title: Management and outcomes of suction loss during LASIK flap creation with a femtosecond laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate risk factors, management, and outcomes in patients who experienced suction loss during LASIK flap creation with a femtosecond laser (Intra-Lase FS 60, Abbott Medical Optics Inc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and postoperative visual outcomes and refractions for 71 eyes of 70 patients after suction loss during flap creation with the IntraLase FS60 femtosecond laser were analyzed and studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients requiring a second or third lamellar flap cut immediately after suction loss, 97.2% of eyes achieved uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR (20/20) or better and 100% of eyes achieved corrected distance visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR (20/20) or better at most recent follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that excellent visual outcomes can be achieved if an immediate lamellar recut is performed after suction loss with a femtosecond laser.
authors.affiliation: Shinagawa LASIK Center, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan. tomita@shinagawa.com
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.forename: Tadayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tadahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: George O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Waring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013396:Suction; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult