Preoperative and postoperative comparison of higher order aberrations in individuals 1 month after small incision lenticule extraction

Aim: This study analysed the visual outcomes of patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism following Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE). Visual outcomes were determined by Post-operative refraction, Uncorrected Visual Acuity and aberrometry estimated with iTrace aberrometer post operatively immediately and upto day 30. Results: On Post-Operative day 1, the spherocylinder group, attained an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6. Materials and Methods: The final post-operative refraction in all cases was within ±0.25 diopters of sphere in 18 eyes and within ±0.50 diopters of sphere in 10 eyes. The aberrometry values recorded on iTrace at the end of 30 days revealed a decrease in the total higher order aberrations. Mean higher order aberration is significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the post-operative status Similarly the pure cylinder group attained uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6 in all eyes on POD 30, with a decrease in higher order aberrations. Mean higher order aberration is significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the post-operative status. The final post-operative refraction in all cases was within ±0.25 diopters of cylinder in 48 eyes, within ±0.50 diopters of cylinder in 16 eyes and within ±0.75 in 14 eyes. Conclusion: SMILE is a successful procedure in treatment of both myopic spherical and cylindrical refractive errors. The faster healing and flapless advantage along with lesser incidence of dry eyes has an edge over conventional laser vision corrective procedures. The other important advantage is the reduction of higher order aberrations and better quality of vision. To conclude SMILE is safe and effective procedure for correction of myopic refractive errors and is also beneficial in reducing higher order aberrations.