[Epi-Bowman Keratectomy: Clinical Evaluation of a New Method of Surface Ablation].

Purpose: A new device for epithelial abrasion before excimer laser surface ablation or corneal cross-linking (CXL) has recently been introduced (Epi-Clear, Orca Surgical, Kiryat-Shmona, Israel). We have reviewed the literature on the clinical results, potential benefits and drawbacks of this instrument, compared to other methods of epithelial removal.

Method: Literature search for "Epi-Bowman Keratectomy", "Epi-clear", and "Epikeratome" yielded 1 peer-review publication, 1 non-peer-review publication, 18 posters and presentations at international conferences (European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons [ESCRS] and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery [ASCRS]) on the use of the Epi-Clear™ device before surface ablation, 2 posters on the use of Epi-Clear before corneal crosslinking and 1 presentation on the experimental use of Epi-Clear for removal of a pterygium.

[Complications after corneal cross-linking].

Purpose: The introduction of corneal cross-linking was associated with great expectations from patients as well as ophthalmologists. Previous results indicate that corneal cross-linking can slow down, stabilise or even reverse the progression of corneal ectasia in patients with keratoconus as well as in patients with ectasia after excimer laser ablations. We now describe our own experience with different protocols for corneal cross-linking and put these into perspective with the existing literature.

[Influence of mydriatic eye drops on the aberrometer predicted phoropter refraction].

Background And Purpose: Wavefront-guided ablations are based on wavefront sensing in a pupil dilated under mesopic conditions, or in patients with insufficient natural pupil dilation, after the application of mydriatic eye drops. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential influence of mydriatic eye drops on wavefront-sensing in terms of the predicted phoropter refraction (PPR).

Method: In this prospective study 70 myopic eyes were measured in miosis and pharmacologically induced mydriasis with the Zywave aberrometer and automated refraction (Canon R-F10).

[Aspheric ablation for the correction of myopia: clinical results after LASIK with a Bausch & Lomb 217 Z 100 excimer laser].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of the new aspheric ablation mode (Zyoptix Aspheric) in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the Bausch & Lomb 217 Zyoptix 100 laser. This algorithm incorporates the asphericity of the cornea (Q-value), the corneal curvature (K-values) and the manifest refractive error to create an ablation pattern.

Patients And Methods: Clinical outcomes of three ablation patterns were compared: Group TS: 20 eyes treated with Zyoptix tissue-saving (refraction and keratometry based); Group AS: 54 eyes treated with Zyoptix Aspheric; Group PT: 20 eyes treated with Zyoptix personalised treatment (wavefront aberration-guided).