Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the accuracy and predictability of corneal flap thickness performed by Intralase.
Methods::
35 eyes of 23 patients (mean age: 38.2+/- 2.6SD), underwent LASIK using Intralase® femtosecond laser (Intralase, Irvine, California, USA) to perform a 120mm thick and 9.0 mm wide corneal flap, with a 1.90mJ energy. For each eye, an intraoperative differential pachimetric measurement with a contact ultrasound pachimetry (Pachmate DGH Technology, Inc, Exton, PA, USA), before and after flap lift, and a optical pachimetry with Confoscan 4 (Nidek technologies, Tokyo, Japan) 30 days after surgery, were taken. The data from ultrasound pachimetry and from optical pachimetry were compared.
Results::
No significant differences related to refractive defect were found. The difference between the attempted and the real pachimetric values of the flap performed with Intralase® femtosecond laser resulted irrelevant. None significant variability between the intraoperative ultrasound pachimetry values and the postoperative optical (Confoscan 4) ones was found (118.25 +/- 8.9SD Vs 117.51+/-5.76SD)
Conclusions::
Intraoperative and follow-up measurements show comparable results, proving the safety and the predictability of Intralase® femtosecond laser in performing LASIK corneal flap.
Keywords: refractive surgery: LASIK • microscopy: confocal/tunneling • imaging/image analysis: clinical