First efficacy and safety study of femtosecond lenticule extraction for the correction of myopia

PURPOSE: To prospectively study the feasibility of femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLE), a new method of refractive correction. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg and Helios Clinic, Erfurt, Germany. METHODS: A flap and a lenticule of intrastromal corneal tissue were simultaneously cut with a VisuMax femtosecond laser system. Next, the lenticule was manually removed and the flap repositioned. The target refraction in all cases was −0.75 diopter (D). RESULTS: All 10 myopic eyes in the initial treatment group completed the final 6-month follow-up. The mean patient age was 39 years. The mean spherical equivalent (SE) was −4.73 ± 1.48 (SD) preoperatively and −0.33 ± 0.61 D 6 months postoperatively. Ninety percent of eyes were within ±1.00 D and 40% were within ±0.50 D of the intended correction. No eye lost 2 or more Snellen lines. Corneal topography showed large, prolate optical zones. Aberrometry showed no significant induction of higher-order aberrations. On a standardized questionnaire, all patients said they were very satisfied with the results. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results indicate that FLE is a promising new corneal refractive procedure to correct myopia.