title: Outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in low myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the visual and refractive outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction for low myopia using the VisuMax femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 120 consecutive small incision lenticule extraction procedures was performed for low myopia. Inclusion criteria were preoperative spherical equivalent refraction up to -3.50 diopters (D), cylinder up to 1.50 D, and corrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better. Outcomes analysis was performed for all eyes with 1-year follow-up according to the Standard Graphs for Reporting Refractive Surgery, and also including mesopic contrast sensitivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-year data were available for 110 eyes (92%). Preoperatively, mean spherical equivalent refraction was -2.61 ± 0.54 D (range: -1.03 to -3.50 D) and mean cylinder was 0.55 ± 0.38 D (range: 0.00 to 1.50 D). Postoperatively, mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.05 ± 0.36 D (range: -0.94 to +1.25 D) and mean cylinder was ± 0.50 D in 84% and ± 1.00 D in 99% of eyes. Uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 96% of eyes and 20/25 or better in 100% of eyes. One line of corrected distance visual acuity was lost in 9%, but no eyes lost two or more lines. There was an initial overcorrection in mean spherical equivalent refraction on day 1 (+0.37 D) as expected, which regressed to +0.10 D at 1 month and -0.05 D at 3 months, after which stability was reached (mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.05 D at 1 year). Contrast sensitivity at 1 year was slightly increased at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small incision lenticule extraction for low myopia was found to be safe and effective with outcomes similar to those previously reported for LASIK.
authors.forename: Dan Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Reinstein
authors.forename: Glenn I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Carp
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult