Method for optimizing topography-guided ablation of highly aberrated eyes with the ALLEGRETTO WAVE excimer laser

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of custom topographic neutralizing technique in treating highly aberrated eyes using the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Excimer Laser. METHODS: A retrospective consecutive case series of 67 eyes with decentered ablations and 48 eyes with symptomatic small optical zones after previous LASIK underwent topography-guided retreatment with the ALLEGRETTO WAVE. Sixteen keratoconus eyes underwent topographic neutralizing technique photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The study assessed preoperative and 6-month and 1-year postoperative results regarding best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), topography, and predictability. RESULTS: Sixty-seven eyes with previously decentered optical zones had an improvement of centration from 0.92 mm preoperatively to 0.30 mm postoperatively relative to pupil center (P<.01). Twenty-nine percent of these eyes gained 1 or more lines of BSCVA, whereas 71% had no change in BSCVA. Forty-eight eyes with previously small optical zones had an increase of the central monodioptric optical zone from 3.9 mm to 5.6 mm (P<.01). Nineteen percent of eyes had an improvement of at least 1 line, whereas 75% had no change in BSCVA and 6% lost 1 line. Sixteen keratoconus eyes had custom topographic neutralizing technique PRK as an alternative to penetrating keratoplasty. All eyes had improvement of astigmatism up to 5.00 diopters (D), with a mean change of 1.68+/-1.62 D. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was unchanged in 8 (50%) eyes, with 4 (25%) eyes gaining 1 line, 2 (12%) eyes gaining 2 lines, and 2 (12%) eyes losing 1 line of BSCVA at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Management of some highly aberrated eyes is now possible with topography-guided ablation using the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO platform and custom topographic neutralizing technique. Safety was acceptable for small optical zone and decentered ablation retreatments. The topography-guided ablation could be an alternative treatment for keratoconus patients if keratoplasty is otherwise indicated. The algorithms for custom topographic neutralizing technique need further refinement.