Comparison of early visual outcomes after SMILE using VISUMAX 800 and VISUMAX 500 for myopia: a retrospective matched case-control study

VISUMAX 800 was introduced to improve the patient experience and clinical outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). This was a retrospective, matched, and case-control study (1:2) controlled for preoperative central corneal thickness and refractive error that compared early refractive and visual outcomes after SMILE using VISUMAX 800 and VISUMAX 500 to treat myopia. We included 50 eyes that underwent the VISUMAX 800 SMILE and 100 eyes that underwent the VISUMAX 500 SMILE. SMILE using VISUMAX 800 was performed using the CentraLign aid for vertex centration. Cyclotorsion was controlled by an OcuLign assistant in the VISUMAX 800 group after corneal marking. Corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were evaluated using a Pentacam 1 month after surgery. No differences were observed in the pre- and post-operative refractive and visual outcomes at 1 day, 1 month, and 6 months after surgery. VISUMAX 800 induced less total HOAs than VISUMAX 500 (P = 0.036). No statistically significant differences were observed in the amounts of induced spherical aberrations or vertical and horizontal comas. No differences were observed in the 1 month and 6 months refractive and visual outcomes between two SMILE procedures, except for VISUMAX 800, which resulted in lower postoperative total HOAs than VISUMAX 500.