Comparison of visual acuity, refractive outcomes, and satisfaction between LASIK performed with a microkeratome and a femto laser

PURPOSE: To compare refractive outcomes, visual acuities, and satisfaction of patients between those treated with laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a Hansatome microkeratome (HM) and femto-assisted laser (FAL). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 1,366 eyes in 687 patients who underwent LASIK with an HM (n=1,137) and an FAL (n=229) at the two centers of Hashmanis Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Refractive outcomes, including sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent in diopters (D), and visual acuities were assessed both preoperatively and at 1 month follow-up. Patient satisfaction was gauged by contacting the patient at the time of chart review. RESULTS: The postoperative median sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent values for those treated with FAL were 0.3±0.7 (−5.5–1.8), −0.5±0.6 (−5.0–1.0), and 0.0±0.7 (−6.0–1.6), respectively. For the HM arm, they were 0.0±1.28 (−10.8–6.8), −0.5±0.5 (−4.5–1.5), and −0.3±1.3 (−11.6–6.8), respectively. All preoperative values were statistically insignificant between the groups, while postoperative values were significant with P-values <0.001. Predictability and efficacy index was higher for the FAL (92.1%, 1.00) than the HM group (82.2%, 0.84). Similarly, patient satisfaction was slightly higher for those treated with FAL (93.3%) than HM (91.4%). CONCLUSION: Our large retrospective analysis of eyes that have undergone LASIK using HM and FAL shows superior refractive outcomes in the latter, with special regard to procedural efficacy and predictability.