title: LASIK for myopia and astigmatism using the SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser: an international multicenter trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy, predictability, and safety of LASIK for the surgical correction of low to moderate myopia with astigmatism using the SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six international study sites enrolled 358 eyes with a manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) from -0.50 to -7.38 diopters (D) (mean sphere: -3.13+/-1.58 D) with up to -5.00 D of astigmatism (mean: -0.69+/-0.67 D). All eyes underwent treatment with the nonwavefront-guided aspheric algorithm of the SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser. All eyes were targeted for emmetropia. Refractive outcomes and corneal higher order aberrations were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Visual quality was assessed using photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity. Six-month postoperative outcomes are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months postoperative, the MRSE for all eyes was -0.21+/-0.20 D, and 96% (343/358) of eyes had MRSE within +/-0.50 D. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 98% (351/358) of eyes, and no eyes lost 2 or more lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. The total corneal higher order aberrations root-mean-square increased by 0.09 microm, spherical aberration increased by 0.08 microm, and coma increased by 0.04 microm postoperatively. Photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity did not change 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of myopia with astigmatism using the SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser is safe, efficacious, predictable, and maintains visual quality.
authors.affiliation: Muscat Eye Laser Center, Muscat, Oman. drmaria@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arbelaez
authors.forename: Ioannis M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Aslanides
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barraquer
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carones
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feuermannova
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuhann
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rozsival
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D057108:Corneal Wavefront Aberration / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult