Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To analyze the results of the first 200 cases performed with the femtosecond laser at the Cole Eye Insitute. Methods: LASIK with the femtosecond laser (Intralase, Intralase Corp., CA) was performed in 200 patients and their refractive outcomes, complications and flap characteristics were analyzed. Results: Ninety six percent of the patients presented with a best spectacle visual acuity equal or higher than 20/20 and 1 patient lost more than 1 line of visual acuity. Flaps produced with the femtosecond laser demonstrated greater thickness (33.36 um) than predicted by the software with a low standard deviation (± 16.48 um). No intra–operative complication was encountered, except from eye–tracking issues, which were identified in 11% of the patients. Postoperatively, 19% of the patients presented peripheral DLK, 36% presented mild flap edema and 23% presented epithelial cells at the interface. Conclusions: Femtosecond laser is a safe and efficient alternative tool for flap creation with good refractive outcomes. However, late visual recovery, high rates of flap edema, DLK and intra–operative eye–tracking issues were evidenced with this new technology.
Keywords: refractive surgery: LASIK • refractive surgery: complications