About Lasik: Is femto Lasik safe? Is the success rate high?

By Dr Lee Mun Toong

Femto-lasik: The recent innovation in laser assisted refractive surgery.

FEMTO-LASIK is considered safe if compared to blade surgery. The eye has no contact with a blade. The separation of the cornea from lower layers is more accurate and safe with a laser than with a microkeratome (blade) like LASIK.

There were not many clinical studies done regarding femto-lasik. However there were a lot retrospective studies regarding Lasik success rate.

The LASIK success rate – or LASIK outcomes – is well understood with literally thousands of clinical studies looking at visual acuity and patient satisfaction. The research reports show 99 percent of patients achieve better than 20/40(6/12) vision and more than 90 per cent achieve 20/20 (6/6) or better. In addition, LASIK has an unprecedented 96 per cent patient satisfaction rate – the highest of any elective procedure.¹

The success rate is considered high .The latest peer-reviewed meta-analysis of worldwide scientific literature for LASIK shows the satisfaction rate for the procedure is up to 98% and nearly 90% of patients achieve vision around 20/20 (6/6). ²

Several studies have shown the efficacy of LASIK on improved vision outcomes, The PROWL-1 study showed 97.5% of patients achieved 20/20 vision or better, while the PROWL-2 study showed 91.5% of patients achieved 20/20 vision or better.³

Hence, LASIK outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive. According to one study, only one in 112,500 patients required medical disability retirement due to complications from laser vision correction during an eight-year period.⁴ However According to the JPJ data, Malaysia registered death rate from motor vehicle accidents of about 23 per 100,000 population per annum.⁵

In short, I think basically femto-lasik is considered safer than motor vehicle transportation as per data mentioned above.

Reference:

1. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Vol. 42, Issue 8, August 2016, Pages 1224-1234
2. Donnenfeld ED. The best for LASIK. Presented at AAO Cataract & Refractive Subspecialty Days; Nov. 10-11, 2017; New Orleans.
3. Eydelman M, Hilmantel G, Tarver ME, Hofmeister EM, May J, Hammel K, Hays RD, Ferris F 3rd. Symptoms and Satisfaction of Patients in the Patient-Reported Outcomes With Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (PROWL) Studies. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017 Jan 1;135(1):13-22. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4587.
4. LASIK Risks And Complications.By Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery
5. Malaysian Institute Road Safety Research (MIROS)