Comparison of Clinical Outcomes and Visual Quality Using a Medium Versus Small Contact Glass in Patients Undergoing SMILE With Large Corneal Diameters

To compare the clinical outcomes and visual quality using a small (S) versus medium (M) size contact glass in eyes with large white-to-white (WTW) distance undergoing bilateral small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia correction.

This contralateral eye study involved 60 eyes of 30 patients (mean age: 27.20 years) undergoing bilateral SMILE for myopia/myopic astigmatism with a WTW distance of 12 mm or greater in both eyes, which were randomized to receive treatment with an S-contact glass in one eye and an M-contact glass in the fellow eye. Opaque bubble layer (OBL) was graded using a new grading system. On postoperative 1 day, 2 weeks, and 3 months, UDVA, CDVA, contrast sensitivity, Objective Scatter Index, and modulation transfer function cut-off values were compared between the two groups.

The mean OBL score was significantly lower in the S-contact glass group (28.18%) compared to the M-contact glass group (67.13%) (P < .01). At 1 day postoperatively, the UDVA, Objective Scatter Index score, and contrast sensitivity values for all spatial frequencies were significantly better in eyes treated with the S-contact glass compared to the M-contact glass (P ⩽ .05). At 3 months postoperatively, however, the UDVA, Objective Scatter Index score, modulation transfer function cut-off, and contrast sensitivity values were comparable for both groups. No eye in either group had intraoperative complications such as suction loss, incision/lenticule tears, or lenticule retention.

In corneas with a WTW distance of 12 mm or greater, docking with the S-contact glass resulted in significantly better immediate visual results due to less OBL formation and smoother tissue dissection compared to the M-contact glass. [.