title: LASIK for myopia with the Zeiss meditec MEL 80.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate a new high-speed, small spot-scanner laser for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six consecutive eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism between -1.00 and -8.25 diopters (D) and up to -2.75 D astigmatism underwent LASIK treatment using the MEL 80 laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Parameters evaluated were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), residual refractive error, regression of correction, and aberrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean preoperative BSCVA was 20/20, which improved to 20/18 postoperatively. Postoperative UCVA was 20/20 at 1 month and 20/18 at 1 year. Uncorrected visual acuity > or = 20/20 was achieved in 58 (83%) of 70 eyes at 1 month and in 60 (88%) of 68 eyes at 1 year. The average refractive error before LASIK was -4.41 +/- 1.98 D. The mean residual refractive error was 0.14 +/- 0.31 D at 1 month and 0.13 +/- 0.30 D at 1 year. At 1-month and 1-year follow-up, respectively, 66 (94%) of 70 eyes and 65 (96%) of 68 eyes were within +/- 0.50 D of intended refractive correction. No eye lost two lines. At 1 month 17% of eyes and at 1 year 13% of eyes gained two lines or more. Between 1-month and 1-year follow-up, 100% of eyes were stable. Mean root-mean-square high order aberration changed from 0.20 microm preoperatively to 0.28 microm postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MEL 80 is effective and safe in the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
authors.affiliation: Goes Eye Centre, Antwerp, Belgium. frank@goes.be
authors.forename: Frank Jozef
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Goes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity