High-resolution biomechanical mapping of SMILE and SMILE with CXL using Brillouin microscopy: Insights into localized corneal stiffness preservation.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To evaluate the biomechanical effects of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) alone and with corneal collagen cross-linking (SMILECXL) on corneal stiffness, using the Brillouin Optical Scanning System (BOSS) to assess localized changes in Brillouin modulus (BM).

Materials & methods

This retrospective study analyzed an initial cohort of 358 eyes (321 SMILE, 37 SMILECXL) from 180 patients, with propensity score matching (PSM) yielding matched cohorts of 17 eyes each, including unilateral and bilateral cases. PSM balanced baseline characteristics using 10 variables: age, gender, lenticular thickness, residual stromal thickness, spherical power, cylinder, spherical equivalent, flat keratometry, steep keratometry, and mean keratometry. To address the violation of i

SUBMITTER: Jeong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12714255 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature