LASIK Extremely Successful Irrespective of Laser Used

CHICAGO — With modern LASIK, the speed of visual recovery experienced by patients is rapid and contrast sensitivity function (CSF) is improved.

Daniel S. Durrie, MD, from Durrie Vision in Overland Park, Kansas, presented the results of a prospective study here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2012 Annual Meeting. He began his talk by stating, "I am interested in how fast vision comes back on the day of surgery."

The study involved 104 eyes (52 patients). The outcomes were objective testing of binocular and monocular uncorrected distance visual acuity and CSF 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 1 day, and 1 month after surgery. The patients were 24 to 47 years of age.

Dr. Durrie explained that most physicians find that patients "don't have this wow factor when they first sit up."

"We all have that experience where patients get off the table and say, 'I don't see very well'," said Rajesh K. Rajpal, MD, from the See Clearly Vision group in Arlington, Virginia, who sat on the panel that moderated the session.

Dr. Durrie and colleagues learned a lot by keeping their patients around. For example, it takes 4 hours or even 1 day before the vision comes back. Although patients don't want to drive early, they feel comfortable driving at 4 hours.

On day 1, 96% of eyes had 20/20 vision and 98% of patients had 20/16 vision in both eyes. At 1 month, 100% of patients had 20/20 vision, 92% had 20/16 vision, and 66% had 20/12 vision.

The study included femtosecond lasers from Ziemer, IntraLase, and Alcon, and excimer lasers from AMO and Alcon. Results were excellent with all laser combinations.

"Contrast sensitivity was the most interesting thing.... This was the reason that [patients] didn't see very well," Dr. Durrie reported. CSF was significantly improved at 1 month at all spatial frequencies and in each laser cohort.

"We also learned that our patients are not very comfortable during those first couple of hours.... They are light sensitive."

Sonia H. Yoo, MD, from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, who also sat on the panel, noted that these data provide "an opportunity to make a great procedure even better."

Dr. Durrie, Dr. Rajpal, and Dr. Yoo report consulting for multiple companies.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2012 Annual Meeting: Abstract PA021. Presented November 11, 2012.