SMILE may yield faster nerve fiber regeneration vs. femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK

Issue: December 10, 2015

Small incision lenticule extraction may have a more rapid recovery of subbasal nerve fiber density, but outcomes are similar to femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK at 6 months postoperatively, according to a study.

The retrospective review evaluated the confocal microscopy images of 15 patients who had small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in one eye and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK in the fellow eye to compare postoperative corneal nerve fiber regeneration.

There were no differences in preoperative characteristics between the two groups of eyes.

At 1 month postoperatively, subbasal nerve fiber density was significantly higher in the SMILE group than the LASIK group at 1,505 ± 627 µm/mm² vs. 1,107 ± 509 µm/mm² (P = .03), as well as at 3 months postoperatively at 1,534 ± 503 µm/mm² vs. 1,194 ± 485 µm/mm² (P = .04), respectively.

There was no statistical difference between the two groups at 6 months postoperatively.

“It may be assumed that the main advantage of SMILE is not a faster recovery to preoperative levels throughout the postoperative period, but less nerve fiber damage and a better innervated anterior stroma in the early postoperative period,” the study authors said. “This may be an advantage in decreasing symptoms of dry eye symptoms in the early postoperative period.” – by Kristie L. Kahl

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

Published by:

Sources/Disclosures

Collapse

Source:

Agca A, et al. J Refract Surg. 2015;doi:10.3928/1081597X-20150820-04.