or better than preoperative best corrected visual acuity in 79% of eyes.

Mean higher-order RMS changed from 0.263 µm ±0.110 preoperatively to 0.324 µm ±0.096 postop. In 21% of eyes, higher-order RMS values improved and either improved or increased by 0.1 µm or less in 66% of eyes.

No eye lost more than one line of best corrected visual acuity.

Additionally, 86% of patients reported that they never or rarely experience halos, and 86% of patients were very satisfied with their night vision.