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SMILE for myopia has little effect on simulated night vision, contrast sensitivity
Small-incision lenticule extraction did not have a significant effect on simulated night vision and contrast sensitivity in myopic eyes, according to a study conducted in Singapore.
In addition, patients with low, moderate and high myopia had similar visual symptoms and refractive outcomes.
The prospective study included 50 eyes that underwent SMILE with the VisuMax 500 kHz femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec) at the Singapore National Eye Center. Twenty eyes had low myopia, and 30 eyes had moderate to high myopia.
The primary outcome measure was simulated night vision logMAR corrected distance visual acuity measured with a night vision goggle vision chart. Secondary outcomes were refractive outcomes and vision-related symptoms reported on a patient questionnaire.
SMILE did not have an effect on overall simulated night vision at 12 months; mean corrected distance visual acuity was 0.08, while mean mesopic corrected distance visual acuity was –0.02.
Simulated night vision improved from 0.099 preoperatively to 0.006 at 12 months postoperatively in the low myopia group (P = .008) and from 0.11 preoperatively to 0.12 at 12 months in the moderate to high myopia group.
Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 100% of eyes and 20/20 or better in 86% of eyes.
Final refraction was within 1 D of the target in 94% of eyes; the overall safety index was 0.17.
A majority of patients reported mild or no night-vision symptoms by 3 months postoperatively. – by Matt Hasson
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.