Clinical Outcomes of Small-incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) Using Vector Planning Method.

The treatments of astigmatism were planned using either the manifest refraction (manifest refraction group) or the vector planning method (vector planning group). The surgery was performed with standardized techniques with triple centration technique using the 500-KHz VisuMax system (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). The superior cap depth was set as 120 µm, and the length of the side cut was set to 2 mm. Once the anterior (upper) and posterior (lower) planes of the lenticule were defined, the anterior and posterior interfaces were dissected using a microspatula with a blunt circular tip and extracted with microforceps. The integrity of the lenticule was assessed subsequently. The treatment plan for the vector planning group involved a combination of refractive astigmatism with 60 % emphasis and corneal astigmatism with 40 % emphasis.

The treatments of astigmatism were planned using either the manifest refraction (manifest refraction group) or the vector planning method (vector planning group). The surgery was performed with standardized techniques with triple centration technique using the 500-KHz VisuMax system (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). The superior cap depth was set as 120 µm, and the length of the side cut was set to 2 mm. Once the anterior (upper) and posterior (lower) planes of the lenticule were defined, the anterior and posterior interfaces were dissected using a microspatula with a blunt circular tip and extracted with microforceps. The integrity of the lenticule was assessed subsequently. The treatment plan for the vector planning group involved a combination of refractive astigmatism with 60 % emphasis and corneal astigmatism with 40 % emphasis.