The effect of corneal flap on optical aberrations.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes in ocular aberrations induced by corneal flap creation.


METHODS
Prospective interventional nonrandomized clinical trial.


METHODS
This study included 15 patients who were scheduled for laser in situ keratomileusis. A nasal hinge flap was created, using the Nidek MK-2000 microkeratome and then replaced without performing laser ablation. The ocular aberrations were measured before and after flap creation using the Nidek Optical Path Difference Scanning System ARK-10000.


RESULTS
The root mean square wavefront errors of the higher-order optical aberrations (third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-order aberrations) were not significantly altered at 1 week postsurgery compared with the preoperative values (P >.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Creating a corneal flap with the Nidek MK-2000 microkeratome did not induce changes in higher-order optical aberrations as measured with the Nidek Optical Path Difference Scanning System ARK-10000 during the early postoperative period.
CODET Aris Vision Institute, Tijuana, Mexico. dzadok@yahoo.com
David
D
Zadok
Carlos
C
Carrillo
Filippo
F
Missiroli
Sergio
S
Litwak
Nora
N
Robledo
Arturo S
AS
Chayet
D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000209:etiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology