title: Creation of a new femtosecond laser-assisted mini-flap to enhance late regression after LASIK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a method of LASIK enhancement in which a new femtosecond laser-assisted mini-flap is created over the original LASIK flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 60-kHz IntraLase femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp., Irvine, CA) was used to create a new mini-flap over an original LASIK flap for the re-treatment of late regression after LASIK. The diameter of the mini-flap was 7 mm and the attempted flap depth was 100 μm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was performed on 10 eyes of 7 patients. No intraoperative or postoperative complications developed in any case during the follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up visit, all eyes were within ±0.5 diopters of the targeted refraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results suggest that creation of a femtosecond laser-assisted mini-flap over a previous LASIK flap seems to be a safe and effective procedure for the enhancement of late regression after LASIK. By creating a femtosecond laser-assisted mini-flap that is smaller in diameter than the original flap, the adhesion of the primary flap edges and peripheral interface remain intact, thus decreasing the risk of dislocation of the original LASIK flap and of losing a sliver of tissue.
authors.affiliation: Vissum Santa Hortensia, Madrid, Spain. monteseggonz@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Teus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D013524:Surgical Flaps