SMILE Rescue: Delayed Lenticule Removal in a Patient With High Myopia

To report successful stromal lenticule extraction, 18 weeks after an aborted small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedure.

Case report.

SMILE was planned in both eyes in another center to correct high myopia. The right eye was treated uneventfully with immediate lenticule extraction and normal postoperative corneal and topographic appearance. Femtosecond laser treatment was applied to the left eye, but the lenticule could not be removed and the procedure was aborted. Eighteen weeks later, lenticule extraction was attempted again with success. Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved from counting fingers to 20/15, with a successful refractive outcome as planned.

Delayed lenticule extraction was successful in achieving the target refractive outcome. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of successful delayed lenticule extraction following an incomplete SMILE procedure. Target refractive outcomes were achieved and there were no postoperative complications. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(3):199-202.].