Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objective. To evaluate the effiacy of surgical treatment for myopia through laser refractive surgeries utilizing an innovative technology – Refractive Lenticule Extraction/ Small-incision Lenticule Extraction (ReLEx SMILE). Materials and methods. The study involved 92 eyes with myopia (spherical equivalent (S.E.) ranging from −2.0 to −10.0 diopters and astigmatism not exceeding −3.0 diopters). The main group consisted of 21 patients (42 eyes) who underwent bilateral surgical treatment using ReLEx SMILE via femtosecond lamellar extraction through a small incision. In the control group, 25 patients (50 eyes) underwent bilateral standard Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. Results. One month after surgery, the S.E. in the ReLEx SMILE group accounted for −0.1 ± 0.2 diopters, −0.13 ± 0.34 diopters at three months, and −0.13 ± 0.40 diopters at six months. In the control group, S.E. comprised 0.15 ± 0.31 diopters at one month, −0.09 ± 0.27 diopters at three months, and −0.18 ± 0.43 diopters at six months of observation. Six months after surgery, 36 % (15 eyes) in the ReLEx SMILE group gained one line on the visual acuity chart; 48 % (20 eyes) remained unchanged, while 14 % (6 eyes) lost one line, and one eye lost two lines. In the LASIK control group, 28 % (14 eyes) gained one line, 62 % (31 eyes) remained unchanged, and 10 % (5 eyes) lost one line. No patients lost two lines. In the ReLEx SMILE group, all 42 eyes achieved a visual acuity of 0.7–0.9 or better six months after surgery, with 66 % (28 eyes) achieving 1.0–1.2. In the LASIK group, all 50 eyes had a visual acuity of 0.7–0.9 or better, with 75 % (38 eyes) achieving 0.9–1.0 or better. Conclusion. The ReLEx SMILE method for refractive correction of moderate to high myopia demonstrates comparable efficacy, safety, and predictability to LASIK surgery, while exhibiting superior stability.
Source: Pacific Medical Journal
Authors: V. Y. Melnikov, I. A. Shcherbakov, N. V. Filina, A. S. Polishchuk, A. V. Chichilimov
Institution: Vladivostok State Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4407709553