AS-OCT as a Rescue Tool During Difficult Lenticule Extraction in SMILE

To report a case of lenticule adherent to the anterior cap during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and its subsequent management aided by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Case report.

A 24-year-old woman presented with high myopia of -8.00 -0.50 @ 180° in the right eye and -8.00 -0.25 @ 180° in the left eye and underwent SMILE. In the right eye, difficulty was experienced in separating the lenticule from adjacent stroma. AS-OCT examination confirmed the presence of the lenticule adherent to the anterior stromal cap with the plane of dissection visible posterior to the lenticule. A Sinskey hook was used to lift off the peripheral edge of the lenticule from the anterior cap and the stripping of the lenticule was continued in a centripetal fashion until a small edge of the lenticule was rolled over. The lenticule was then completely separated from the overlying stromal cap and extracted through the side cut using forceps. Postoperative AS-OCT confirmed complete removal of the lenticule. Postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/40 on day 1 and 20/20 on day 30 with a clear interface.

AS-OCT-guided identification of the retained lenticule followed by Sinskey hook-assisted lenticule extraction aids in completion of the surgical procedure in the same sitting with optimal visual and anatomical outcomes. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(5):352-354.].