Comparison of LADARVision and Visx Star S3 laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes in myopia and hyperopia

PURPOSE: To compare visual outcomes with 2 commonly used excimer lasers, the Autonomous LADARVision (LV) (Alcon Laboratories Inc.) and the Visx Star S3 (S3), in the performance of myopic and hyperopic astigmatic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Zale Lipshy University Hospital Laser Center for Vision, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center 3-surgeon cohort comparison, 100 consecutive LV-treated myopic eyes with a mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) of -3.22 diopters (D) (range 0 to -6.00 D) (mean astigmatism 0.95 D range 0 to 4.00 D]) were compared with 100 consecutive S3-treated eyes with a similar MRSE (mean MRSE -3.19 D; mean astigmatism 0.66 D range 0 to 2.75 D]). Forty-one consecutive LV-treated hyperopic eyes with a mean MRSE of +2.59 D (range +1.00 to +6.00 D) (mean astigmatism 0.89 D range 0 to 3.50 D]) were compared with 25 consecutive S3-treated eyes with a similar MRSE (mean MRSE +2.70 D; mean astigmatism 0.87 D range 0 to 2.75 D]). The following outcomes were compared: uncorrected visual acuity, refractive predictability and stability, gain or loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and need for enhancement. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in outcomes were found between lasers in the treatment of hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism. No outcome differences between lasers were found in the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. CONCLUSION: The LV and S3 lasers yielded equivalent results in myopic LASIK between 0 and -6.00 D; however, the LADARVision yielded statistically significantly better results in hyperopic LASIK between +1.00 and +6.00 D.