Small Incision Lenticule Extraction for Correction of Pediatric Unilateral Anisometropic Myopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Pediatric Ophthalmology

Background:

• Unilateral myopic anisometropia presents challenges in pediatric vision correction.
• Spectacles and contact lenses may be poorly tolerated or ineffective in some children.
• Refractive surgery offers a potential alternative for managing this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for treating unilateral myopic anisometropia in children.
• To assess visual acuity and refractive outcomes in pediatric patients with spectacle or contact lens intolerance.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 124 children with unilateral myopic anisometropic amblyopia.
• SMILE procedure performed between January 2014 and December 2016.
• Analysis of postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and refractive outcomes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in CDVA at 3-month and long-term follow-ups (P < .05).
• 75% of cases achieved spherical equivalent within ±0.50 D of intended correction.
• Low incidence of scarce and innocuous intraoperative complications.

Conclusions:

• SMILE is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric unilateral myopic anisometropia in spectacle/contact lens-intolerant children.
• Good refractive results and visual acuity improvements were observed.
• Further research with longer follow-up is needed to confirm long-term effects.