title: Comparison of higher-order aberrations after wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in 70 eyes (38 patients) that had wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with those in 70 eyes (40 patients) that had wavefront-guided laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for the treatment of myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Myongdong Bal-geun sesang Eye Clinic, and Seran Eye Center, Seoul, Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 140 consecutive eyes of 78 patients were treated with wavefront-guided LASIK or LASEK according to the patient's choice after each procedure had been thoroughly explained. The patients were followed for 6 months. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, and wavefront aberrations were measured at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in postoperative BCVA, UCVA, and manifest refraction between groups. The mean root-mean-square wavefront error of HOAs for a scotopic pupil in the wavefront-guided LASIK group was significantly smaller than that in the wavefront-guided LASEK group at 1 month. Analyzing individual Zernike coefficients, the spherical aberration and second coma were significantly smaller in the wavefront-guided LASIK group than in the wavefront-guided LASEK group at 1 month. This difference in HOAs between groups disappeared at 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HOAs in the scotopic condition were not different between the wavefront-guided LASIK and LASEK groups beginning 3 months after surgery. However, the HOAs in the LASIK and LASEK groups had a different time course, especially in the case of spherical aberration. This finding suggests that postoperative changes in aberration contribute to the final outcome of wavefront-guided ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: In Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Ghee
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eung Kweon
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Geunyoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kyoung Yul
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology