ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the treatment of myopia with corneal opacity. METHODS: Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with corneal opacities who underwent SMILE were retrospectively studied. Uncorrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalence, efficacy index, and safety index were noted at 3 months after the procedure. The density and area of the corneal opacities were measured and compared preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: All eyes had preoperative corneal opacities within the lenticule formation areas. The mean area and density of corneal opacities were 0.72 ± 0.33 mm2 and 52.46 ± 15.74, respectively. All procedures were uneventful and no intraoperative complications were observed. At 3 months after the procedure, the efficacy and safety indices were 1.01 ± 0.15, and 1.05 ± 0.10, respectively, and the mean densities and areas of corneal opacities were 46.85 ± 14.56 (p = 0.038) and 0.70 ± 0.36 mm2 (p = 0.776), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SMILE procedure was effective and safe for the correction of myopic patients with corneal opacities.