TY - JOUR
T1 - Femtosecond Laser versus Mechanical Microkeratome for LASIK. A Randomized Controlled Study
AU - Patel, Sanjay V.
AU - Maguire, Leo J.
AU - McLaren, Jay W.
AU - Hodge, David O.
AU - Bourne, William M.
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - Purpose: To compare corneal haze (backscattered light) and visual outcomes between fellow eyes randomized to LASIK with the flap created by a femtosecond laser (bladeless) or with the flap created by a mechanical microkeratome. Design: Randomized, controlled, paired-eye study. Participants: Twenty-one patients (42 eyes) received LASIK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Methods: One eye of each patient was randomized to flap creation with a femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS, IntraLase Corp., Irvine, CA) with intended thickness of 120 μm, and the fellow eye to flap creation with a mechanical microkeratome (Hansatome, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) with intended thickness of 180 μm. Patients were examined before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after LASIK. Main Outcome Measures: Corneal backscatter, high-contrast visual acuity, manifest refractive error, contrast sensitivity, and intraocular forward light scatter were measured at each examination. Flap thickness was measured by confocal microscopy at 1 month, and patients were asked if they preferred the vision in either eye at 3 months. Results: Corneal backscatter was 6% higher after bladeless LASIK than after LASIK with the mechanical microkeratome at 1 month (P = 0.007), but not at 3 or 6 months. High-contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and forward light scatter did not differ between treatments at any examination. Flap thicknesses at 1 month were 143±16 μm (bladeless, mean ± standard deviation) and 138±22 μm (mechanical microkeratome), with no statistical difference in variances. At 3 months, 5 patients preferred the bladeless eye, 7 patients preferred the microkeratome eye, and 9 patients had no preference. Conclusions: The method of flap creation did not affect visual outcomes during the first 6 months after LASIK. Although corneal backscatter was greater early after bladeless LASIK than LASIK with the mechanical microkeratome, patients did not perceive a difference in vision.
AB - Purpose: To compare corneal haze (backscattered light) and visual outcomes between fellow eyes randomized to LASIK with the flap created by a femtosecond laser (bladeless) or with the flap created by a mechanical microkeratome. Design: Randomized, controlled, paired-eye study. Participants: Twenty-one patients (42 eyes) received LASIK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Methods: One eye of each patient was randomized to flap creation with a femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS, IntraLase Corp., Irvine, CA) with intended thickness of 120 μm, and the fellow eye to flap creation with a mechanical microkeratome (Hansatome, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) with intended thickness of 180 μm. Patients were examined before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after LASIK. Main Outcome Measures: Corneal backscatter, high-contrast visual acuity, manifest refractive error, contrast sensitivity, and intraocular forward light scatter were measured at each examination. Flap thickness was measured by confocal microscopy at 1 month, and patients were asked if they preferred the vision in either eye at 3 months. Results: Corneal backscatter was 6% higher after bladeless LASIK than after LASIK with the mechanical microkeratome at 1 month (P = 0.007), but not at 3 or 6 months. High-contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and forward light scatter did not differ between treatments at any examination. Flap thicknesses at 1 month were 143±16 μm (bladeless, mean ± standard deviation) and 138±22 μm (mechanical microkeratome), with no statistical difference in variances. At 3 months, 5 patients preferred the bladeless eye, 7 patients preferred the microkeratome eye, and 9 patients had no preference. Conclusions: The method of flap creation did not affect visual outcomes during the first 6 months after LASIK. Although corneal backscatter was greater early after bladeless LASIK than LASIK with the mechanical microkeratome, patients did not perceive a difference in vision.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.057
DO - 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.057
M3 - Article
C2 - 17350688
AN - SCOPUS:33947413510
SN - 0161-6420
VL - 114
SP - 1482
EP - 1490
JO - Ophthalmology
JF - Ophthalmology
IS - 8
ER -