The study aimed to make a comparison of the long-term corneal nerve status following SMILE versus LASIK.
The sample of 24 patients were randomized and were assigned to receive SMILE in one eye and LASIK in the other eye. In vivo confocal microscopy examination and dry eye assessments were performed at a mean of 4.1 years postoperatively
At 4.1 years, LASIK eyes had significantly less corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), and corneal total branch density and significantly more nerves with beading than SMILE eyes. The CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, and number of nerves with sprouting were significantly higher in the 5.5 years group than in the 2.7 years group, in both types of surgery, suggesting persistent nerve regeneration. The CNBD and CNFD in the 5.5 years group, regardless of surgical types, were significantly lower than those in the control group, indicating the nerve status had not recovered to normal ranges even at 5.5 years. High myopic treatment resulted in significantly reduced CNFD with LASIK but not with SMILE. There were no significant differences in the dry eye parameters between the two procedures at 4.1 years postoperatively.
This study concluded that following refractive surgery there was a long lasting impact on the corneal nerves.SMILE had better nerve preservation and regeneration than LASIK.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20200730-01
