Elsevier

Ophthalmology

Volume 109, Issue 5, May 2002, Pages 965-972
Ophthalmology

Article for CME Credit
Tracker-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia using the autonomous scanning and tracking laser: 12-month results1

Presented in part at the ESCRS, Brussels, September 2000, and at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dallas, Texas, October 2000.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(02)01013-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To determine the safety, efficacy, and predictability of the Autonomous scanning and tracking laser for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure.

Design

Retrospective, noncomparative case series.

Participants

The first 129 consecutive eyes with up to −13.00 diopters (D) of myopia and −5.00 D of astigmatism.

Intervention

Myopic tracker-assisted LASIK (T-LASIK) using the Autonomous Laser (Alcon Summit Autonomous, Waltham, MA) and Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Bracknell, England).

Main outcome measures

Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest spherical equivalent (MSE), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and complications were studied.

Results

At 12 months, the mean MSE was −0.02 ± 1.01 D, with 79.1% of eyes within 0.5 D and 89.9% of eyes within 1 D of the intended correction. UCVA was 20/20 or better in 71.4%, 20/25 or better in 78.5%, and 20/40 or better in 92.8% of eyes. Two eyes (1.6%) lost 2 lines and five eyes (3.8%) gained 2 lines of BSCVA. Sixteen eyes (12.4%) required retreatment to correct residual myopia or astigmatism. After retreatment, 14 of 16 eyes were within 0.5 D of emmetropia. Nine eyes (6.9%) had minor flap complications; two eyes (1.6%) had grade 2 diffuse lamellar keratitis, of which one eye had associated peripheral flap melt. One eye showed slight decentration; this eye was rolling throughout the procedure. All eyes had some dryness, with 10% severe enough to require temporary punctual occlusion with plugs.

Conclusions

T-LASIK for myopic astigmatism with the Autonomous Laser is relatively safe, effective, and predictable. The tracker seems to be effective, and the complications are relatively few. Retreatment rates are acceptable and can be performed safely and effectively to improve visual outcome. The outcomes are comparable with other published data.

Section snippets

Patients and methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of all eyes treated at one center (Rosen Eye Surgery Centre) with at least 12 month follow-up since taking delivery of the Autonomous Laser in May 1998. Ethics committee approval was not required for this study. Data of all patients undergoing T-LASIK for myopia and compound myopic astigmatism were included in the study. Until July 2000, 12-month data were available for 129 eyes treated with T-LASIK for spherical myopia between −0.50 and −10.00 D or for

Results

A total of 137 eyes was treated during this period. Eight eyes were lost to follow-up. Twelve-month data are available for 129 eyes, representing a 94.2% accountability. Figure 1 shows the age distribution of the patients. Half the patients were in the presbyopic age range (40+). Ninety-three percent of the treatments performed were applied over a 6.5-mm optical zone and 1.0-mm blend zone, and only 5.4% were applied with 6.0-mm optical zone.

Discussion

These clinical results show that the Autonomous Laser is relatively safe, predictable, and effective in correction of low-to-moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism over 1 year. Moreover, the results show excellent long-term stability, which is achieved at a very early stage, within 1 month. No patient lost more than 2 lines of best-corrected visual acuity, and only two patients lost 2 lines. One of these patients had a flap melt because of untreated lid margin disease.

The effectiveness of our

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The authors have no proprietary interest in any of the materials presented in this article.

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