Pilot study of hyperopic LASIK using the solid-state laser technology

Background To evaluate and report the visual, refractive, and aberrometric outcomes of LASIK for the correction of low to moderate hyperopia in a pilot group using a commercially available solid-state laser. Methods Prospective pilot study including 11 consecutive eyes with low to moderate hyperopia of six patients undergoing LASIK surgery using the Pulzar Z1 solid-state laser (CustomVis Laser Pty Ltd., currently CV Laser). Visual, refractive, and aberrometric changes were evaluated. Potential complications were evaluated as well. Mean follow-up time was 6.6 months (range, 3 to 11 months). Results A significant improvement in LogMAR uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was observed postoperatively (p = 0.01). No significant change was detected in LogMAR corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (p = 0.21). Postoperative LogMAR UDVA was 0.1 (about 20/25) or better in ten eyes (90.9 %). Mean overall efficacy and safety indices were 1.03 and 1.12. Postoperatively, no losses of lines of CDVA were observed. Postoperative spherical equivalent was within ±1.00 D in ten eyes (90.9 %). With regard to aberrations, no statistically significant changes were found in higher order and primary coma RMS postoperatively (p ≥ 0.21), and only minimal but statistically significant negativization of primary spherical aberration (p = 0.02) was observed. No severe complications were observed. Conclusion LASIK surgery using the solid-state laser technology seems to be a useful procedure for the correction of low to moderate hyperopia, with minimal induction of higher order aberrations.

Influence of the Difference Between Corneal and Refractive Astigmatism on LASIK Outcomes Using Solid-State Technology

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of the difference between preoperative corneal and refractive astigmatism [ocular residual astigmatism (ORA)] on outcomes obtained after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery for correction of myopic astigmatism using the solid-state laser technology. Methods: One hundred one consecutive eyes with myopia or myopic astigmatism of 55 patients undergoing LASIK surgery using the Pulzar Z1 solid-state laser (CustomVis Laser Pty Ltd, currently CV Laser) were included. Visual and refractive changes at 6 months postoperatively and changes in ORA and anterior corneal astigmatism and posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) were analyzed. Results: Postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly (P < 0.01). Likewise, refractive cylinder magnitude and spherical equivalent were reduced significantly (P < 0.01). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in ORA magnitude (P = 0.81) and anterior corneal astigmatism (P = 0.12). The mean overall efficacy and safety indices were 0.96 and 1.01, respectively. These indices were not correlated with preoperative ORA (r = −0.15, P = 0.15). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between ORA (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and PCA postoperatively, but not preoperatively (r = 0.12, P = 0.25). Likewise, a significant correlation of ORA with manifest refraction was only found postoperatively (r = −0.38, P < 0.01). Conclusions: The magnitude of ORA does not seem to be a predictive factor of efficacy and safety of myopic LASIK using a solid-state laser platform. The higher relevance of PCA after surgery in some cases may explain the presence of unexpected astigmatic residual refractive errors.

Evaluation of the pathogenicity of multiple isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) for the assessment of a solid formulation under simulated field conditions

A solid state formulation of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin has been developed for biological control of the Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790). Two kinds of bioassays (dry conidia and dipping) using 10 isolates from several coleopterans in Mediterranean environments, identified 2 RPW derived isolates (193 and 203) as most pathogenic to RPW larvae and adults (zero survival within first 4–5 d for dry conidia, and 14 and 23 d for dipping bioassays). Isolate 203 (5.1 × 108 ± 1.9 × 108 conidia g-1) was formulated with fragmented date seed into solid granules and tested in palms infested with RPW under semi-field conditions in Feb, Apr/May and Jun of both 2007 and 2008. Beauveria bassiana significantly reduced RPW adult survival with respect to controls in May 2007 and in the Apr/Jun 2008 experiments. Total RPW adult mortality was achieved within 30 days for all B. bassiana treatments, and was associated with increasing numbers of insects with signs of mycosis in 2008 experiments. Beauveria bassiana formulation reduced RPW multiplication in artificially infested palms compared to controls, and a positive correlation between numbers of larvae and time post-infestation was recorded. The suppression of RPW adult populations by B. bassiana persisted for at least 3 months under semi-field conditions. The Beauveria bassiana solid formulation, which induces great adult mortality and persistence in the field, could be applied as a preventive as well as a curative treatment for the integrated management of RPW.