Meta-analysis of efficacy, safety, stability and predictability of Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) for myopia.

In order to investigate the postoperative efficacy, safety, stability, and predictability of SMILE surgery as a treatment for myopia, a comprehensive search was conducted in April 2023 across prominent databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The search aimed to select relevant studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing clinical outcomes between SMILE and other corneal refractive surgeries for myopia. Upon conducting the initial search, a total of 324 records were retrieved from the aforementioned databases. These records were subjected to a meticulous selection process, adhering to predetermined inclusion criteria, resulting in 17 studies being ultimately included for analysis. By pooling the results of these studies, the comparison between SMILE surgery and alternative corneal refractive surgeries demonstrated similar outcomes in terms of efficacy, safety, stability, predictability, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) concerning the correction of myopia. Furthermore, it was observed that the SMILE procedure exhibited a lesser impact on corneal sensation and corneal nerve density compared to other corneal refractive surgeries. Based on these findings, SMILE surgery may be considered as a treatment option with a slight superiority over conventional corneal surgery for myopia.