title: Efficacy, safety, and flap dimensions of a new femtosecond laser for laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical results of a preproduction femtosecond laser for flap creation in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Private practice, Brussels, Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised myopic eyes with a plano target refraction and a target flap thickness of 110 microm. The LASIK flap was created with a Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser. Prospective evaluation included flap dimensions, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and visual outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three patients (111 eyes; mean age 37.2 years) were evaluated. Preoperatively, the mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 1.34 (Snellen) and the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), -4.91 diopters (D) +/- 2.45 (SD). Six months postoperatively, the mean CDVA was 1.33; the mean MRSE, -0.05 +/- 0.3 D; and the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), 1.27. The UDVA was 20/25 or better in 98.2% of eyes and 20/20 or better in 94.6% of eyes. The MRSE was within +/-0.50 D in 95.5% of eyes and within +/-1.00 D in 99.1% of eyes. The cylinder was 0.50 D or less in 99.1% of eyes. The mean flap thickness was 106.6 +/- 12.6 microm. The most frequent complications were epithelial sloughing (10.8%), a decentered cut (4.5%), flap adhesions (5.4%), a slightly irregular flap border (5.4%), and microstriae (5.4%); all were mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the flap dimensions and refractive results were predictable and the complication rate was acceptable after LASIK using the new femtosecond laser for flap creation.
authors.affiliation: private practice, Boulevard Saint-Michel, 12-16, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium. info@vryghem.be
authors.forename: Jérôme C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vryghem
authors.forename: Thibaut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Devogelaere
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stodulka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult