Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Apr 8;13(7):2148.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13072148.

Assessment of Changes in Cap and Residual Stromal Thickness Values during a 6-Month Observation after Refractive Lenticule Extraction Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

Dominika Janiszewska-Bil  1   2   3 , Barbara Czarnota-Nowakowska  4 , Izabela Kuciel-Polczak  1 , Dariusz Dobrowolski  1   5   6 , Beniamin Oskar Grabarek  3 , Anita Lyssek-Boroń  1   2   7 , Edward Wylęgała  5   6 , Joanna Wierzbowska  8   9
Affiliations

Assessment of Changes in Cap and Residual Stromal Thickness Values during a 6-Month Observation after Refractive Lenticule Extraction Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

Dominika Janiszewska-Bil et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: In this study, the changes in corneal cap and residual stromal thickness (RST) values during a 180-day observation period after refractive lenticule extraction small incision lenticule extraction (ReLEx SMILE) were assessed. Methods: Fifty patients underwent ReLEx SMILE using the VisuMax 500 femtosecond laser, with corneal imaging conducted pre and post procedure via anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Cap thickness in the center and 1.5 mm from the center in four meridians was measured at various intervals. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in cap thickness 180 days post procedure compared to earlier intervals (p < 0.05). Similarly, RST decreased gradually and significantly post procedure (p < 0.05). Notably, changes in cap thickness within the central 1.5 mm area were more dynamic than RST changes during the 6-month observation period following SMILE. Conclusions: The corneal cap thickness measured with swept-source AS-OCT within the central 1.5 mm area underwent more dynamic changes than the residual stromal thickness during the 6-month observation following SMILE.

Keywords: ReLEx; SMILE; cap; refractive lenticule extraction small incision lenticule extraction; refractive surgery; residual stromal thickness (RST).

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Corneal cross sections were taken with SS-OCT (DRI OCT Triton camera): (A) epithelial measurement, (B) cap measurement, and (C) RST measurement.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Corneal cross sections were taken with SS-OCT (DRI OCT Triton camera): (A) epithelial measurement, (B) cap measurement, and (C) RST measurement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Fernández-Barrientos Y., Ramos-Suárez A., Fernández-Sánchez F., Tirado-Carmona A. Post-Laser in Situ Keratomileusis Interface Arthrographis kalrae Keratitis. Arq. Bras. Oftalmol. 2019;83:65–68. doi: 10.5935/0004-2749.20200004. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Stapleton F., Shrestha G.S., Vijay A.K., Carnt N. Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Genetics of Contact Lens–Related and Non–Contact Lens-Related Infectious Keratitis. Eye Contact Lens. 2022;48:127–133. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000884. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Konda N., Garg P., Sharma S., Willcox M.D. Risk Factors for Contact Lens–Related Microbial Keratitis and Associated Vision Loss in a South Indian Population. Eye Contact Lens. 2021;47:118–126. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000737. - DOI - PubMed
    1. He B., Tanya S.M., Costello F., Kherani F., Shamie N., Zhu D. Navigating Personal and Professional Development Through Social Media in Ophthalmology. Clin. Ophthalmol. 2022;16:2263. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S368674. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Joffe S.N. The 25th Anniversary of Laser Vision Correction in the United States. Clin. Ophthalmol. 2021;15:1163. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S299752. - DOI - PMC - PubMed