title: LASIK flap creation with the Ziemer femtosecond laser in 787 consecutive eyes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mehiläinen Hospital, Tampere, Finland. juhani.pietila@femtolasik.fi
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pietilä
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jylli
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uusitalo
mesh_terms: 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