LASIK flap creation with the Ziemer femtosecond laser in 787 consecutive eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To present the flap characteristics and short-term efficacy and safety of 787 consecutive LASIK procedures with the FEMTO LDV femtosecond laser (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems) for the treatment of refractive errors.


METHODS
Seven hundred eighty-seven consecutive eyes of 405 previously non-operated patients were treated with the FEMTO LDV. Intended flap thickness was 110 microm and intended flap diameter varied from 8.5 to 9.5 mm. Refractive treatment was performed with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Concerto 500 Hz excimer laser. All eyes were wavefront-optimized.


RESULTS
The mean flap thickness, measured by ultrasound pachymetry, was 90.0+/-5.5 microm (range: 67 to 107 microm) in right eyes and 90.1+/-4.6 microm (range: 77 to 106 microm) in left eyes. Mean flap diameter was 9.1+/-0.2 mm (range: 8.4 to 9.9 mm) in right eyes and 9.1+/-0.2 mm (range: 8.0 to 10.0 mm) in left eyes. Increasing flap thickness was correlated with increasing corneal thickness in right eyes and flatter keratometric value K(1) in left eyes. The most common complication was minor bleeding during the procedure (12.7%). All other complications were rare (8.4%), and none prevented further laser ablation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Ziemer FEMTO LDV laser created thinner LASIK flaps than intended but with a low standard deviation and minimal intraoperative complications.
Pietilä
Juhani
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Mehiläinen Hospital, Tampere, Finland. juhani.pietila@femtolasik.fi
Huhtala
Anne
A
Jääskeläinen
Markus
M
Jylli
Jarmo
J
Mäkinen
Petri
P
Uusitalo
Hannu
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult