Thin-flap laser in situ keratomileusis with femtosecond-laser technology

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2013 Sep;39(9):1366-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2013.03.024. Epub 2013 Jun 29.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the results of thin-flap laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a femtosecond-laser platform for flap creation.

Setting: Institute of Vision and Optics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.

Design: Prospective interventional case series.

Methods: Patients had LASIK with the FS200 femtosecond laser for flap creation and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser. Flap thickness was set at 105 μm. All eyes were examined 1 month postoperatively. Flap thickness was assessed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography using the manual flap tool at 5 locations on a horizontal B scan.

Results: This study comprised 50 eyes of 25 patients (mean age 28 years ±5.72 [SD]); 42 eyes completed 6 months of follow-up. Preoperatively, the mean sphere was -3.61 ± 1.87 diopters (D) and the mean cylinder, -1.08 ± 1.23 D. Six months postoperatively, no eye lost lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), 29% gained 1 line, and 7% gained 2 lines. The mean spherical equivalent was -0.03 ± 0.42 D (range -0.88 to +0.88 D); 86% had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better. The mean central flap thickness at 1 month was 102.98 ± 6.33 μm (range 91 to 114 μm). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.

Conclusions: No significant complications occurred after treatment with this new femtosecond-laser platform in thin-flap LASIK. Clinical (visual and refractive) results were satisfactory in terms of safety, predictability, and stability.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Corneal Pachymetry
  • Corneal Stroma / pathology*
  • Corneal Topography
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications
  • Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / methods*
  • Lasers, Excimer / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Myopia / surgery*
  • Organ Size
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surgical Flaps / pathology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity / physiology
  • Young Adult