title: Performance of the Hansatome microsuction ring for laser in situ keratomileusis in eyes with narrow palpebral apertures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance of a new microsuction ring during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in eyes with narrow palpebral apertures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed sequentially in both eyes of 33 Chinese patients. A randomization table was used to determine the control and test eyes. A standard suction ring (20.3 mm diameter) was used in control eyes, and a microsuction ring (19.0 mm diameter) was used in test eyes. Corneal flaps were created using the Hansatome microkeratome (Baush & Lomb). The following ring performance parameters were evaluated: flap diameter deviation (actual minus nominal flap diameter), ease of suction ring application, adequacy of suction, and overall microkeratome performance. Parameters 2 to 4 were rated by the surgeons using a subjective 1 to 100 scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean flap diameter deviation was 0.45 mm in the control eyes and 0.22 mm in the study eyes; the mean difference was 0.23 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.07) (P<.001). For ease of application, the mean score of the microsuction ring was 100 and of the standard suction ring, 89.9. For adequacy of suction, the mean score of the microsuction ring was 99.7 and of the standard suction ring score, 98.2 (P = .13). The mean overall microkeratome performance score using the microsuction ring was 99.4 and using the standard suction ring, 94.6 (P = .011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hansatome microsuction ring was easy to apply during LASIK in eyes with narrow palpebral apertures, and there appeared to be no compromise of ring performance and safety.
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. chua_wh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wei-Han
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Wing-Kwong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000601:surgery*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014792:Visual Acuity