Comparison of ablation centration after bilateral sequential versus simultaneous LASIK.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

Background:

• Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a common procedure for correcting myopia.
• The centration of laser ablation is crucial for achieving optimal visual outcomes and minimizing side effects.
• Comparing sequential (one eye at a time) versus simultaneous (both eyes in one session) bilateral LASIK is important for surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the ablation centration achieved after bilateral sequential LASIK versus simultaneous LASIK for myopia correction.
• To evaluate the accuracy and consistency of laser ablation placement in both surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective randomized case series included 670 eyes from 335 patients undergoing myopic LASIK.
• Patients were divided into two groups: bilateral sequential LASIK (group 1) and simultaneous bilateral LASIK (group 2).
• Ablation centration was assessed 3 months postoperatively using topographic data.

Main Results:

• Mean decentration for the first eyes was similar between groups (0.39 mm sequential vs. 0.41 mm simultaneous, P = .30).
• Mean decentration for the second eyes was also comparable (0.28 mm sequential vs. 0.30 mm simultaneous, P = .36), with significant improvement in both groups.
• No significant differences were found in the distance or angular difference between the first and second eye ablation centers between the two surgical methods.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous bilateral LASIK demonstrates comparable ablation centration to sequential bilateral LASIK for myopic correction.
• The findings suggest that both surgical approaches provide similar accuracy in laser ablation placement.
• This comparability supports the use of simultaneous bilateral LASIK as a viable alternative to sequential surgery regarding refractive outcomes.