Early Impact of Laser Vision Correction (LVC) on the Stability and Quality of the Retinal Image

This retrospective comparative study analyzes the early postoperative impact of laser vision correction for myopia on the optical quality and stability of functional vision using a double-pass aberrometer. Retinal image quality and visual function stability were assessed preoperatively, one and three months after myopic laser in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using double-pass aberrometry (HD Analyzer, Visiometrics S.L, Terrassa, Spain). The parameters analyzed included vision break-up time (VBUT), objective scattering index (OSI), modulation transfer function (MTF), and Strehl ratio (SR). The study included 141 eyes of 141 patients, of whom 89 underwent PRK and 52 underwent LASIK. No statistically significant differences were noted between the two techniques in any analyzed parameters at three months postoperatively. However, a significant drop was observed in all parameters one month after PRK. Only the OSI and VBUT remained significantly altered from baseline at the three months follow-up visit, with an increased OSI by 0.14 +/− 0.36 (p < 0.01) and a shortened VBUT by 0.57 +/− 2.3 s (p < 0.01). No correlation was found between the changes in optical and visual quality parameters and age, ablation depth, or postoperative spherical equivalent. The stability and quality of the retinal images were similar between LASIK and PRK at three months postoperatively. However, significant degradation in all parameters was found one month after PRK.