Corneal Flap Analysis of New Short-Pulse Femto-LASIK With Optical Coherence Tomography
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
To assess the precision (thickness) of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) corneal flaps created with a novel short pulse femtosecond laser (VICTUS; Bausch + Lomb, Rochester, NY).
Methods
Fifty-one patients had LASIK with the VICTUS femtosecond laser for flap creation. Flap thickness was set at 120 μm. All eyes were examined one month postoperatively. Flap thickness was assessed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) using the manual flap tool at 5 locations on a horizontal B scan. Age, central corneal thickness (CCT) and spherical equivalent refraction were recorded preoperatively in this prospective case series.
Results
The intended flap thickness was 120 µm; the mean OCT-measured flap thickness over 102 eyes was 121.85µm. Corneal flap thickness had no relationship with age, pre op CCT or spherical equivalent refraction through stepwise regression analysis. The difference in corneal flap thickness between right and left eye (0.35 ± 4.5) was not statistically significant. No patient suffered any flap complications (e.g. abrasions, button holes, free caps or slipped flaps) or experienced worsening of pre-operative best corrected visual acuity.
Conclusion
Corneal flaps created with this new femtosecond laser appear to be safe, accurate, and reproducible within 10 µm of the intended thickness.