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Incidence of suction loss low during refractive lenticule extraction
Suction loss during refractive lenticule extraction was uncommon and did not adversely affect visual outcomes, according to a study.
The retrospective case series included 340 refractive lenticule extraction procedures; 46 procedures involved femtosecond lenticule extraction, 185 involved small-incision lenticule extraction, and 109 involved pseudo small-incision lenticule extraction.
Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity and slit lamp biomicroscopy were assessed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Manifest refraction was evaluated at 1 month and 3 months.
Suction loss occurred in 11 cases (3.2%). Suction loss occurred in 4.3% of femtosecond lenticule extractions, 4.4% of small-incision lenticule extractions and 0.9% of pseudo small-incision lenticule extractions.
Four eyes experienced suction loss during the posterior lenticule cut, five eyes during the anterior lenticule cut and two eyes during the lamellar flap cut.
At 3 months, uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/25 or better in eight of the 11 eyes (72.7%) that had suction loss. Nine of 11 eyes (81.8%) had spherical equivalent within 0.5 D of emmetropia.
Suction was reapplied, and the procedure was completed without incident in nine of 11 cases (81.8%). The other two cases were converted 3 to 6 months later to femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK or LASEK.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.