Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the first case of gas bubbles present in the anterior chamber following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation with the femtosecond laser.
Methods: :
: A 35–year–old woman underwent uncomplicated, simultaneous, bilateral LASIK flap creation with the IntraLase femtosecond laser. The femtosecond laser was used to create a superiorly hinged flap with a thickness of 120 microns, diameter of 8 mm, and a superior pocket at 140 microns depth. The laser settings used include a spot size of <3 microns, pulse repetition rate of 10kHz, pulse width of 600–800 fs, and an average pulse power of 100mW.
Results: :
After flap creation with the femtosecond laser, the presence of gas bubbles in the anterior chamber of the right eye was observed. The flap was examined using a slit–lamp microscope and no evidence of perforation or leakage was found. The left eye was normal. Both eyes were subsequently treated with the excimer laser for the LASIK correction of moderate myopia with mild mixed astigmatism (–6.25 + 0.25 x 090 OD and –5.50 + 0.50 x 090 OS). The gas bubbles interfered with the iris registration for the laser treatment OD, but did not result in any complications. On postoperative day 1, the patient’s uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 OD and 20/15 OS and the gas bubbles were no longer present OD.
Conclusions: :
Although the mechanism remains unclear, transient gas bubbles may be appear in the anterior chamber after LASIK flap created with the femtosecond laser, in the absence of identifiable risk factors.
Keywords: refractive surgery: complications • refractive surgery: other technologies • laser