A femtosecond laser creates a stronger flap than a mechanical microkeratome.
OBJECTIVE
To compare corneal flaps made with a femtosecond (FS) laser with those made with a mechanical microkeratome (MM) in rabbits, measuring early postoperative inflammation and apoptosis and late postoperative adhesion strength.


METHODS
Study 1 involved four treatment groups: one with flaps made only with the FS laser (FS group), one with flaps made with the FS laser followed by excimer laser ablation (FS+LASIK), one with flaps made with the MM, and one with flaps made with the MM followed by excimer laser ablation (MM+LASIK). The eyes were analyzed by histology and TUNEL staining for apoptosis at 4 and 24 hours. Study 2 involved two reference groups: an FS group and an MM group. Adhesion strength was measured with a tension meter 1 and 3 months later.


RESULTS
Study 1: Inflammatory cell infiltration in the central cornea was significantly greater in the FS group than in the MM group at 4 and 24 hours (P < 0.05) and was significantly greater in the FS+LASIK group than in the MM+LASIK group at 24 hours (P < 0.05). Infiltration at the peripheral interface was significantly greater in the FS group than in the MM group and was significantly greater in the FS+LASIK group than in the MM+LASIK group at 24 hours (P < 0.05). Study 2: At 1 and 3 months, 126.7 and 191.3 grams of force (gf) were needed to detach the flaps in the FS group, compared with 65 and 127.5 gf in the MM group, respectively. The grams of force needed was significantly higher in the FS group than in the MM group at 3 months (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Kim
Jae Yong
JY
Department of Ophthalmology and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Myoung Joon
MJ
Kim
Tae-im
TI
Choi
Hyun-jeung
HJ
Pak
Jhang Ho
JH
Tchah
Hungwon
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D023421:Models, Animal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*