Thin-flap laser in situ keratomileusis with femtosecond-laser technology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of thin-flap laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a femtosecond-laser platform for flap creation. SETTING: Institute of Vision and Optics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. METHODS: Patients had LASIK with the FS200 femtosecond laser for flap creation and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser. Flap thickness was set at 105 p,M. All eyes were examined 1 month postoperatively. Flap thickness was assessed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography using the manual flap tool at 5 locations on a horizontal B scan. RESULTS: This study comprised 50 eyes of 25 patients (mean age 28 years +/- 5.72 [SD]); 42 eyes completed 6 months of follow-up. Preoperatively, the mean sphere was -3.61 +/- 1.87 diopters (D) and the mean cylinder, -1.08 +/- 1.23 D. Six months postoperatively, no eye lost lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), 29% gained 1 line, and 7% gained 2 lines. The mean spherical equivalent was -0.03 +/- 0.42 D (range -0.88 to +0.88 D); 86% had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better. The mean central flap thickness at 1 month was 102.98 +/- 6.33 mu M (range 91 to 114 mu m). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: No significant complications occurred after treatment with this new femtosecond-laser platform in thin-flap LASIK. Clinical (visual and refractive) results were satisfactory in terms of safety, predictability, and stability.