Corneal higher order aberrations after myopic wavefront-optimized ablation.

PURPOSE: To analyze the induced corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs) after wavefront-optimized ablation. METHODS: Sixty-four myopic eyes that underwent wavefront-optimized myopic LASIK were divided into three groups based on spherical equivalent (SE): low myopia group (23 eyes with SE <-3.00 diopters [D]); moderate myopia group (27 eyes with SE between -3.00 and -6.00 D); and high myopia group (14 eyes with SE >-6.00 D). Total corneal HOA, corneal spherical aberrations, corneal coma through a 6-mm pupil size, and corneal eccentricity were measured with a dual Scheimpflug imaging device preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: An overall increase in total corneal HOA was observed with a mean of 0.18±0.18 µm (P<.01), although this induction was not statistically significant in the low myopic group with a mean of 0.006±0.15 µm (P=.85). Root-mean-square spherical aberration varied the most after myopic ablation, with an overall induction of positive spherical aberration of 0.27±0.25 µm (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the wavefront-optimized profile was designed to preserve the preoperative HOAs of the total eye, a significant induction of the corneal HOAs after myopic treatment was observed. The magnitude of the induced corneal HOA was related to the amount of intended correction. Corneal wavefront profiles do not reflect the visual performance; however, they provide relevant information, which may help in optimizing new laser treatment algorithms.

Clinical results of topography-based customized ablations for myopia and myopic astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes after primary treatments for myopia and myopic astigmatism with topography-based ablation profiles on the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q platform (Alcon Laboratories Inc). METHODS: Records of patients who underwent topography-guided, Q-adjusted LASIK were retrieved and analyzed. Patients with mean refractive spherical equivalent up to -16.00 diopters (D) and cylindrical errors up to 6.00 D were included (2051 eyes). Refractive outcomes and visual acuities were analyzed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Manifest spherical refractive error decreased from -5.05 +/- 2.33 to +0.04 +/- 0.35 D. Manifest cylindrical refractive error decreased from 0.83 +/- 0.75 to 0.23 +/- 0.22 D. At 3 months postoperatively, 86.1% (1766 eyes) had a spherical equivalent refraction within +/- 0.50 D of targeted refraction. The number of eyes with uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/16 and 20/20 was 851 (41.5%) and 1495 (72.9%), respectively. At 3 months, 0.10% (2 eyes) lost more than 2 lines of corrected distance visual acuity and a loss of 2 lines occurred in 0.24% (5 eyes). All patients who lost lines of visual acuity were found to have corneal erosions related to dryness and recovered vision on further follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this retrospective study demonstrate refractive predictability, efficacy, and safety comparable to other treatment modalities such as wavefront-optimized and wavefront-guided treatments. Results are also similar to those reported with other topography-guided systems.

Initial surface temperature of PMMA plates used for daily laser calibration affects the predictability of corneal refractive surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relevance of initial temperature of the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates used as a target for photoablation during calibration of excimer lasers performed in daily clinical routine. METHODS: An experimental argon fluoride excimer laser with a repetition rate of 1050 Hz, a radiant exposure of 500 mJ/cm², and single pulse energy of 2.1 mJ was used for photoablation of PMMA plates. The initial plate temperature varied from 10.1°C to 75.7°C. The initial temperature was measured with an infrared camera and the central ablation depth of a myopic ablation of -9.00 diopters (D) with an optical zone of 6.5 mm was measured by means of a surface profiling system. RESULTS: The ablation depth increased linearly from 73.9 to 96.3 µm within a temperature increase from 10.1°C to 75.7°C (increase rate of 0.3192 µm/K). The linear correlation was found to be significant (P<.05) with a coefficient of determination of R²=0.95. Based on these results and assuming a standard room temperature of 20°C, optimal plate temperature was calculated to be 15°C to 25°C to maintain an ablation within 0.25 D. CONCLUSIONS: The temperature of PMMA plates for clinical laser calibration should be controlled ideally within a range of approximately ±5°C, to avoid visually significant refractive error due to calibration error. Further experimental investigations are required to determine the influence of different initial corneal temperatures on the refractive outcome.

Effect of air-flow on the evaluation of refractive surgery ablation patterns.

An Allegretto Eye-Q laser platform (Wavelight GmbH, Erlangen, Germany) was used to study the effect of air-flow speed on the ablation of artificial polymer corneas used for testing refractive surgery patterns. Flat samples of two materials (PMMA and Filofocon A) were ablated at four different air flow conditions. The shape and profile of the ablated surfaces were measured with a precise non-contact optical surface profilometer. Significant asymmetries in the measured profiles were found when the ablation was performed with the clinical air aspiration system, and also without air flow. Increasing air-flow produced deeper ablations, improved symmetry, and increased the repeatability of the ablation pattern. Shielding of the laser pulse by the plume of smoke during the ablation of plastic samples reduced the central ablation depth by more than 40% with no-air flow, 30% with clinical air aspiration, and 5% with 1.15 m/s air flow. A simple model based on non-inertial dragging of the particles by air flow predicts no central shielding with 2.3 m/s air flow, and accurately predicts (within 2 µm) the decrease of central ablation depth by shielding. The shielding effects for PMMA and Filofocon A were similar despite the differences in the ablation properties of the materials and the different full-shielding transmission coefficient, which is related to the number of particles ejected and their associated optical behavior. Air flow is a key factor in the evaluation of ablation patterns in refractive surgery using plastic models, as significant shielding effects are found with typical air-flow levels used under clinical conditions. Shielding effects can be avoided by tuning the air flow to the laser repetition rate.

Laboratory measurement of the absorption coefficient of riboflavin for ultraviolet light (365 nm).

PURPOSE: Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is an increasingly used treatment technique for stabilizing the cornea in keratoconus. Cross-linking (polymerization) between collagen fibrils is induced by riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ultraviolet light (365 nm). Although reported to reach a constant value at higher riboflavin concentrations, the Lambert-Beer law predicts a linear increase in the absorption coefficient. This work was carried out to determine absorption behavior at different riboflavin concentrations and to further investigate the purported plateau absorption coefficient value of riboflavin and to identify possible bleaching effects. METHODS: The Lambert-Beer law was used to calculate the absorption coefficient at various riboflavin concentrations. The following investigated concentrations of riboflavin solutions were prepared using a mixture of 0.5% riboflavin and 20% Dextran T500 dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride solution: 0%, 0.02%, 0.03%, 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.08%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5%, and were investigated with and without aperture plate implementation. An additional test series measured the transmitted power at selected riboflavin concentrations over time. RESULTS: In diluted solutions, a linear correlation exists between the absorption coefficient and riboflavin concentration. The absorption coefficient reaches a plateau, but this occurs at a higher riboflavin concentration (0.1%) than previously reported (just above 0.04%). Transmitted light power increases over time, indicating a bleaching effect of riboflavin. CONCLUSIONS: The riboflavin concentration can be effectively varied as a treatment parameter in a considerably broader range than previously thought.

Technical aspects of the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility and technical features of the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser (WaveLight GmbH) in refractive and corneal laser surgery. METHODS: The reproducibility of femtosecond laser-created flap dimensions and channels used for corneal ring segment implantation were measured by means of an optical coherence tomography system in porcine corneas. The increase in the intraocular pressure (IOP) during applanation with the corneal interface was measured by means of an IOP sensor. The possibility of creating a channel for gas diffusion within the stroma was investigated to minimize opaque bubble layer formation. RESULTS: The technical features, such as optical design, pulse energy, and scanning algorithms at a high repetition rate, allow reproducibility for tissue cutting with a standard deviation of <10 µm in depth and 0.1 mm laterally. Intraocular pressure increases up to 150 mmHg during applanation. The use of a gas channel minimizes the creation of an opaque bubble layer during the femtosecond laser procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser provides a high reproducibility for cutting three-dimensional tissue structures. The IOP increase is comparable to other microkeratomes and femtosecond lasers. The minimized opaque bubble layers allow the surgeon to perform an excimer laser treatment immediately after FS200 flap creation.

Optical ray tracing for the calculation of optimized corneal ablation profiles in refractive treatment planning.

PURPOSE: Optical calculations have shown that wavefront-based ablation profiles as well as intraocular lens (IOL) implantations can cause residual aberrations or even induce significant additional aberrations due to the poor registry between the eye's optical components. These effects can be exacerbated in eyes that require higher corrections. Individualized eye models can provide accurate ablation profiles for these cases. The aim of this report is to analyze the relevance of individualized eye models for refractive treatment planning from a theoretical point of view. METHODS: A method for the customization of eye models based on various types of measurement data of a specific patient is presented and the calculation of optimal ablation profiles and IOL shapes by means of ray tracing through customized model eyes are discussed. Topography data with an original centration on the corneal apex were aligned on the pupil center for the creation of eye models. RESULTS: An ideal ablation profile or a customized IOL can be calculated based on the obtained individualized eye models. Calculations have shown that in theory ray-tracing optimized ablation profiles do not leave any residual aberrations in the eye whereas wavefront-guided corrections were found to have the potential to increase specific types of aberrations by a factor of two. This is due to the negligence of the multi-lens structure of the eye. CONCLUSIONS: Optical ray tracing algorithms allow the highest degree of customization. The systematic induction of higher order aberrations by means of wavefront-guided treatments or standard IOLs has to be overcome by such a method. However, these theoretical observations must be compared to the corresponding measurement accuracies and precisions and they must be supported by future clinical trials.

Wavefront-guided versus wavefront-optimized laser in situ keratomileusis: contralateral comparative study.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of wavefront-guided and wavefront-optimized treatment in fellow eyes of patients having laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia. SETTING: Medical and Vision Research Foundation, Tamil Nadu, India. METHODS: This prospective comparative study comprised 27 patients who had wavefront-guided LASIK in 1 eye and wavefront-optimized LASIK in the fellow eye. The Hansatome (Bausch & Lomb) was used to create a superior-hinged flap and the Allegretto laser (WaveLight Laser Technologie AG), for photoablation. The Allegretto wave analyzer was used to measure ocular wavefront aberrations and the Functional Acuity Contrast Test chart, to measure contrast sensitivity before and 1 month after LASIK. The refractive and visual outcomes and the changes in aberrations and contrast sensitivity were compared between the 2 treatment modalities. RESULTS: One month postoperatively, 92% of eyes in the wavefront-guided group and 85% in the wavefront-optimized group had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better; 93% and 89%, respectively, had a postoperative spherical equivalent refraction of +/-0.50 diopter. The differences between groups were not statistically significant. Wavefront-guided LASIK induced less change in 18 of 22 higher-order Zernike terms than wavefront-optimized LASIK, with the change in positive spherical aberration the only statistically significant one (P= .01). Contrast sensitivity improved at the low and middle spatial frequencies (not statistically significant) and worsened significantly at high spatial frequencies after wavefront-guided LASIK; there was a statistically significant worsening at all spatial frequencies after wavefront-optimized LASIK. CONCLUSION: Although both wavefront-guided and wavefront-optimized LASIK gave excellent refractive correction results, the former induced less higher-order aberrations and was associated with better contrast sensitivity.

Effect of riboflavin-UVA-induced collagen cross-linking on intraocular pressure measurement.

PURPOSE: Corneal collagen cross-linking (CCL) with riboflavin and ultraviolet A irradiation has recently been introduced for treatment of corneal ectasia. Yet a CCL-induced increase in corneal rigidity may interfere with intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. In an investigation of the effect of CCL on the accuracy of IOP measurements, IOP readings before and after CCL were compared. METHODS: Ten human eye bank corneas were de-epithelialized and mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. The hydrostatically controlled reference pressure in the chamber was adjusted from 10 to 40 mm Hg in 5-mm Hg steps. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT; Haag Streit, Könitz, Switzerland), dynamic contour tonometry (DCT; Pascal tonometer; Ziemer Ophthalmics, Port, Switzerland), and the TonoPen XL (TP; Tono-Pen XL, Medtronic, Jacksonville, FL) before and after CCL, which was performed with a 0.1% riboflavin solution and 30 minutes of UVA irradiation. RESULTS: Before CCL, GAT, and DCT readings showed an excellent concordance with the manometric reference pressure, whereas TP overestimated the true IOP. After CCL, the reliability of IOP readings decreased with all three tonometers. This decrease resulted in a slight overestimation of mean IOP, but there were also some potentially dangerous underestimations in some individual corneas. The mean (+/-SD) difference between IOP readings after and before CCL was +1.8 (3.5) mm Hg for DCT, +2.9 (6.1) mm Hg for GAT, and +3.1 (8.3) mm Hg for TP (P

Safety of UVA-riboflavin cross-linking of the cornea.

PURPOSE: To study potential damage to ocular tissue during corneal collagen cross-linking (X-linking) by means of the riboflavin/UVA (370 nm) approach. METHODS: Comparison of the currently used technique with officially accepted guidelines regarding direct UV damage and the damage created by the induced free radicals (photochemical damage). RESULTS: The currently used UVA radiant exposure of 5.4 mJ/cm and the corresponding irradiance of 3 mW/cm2 is below the known damage thresholds of UVA for the corneal endothelium, lens, and retina. Regarding the photochemical damage caused by the free radicals, the damage thresholds for keratocytes and endothelial cells are 0.45 and 0.35 mW/cm, respectively. In a 400-microm-thick cornea saturated with riboflavin, the irradiance at the endothelial level was 0.18 mW/cm, which is a factor of 2 smaller than the damage threshold. CONCLUSIONS: After corneal X-linking, the stroma is depopulated of keratocytes approximately 300 microm deep. Repopulation of this area takes up to 6 months. As long as the cornea treated has a minimum thickness of 400 microm (as recommended), the corneal endothelium will not experience damage, nor will deeper structures such as lens and retina. The light source should provide a homogenous irradiance, avoiding hot spots.

The effect of phenylephrine and cyclopentolate on objective wavefront measurements.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of phenylephrine and cyclopentolate on wavefront refraction and fourth order spherical aberration C12. METHODS: This cohort study comprised 151 eyes with sphere up to -10.00 diopters (D) and cylinder -3.75 D. Aberrometry was performed using the ALLEGRO WAVE (WaveLight Laser Technologies AG, Erlangen, Germany) after instillation of phenylephrine 5% yielding objective phenylephrine refraction in accommodated steady-state, as well as after cyclopentolate 0.5% providing objective cyclopentolate refraction in non-accommodated state. Accommodation target fogging was turned off. Wavefront aberrations were expressed by Zernike expansion up to the sixth order, and paraxial curvature matching with Taylor series was used to calculate objective wavefront sphere. RESULTS: Objective wavefront sphere was not influenced by pupil size. Eyes showed substantial accommodation after phenylephrine with a myopic shift of -0.66 D comparing objective to subjective manifest sphere (r=0.942, P<.001). Cycloplegic eyes behaved like a model eye, with a difference of -0.08 D between objective and subjective cycloplegic sphere (r=0.976, P<.001). C12 increased ten-fold from 4.0- to 7.0-mm pupil size, keeping the same sign. Comparing cyclopentolate with phenylephrine, the sign of C12 changed in a positive direction by an average +0.124 +/- 0.109 microm (range: -0.052 to +0.632 microm) at 7.0 mm, whereas the total higher order aberrations changed very little. A good correlation was found between C12 and the change in objective wavefront sphere between cyclopentolate and phenylephrine (r=0.75, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fogging of the accommodation target should be used for wavefront measurements. Weaker cycloplegic agents, such as tropicamide, may be used to ensure relaxed but not completely paralyzed accommodation, which would yield "manifest" aberration values close to the natural resting state.

Q-factor customized ablation profile for the correction of myopic astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To compare the results of the Q-factor customized aspheric ablation profile with the wavefront-guided customized ablation pattern for the correction of myopic astigmatism. SETTING: Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in a controlled study in which the nondominant eye was treated with the Q-factor customized profile (custom-Q study group) and the dominant eye was treated with wavefront-guided customized ablation (control group). Preoperative and 1-month postoperative high-contrast visual acuity, low-contrast visual acuity, and glare visual acuity, as well as aberrometry and asphericity of the cornea, were compared between the 2 groups. All eyes received laser in situ keratomileusis surgery, and the laser treatment was accomplished with the Wavelight Eye-Q 400 Hz excimer laser. RESULTS: For corrections up to -9 diopters (D) of myopia, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups regarding any visual or optical parameter except coma-like aberrations (3rd Zernike order), where the wavefront-guided group was significantly better 1 month after surgery (P = .002). For corrections up to -5 D (spherical equivalent), the Q-factor optimized treated eyes had a significantly smaller shift toward oblate cornea: DeltaQ15 = 0.25 in Q-factor customized versus DeltaQ15 = 0.38 in wavefront-guided treatment (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Regarding safety and refractive efficacy, custom-Q ablation profiles were clinically equivalent to wavefront-guided profiles in corrections of myopia up to -9 D and astigmatism up to 2.5 D. Corneal asphericity was less impaired by the custom-Q treatment up to -5 D of myopia.

Customized ablation algorithm for the treatment of steep central islands after refractive laser surgery.

Steep central island (SCI) formation after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) represents a major drawback in the visual rehabilitation of patients after refractive laser surgery. Because of the small size of SCIs, current ablation algorithms are unable to properly calculate an ablation pattern for customized retreatment. We present the use of a new ablation algorithm for the treatment of SCIs that occurred after PRK or LASIK surgery. This algorithm uses a smaller zone of approximation and takes into account the spherical shift induced by removal of the SCI. In all 3 eyes treated, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity increased to 20/16 and remained stable at the 1- and 3-month follow-up, with disappearance of the SCI in corneal topography. This new treatment algorithm may be of benefit to patients experiencing visual side effects due to SCI formation after PRK or LASIK surgery.

Corneal and total wavefront aberrations in phakic and pseudophakic eyes after implantation of monofocal foldable intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the correlation between corneal and total wavefront aberrations in normal phakic and pseudophakic eyes after implantation of foldable monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). SETTING: University Hospital, Eye Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland. METHODS: Wavefront aberrations and corneal topography of 29 eyes that had cataract surgery with implantation of hydrophobic monofocal foldable IOL (AcrySof, Alcon Labs) were measured at least 2 months postoperatively and compared with wavefront measurements performed in 33 normal young phakic eyes. The total wavefront aberrations were measured by means of a Tscherning wavefront sensor at a wavelength of 660 nm (Allegro Wave Analyzer, WaveLight Laser Technology). The corneal aberrations were derived from corneal topography measurements ascertained with a Placido-based topography system (Keratograph 70600, Oculus). The correlations between corneal and total wavefront aberrations were calculated for all Zernike coefficients from 2nd up to 6th order. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between corneal and total wavefront aberrations in astigmatism C3 and C5 as well as for all 3rd-order Zernike coefficient in both groups (except C8 in the pseudophakic group). The correlation between corneal and total astigmatism (C3 and C5) was higher in the pseudophakic than in the phakic eyes. In contrast, the correlation for the coma-like aberrations was weaker in the pseudophakic eyes (R>0.18) than in the group of phakic eyes (R>0.58). In both groups, there was no significant correlation between spherical aberration C12 of the cornea and the C12 of the total eye. CONCLUSION: After cataract surgery with an IOL implantation, both vertical and horizontal coma, as well as spherical aberration, were of higher value than in normal eyes. The compensation effect for corneal aberrations of the natural lens is absent in the IOL and explains these findings. The corneal aberrations in pseudophakic eyes reflect better the optical quality of the total eye than the phakic eyes. Nevertheless, the missing correlation in some specific aberrations, such as C8 and C10, shows the inability of corneal topography to provide suitable information on the optical quality of the total eye after cataract surgery. Thus, both corneal and total wavefront measurements are relevant for the assessment of outcomes after cataract surgery.

Rate of riboflavin diffusion from intrastromal channels before corneal crosslinking.

PURPOSE: To determine the diffusion of riboflavin from intrastromal channels through the effective diffusion coefficients compared with traditional axial diffusion with epithelium on or off. SETTING: Advanced Optical Imaging Laboratory, University College Dublin, and Wellington Eye Clinic, Sandyford, Dublin, Ireland. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: The rate of diffusion in whole-mounted porcine eyes was monitored for a 30 minutes using an optical setup with a charge-coupled device camera and a bandpass filter (central wavelength 550 nm and 40 nm bandpass) to image the fluorescence under ultraviolet illumination (365 nm wavelength). For comparison, an isotropic corneal stroma with an annular channel was modeled numerically for different diffusion constants and boundary conditions. RESULTS: Numerical and experimental results were compared, allowing determination of the effective diffusion coefficient for each case. Experimental results for 6 different riboflavin solutions were in all cases found to be higher than for the common crosslinking (CXL) riboflavin protocol, where the diffusion constant is D0 = 6.5 × 10(-5) mm(2)/sec. For the intrastromal channel, 2 isotonic solutions containing riboflavin 0.1% correlated with a diffusion constant of 5D0 = 32.5 × 10(-5) mm(2)/sec. Hypotonic solutions and transepithelium had a higher diffusion coefficient approaching 10D0 = 65.0 × 10(-5) mm(2)/sec, which is an order-of-magnitude increase compared with the typical diffusion coefficient found in standard CXL. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, riboflavin had a faster stromal diffusion when injected into a corneal channel than when applied as drops to the anterior corneal surface. Further numerical modeling might allow optimization of the channel structure for any specific choice of riboflavin.

Optimizing Corneal Cross-Linking in the Treatment of Keratoconus: A Comparison of Outcomes After Standard- and High-Intensity Protocols.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of accelerated (AXL) and standard corneal cross-linking (CXL) protocols in patients with progressive keratoconus. METHODS: Progressive keratoconus patients (14-40 years) received either standard-intensity CXL or high-intensity CXL (AXL). Corneas were exposed to ultraviolet-A 365 nm light for 30 minutes at an irradiance of 3.0 mW/cm in the standard CXL group and to ultraviolet-A 365 nm light for 10 minutes at 9.0 mW/cm in the AXL group. Changes in uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, Kmax, and Kmean were used to determine treatment efficacy. Safety was determined by the incidence of adverse events and occurrence of loss of 2 or more lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Outcomes for CXL versus AXL were compared to determine differences in safety and efficacy between treatment groups. RESULTS: Thirty-six eyes of 34 patients (mean age, 27.9 ± 7.6 years) underwent AXL; 66 eyes of 53 patients (mean age, 30.0 ± 8.0 years) underwent standard-intensity CXL. There was no significant difference in any outcome measures between the groups. For AXL, there seemed to be more corneal flattening, with a statistically significant reduction in Kmean at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, when compared preoperatively (P < 0.01). There were no adverse events or complications in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was more corneal flattening in AXL patients 6 to 12 months postoperatively, suggesting that AXL may be a promising alternative to CXL in stabilizing corneal ectasia.

Simulation of eye-tracker latency, spot size, and ablation pulse depth on the correction of higher order wavefront aberrations with scanning spot laser systems.

PURPOSE: The aim of this theoretical work was to investigate the robustness of scanning spot laser treatments with different laser spot diameters and peak ablation depths in case of incomplete compensation of eye movements due to eye-tracker latency. METHODS: Scanning spot corrections of 3rd to 5th Zernike order wavefront errors were numerically simulated. Measured eye-movement data were used to calculate the positioning error of each laser shot assuming eye-tracker latencies of 0, 5, 30, and 100 ms, and for the case of no eye tracking. The single spot ablation depth ranged from 0.25 to 1.0 microm and the spot diameter from 250 to 1000 microm. The quality of the ablation was rated by the postoperative surface variance and the Strehl intensity ratio, which was calculated after a low-pass filter was applied to simulate epithelial surface smoothing. RESULTS: Treatments performed with nearly ideal eye tracking (latency approximately 0) provide the best results with a small laser spot (0.25 mm) and a small ablation depth (250 microm). However, combinations of a large spot diameter (1000 microm) and a small ablation depth per pulse (0.25 microm) yield the better results for latencies above a certain threshold to be determined specifically. Treatments performed with tracker latencies in the order of 100 ms yield similar results as treatments done completely without eye-movement compensation. CONCWSIONS: Reduction of spot diameter was shown to make the correction more susceptible to eye movement induced error. A smaller spot size is only beneficial when eye movement is neutralized with a tracking system with a latency <5 ms.

Two-step procedure to enlarge small optical zones after photorefractive keratectomy for high myopia.

We describe a method for the visual rehabilitation of patients with small optical zones and related complaints after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia. In many of these cases from the early 1990s, low central corneal thickness in combination with residual myopia did not allow for enlargement of the small optical zone by a topography-guided treatment in the first instance. We therefore perform, as a first step, a clear lens exchange aiming at hyperopia. This enables us to perform, as a second step, a topography-guided customized PRK with marked enlargement of the optical zone. Such 2-step procedures may be of great benefit to patients with small optical zones and low central corneal thickness.

Treatment-induced shifts of ocular reference axes used for measurement centration.

PURPOSE: To determine the shifts of the main corneal reference points in dependence of the chosen centration axis for the treatment. SETTING: Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Zurich, Switzerland. METHODS: Computer simulations were performed on several variants of the Gullstrand-Emsley schematic eye, which was modified by an off-axis fovea. Refractive corrections were simulated by centering Munnerlyn's formula on each of the 4 corneal reference points determined in the preoperative eye: the optical axis, the line of sight, the visual axis, and the first corneal reflex. Subsequently, the postoperative locations of these axes were determined and compared with the preoperative values. RESULTS: The postoperative line of sight was found to depend least on the choice of the preoperative centration axis for both myopic and hyperopic treatments. It undergoes a maximum movement of 0.040 mm when centering a +5 diopter correction on the preoperative line of sight, whereas the corneal reflex, which is used for centering most topography systems, can move by more than 0.10 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Centration of the correction on the preoperative line of sight enabled good comparability between preoperative and postoperative measurements that use the line of sight as a reference axis. Yet, centration of the treatment on the preoperative line of sight does not ensure comparability between preoperative and postoperative measurements that use the corneal reflex as a reference axis such as most corneal topography systems. Axis shifts might lead to misinterpretation of data such as a wrong diagnosis of a decentered ablation or changes in the Zernike representation.