A Femtosecond Laser Creates a Stronger Flap than a Mechanical Microkeratome

Abstract

The FS laser produces greater corneal stromal inflammation than the MM early postoperatively without any increase in apoptosis and stronger flap adhesion late postoperatively. Therefore, it may require stronger anti-inflammatory drugs to be administered.

Cox proportional hazards model of myopic regression for laser in situ keratomileusis flap creation with a femtosecond laser and with a mechanical microkeratome

“…Knorz and Vossmerbaeumer 20 compared the adhesive strengths of flaps created with an Amadeus microkeratome and a femtosecond laser (150 kHz) in rabbits. Like Kim et al, 9 they found that flap adhesion was stronger in the femtosecond laser flaps. Netto et al 8 examined early postoperative wounds in LASIK flaps created with a femtosecond laser (15 kHz, 30 kHz, and 60 kHz) and a Hansatome microkeratome in rabbits.…”

“…Several studies 8,9 have confirmed that postoperative inflammation of corneal wound healing and flap configurations differ between these 2 flap-creating methods. 8 These factors might result in distinct anatomic changes, leading to myopic regression.…”

“…Kim et al 9 found that the femtosecond laser (with raster and side-cut energies of 3.2 mJ) produced greater corneal stromal inflammation than the mechanical microkeratome in the early postoperative period and stronger flap adhesion in the late postoperative period. Knorz and Vossmerbaeumer 20 compared the adhesive strengths of flaps created with an Amadeus microkeratome and a femtosecond laser (150 kHz) in rabbits.…”

Effect of different femtosecond laser-firing patterns on collagen disruption during refractive lenticule extraction

“…22 The separation between the laser affected area and the undisrupted collagen fibrils was easily discernible in corneas treated with firingpattern A and B. In corneas treated with firingpattern C (posterior surface centripetal, anterior surface centripetal), the border between the laserdisrupted tissue and the unaffected collagen fibrils became more difficult to discern because of the increased disruption of the fibrils.…”

Measurement of corneal curvature change after mechanical laser in situ keratomileusis flap creation and femtosecond laser flap creation

“…The aim of the current study was to compare the changes in corneal curvature after different techniques of refractive surgery for myopic correction 25,26 ; that is, LASIK using a microkeratome (Moria M2) and LASIK using a femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS, IntraLase Corp.). These changes could be caused in part by the biomechanical response of the corneal surface after the flap cut and repositioning 27,28 and might have an impact on the refractive outcomes and the refractive stability of LASIK surgery.…”