Contralateral eye comparison of the long‐term visual quality and stability between implantable collamer lens and laser refractive surgery for myopia

PURPOSE: To investigate the long‐term visual quality and stability of implantable collamer lens (ICL) and laser refractive surgery (LRS) for myopia. METHODS: This study comprised 52 eyes of 26 high‐myopia anisometropia patients who were suitable for surgical treatment. In each patient, the higher‐myopia eye was implanted with ICL and the lower‐myopia eye was treated with LRS. The patients were followed for 3 years. During that time period, uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refraction, wavefront aberration and visual quality were evaluated. RESULTS: The spherical equivalent refractive error changed from −14.11 ± 3.39 D preoperatively to −1.27 ± 1.05 D 3 years after ICL implantation and from −8.75 ± 2.76 D to −1.12 ± 1.30 D after LRS. The changes in refractive error from 1 month to 3 years were −0.52 and −0.77 D for the ICL and LRS groups, respectively. The safety indices (postoperative CDVA/preoperative CDVA) were 1.84 ± 1.00 and 1.32 ± 0.40, and the efficacy indices (postoperative UDVA/preoperative CDVA) were 1.40 ± 1.10 and 1.11 ± 0.44, respectively. The postoperative coma, spherical and total higher‐order aberrations in the ICL group were lower than those in the LRS group. CONCLUSION: Both ICL implantation and LRS are safe and effective procedures for myopia with suitable indications, but ICL implantation is more stable. Fewer induced aberrations are gained after ICL implantation.