Feature Story: Wavefront-Optimized Treatments for Advanced Surface Ablation

The use of a wavefront-optimized profile produced good efficacy, safety, and predictability in patients undergoing surface ablation, according to a study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Refractive Surgery.

In the study, advanced surface ablation using the wavefront-optimized profile of the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas) was performed in 300 eyes (303 patients). At 12 months postoperative, mean distance UCVA was 20/20.5, and in 94.7% of eyes distance UCVA was equal to or better than the preoperative distance BCVA (efficacy index, 1.05).

Additionally, 5.9% of eyes showed improvement in distance BCVA, and 93.7% maintained distance BCVA. No patient lost 2 or more lines of visual acuity (safety index, 1.05). The mean postoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent was -0.03 ±0.15 D, and 99% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of intended correction. Over- and undercorrection were seen in 0.66% and 0.33% of patients, respectively.

In patients whose ablation depth was 80 μm or more, the authors opted for the prophylactic use of topical mitomycin C intraoperatively to reduce corneal haze. At 12 months, 98% of eyes, regardless of mitomycin C application, had no more than 0.5 grade haze, and no eye had haze greater than grade 1.

1. Gambato C,Catania AG,Vujosevic S,Midena E.Wavefront-optimized surface ablation with the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser platform:12-month visual and refractive results. J Refract Surg.doi:10.3928/1081597X- 20110407-01 [Epub ahead of print].