First Author: G.Kontadakis GREECE
Co Author(s): G. Kymionis I. Naoumidi S. Panagopoulou V. Kankariya I. Pallikaris
Purpose:
To compare stromal bed smoothness and cut edge quality in LASIK flaps created with IntraLase FS 150 (Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA) and WaveLight FS200 (Alcon Laboratories, Inc. Fort Worth, TX) femtosecond lasers and by a mechanical microkeratome
Setting:
Institute of Vision and Optics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Methods:
Sixty freshly enucleated porcine eyes were used for the study. Twenty flaps were created each with femtosecond (FS) lasers (Intralase FS 150 and Wavelight FS 200) and a mechanical microkeratome (SWIND Carriazzo-Pendular). In each FS laser group and in mechanical microkeratome group 10 flaps were created with intended thickness of 110?m and another ten flaps with 130?m. Quality of flap edge and smoothness of stromal bed surface were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM).
Results:
In SEM, both FS laser enabled flaps demonstrated satisfactory flap quality and smoothness of the stromal bed, with high reproducibility, for both groups of intended flap thicknesses (110 ?m group and 130 ?m group). The surface of a stromal bed created with the microkeratome demonstrated more prominent irregularities mainly in flap edge. In both types of specimens (WL and IL) the flap edge was set at 70o to the cutting plane and this was confirmed in LM. All the laser specimens were characterized by a clean cut; the flaps were geometrically perfect and demonstrated accuracy in maintaining flap thickness.
Conclusions:
The laser cuts in both FS lasers and microkeratome demonstrated satisfying stromal bed quality. The femtosecond laser systems performed better in comparison to the microkeratome in terms of flap geometry and surface quality. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No
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