The Alpins Method, developed by Australian ophthalmologist Noel Alpins, is a system to plan and analyze the results of refractive surgical procedures, such as laser in-situ keratomileus (LASIK). The Alpins Method is also used to plan cataract/toric intraocular lens (IOL) surgical procedures.
Contents
Introduced in 1993, it has been used in some research studies of LASIK. In 2006 the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published guidelines based on the Alpins Method, designed to help manufacturers demonstrate the efficacy of refractive surgical lasers.
The Alpins Method uses vector mathematics to determine a goal for astigmatism correction and analyze factors involved if treatment fails to reach that goal. The method can also be used to refine surgical techniques or correct laser settings in future procedures. The Alpins Method is one of the “more sophisticated” approaches in analyzing surgical results.
Background
In the early 1990s, Astigmatism analysis and treatment applied to laser modalities was inconsistent, and did not assess the success of the results or the extent to which surgical goals had been achieved. The advent of excimer laser technology (e.g., laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK) also introduced a conundrum between incisional and ablation techniques; specifically, should treatment be planned according to refractive cylinder values as introduced with laser refractive surgery, or corneal astigmatism parameters as had been customary with incisional surgery.
In providing a coherent basis for reporting astigmatism results, the Alpins Method became the standard in the major ophthalmology journals, accepted worldwide for studies that include refraction and corneal astigmatism measurements. The method provides a consistent, logical approach to quantifying and comparing the success of various refractive surgical procedures, and refining/planning surgery to achieve even better results, both in individuals and groups of individuals receiving refractive surgery.
Basics of the Alpins Method
The Alpins Method determines a treatment path and defined astigmatic target that in many instances is not zero, although prior to the Alpins Method zero had been a nearly unanimous, but inachievable, preference.
The golf analogy
The Alpins Method of astigmatism analysis has many parallels to the game of golf. A golf putt is a vector, possessing magnitude (length) and axis (direction). The intended putt (the path from the ball to the hole) corresponds to Alpins' target induced astigmatism vector (TIA), which is the astigmatic change (by magnitude and axis) the surgeon intends to induce in order to correct the patient's pre-existing astigmatism to the derived or calculated target. The actual putt (the path the ball follows when hit) corresponds to Alpins' surgical induced astigmatism vector (SIA), which is the amount and axis of astigmatic change the surgeon actually induces. If the golfer misses the cup, the difference vector (DV) corresponds to the second putt—that is, a putt (by magnitude and axis) that would allow the golfer to hit the cup (the surgeon to completely correct) on a second attempt.