Wavefront optimized versus custom-Q treatments in surface ablation for myopic astigmatism with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO laser.

PURPOSE: To compare treatments with wavefront optimized and custom-Q ablations.

METHODS

Two consecutive groups of eyes were treated for myopia and astigmatism with surface ablation. One group was treated with wavefront optimized ablation and the second group was treated with custom-Q ablation. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative Q-values, higher order aberrations, low contrast visual acuity, and classic outcome parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS

The wavefront optimized ablation group was comprised of 46 eyes of 23 patients with a mean spherical equivalent refraction (SE) of -3.64 diopters (D) (range: -1.15 to -8.25 D); mean Q-value changed from -0.33 preoperatively to 0.06 postoperatively. The custom-Q ablation group was comprised of 42 eyes of 21 patients with a mean SE of -3.24 D (range: -1.47 to -8.00 D); mean Q-value changed from -0.36 preoperatively to -0.03 postoperatively. A statistically significant difference in postoperative change in Q-values (P = .049) between the two groups was noted, but there was no such difference in higher order aberrations, low contrast visual acuity, or classic outcome parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Custom-Q ablation resulted in a mean postoperative asphericity that was closer to preoperative compared to wavefront optimized ablation, whereas the other outcome parameters showed no statistically significant differences.