Predictability of corneal flap thickness in laser in situ keratomileusis using three different microkeratomes.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy and consistency of corneal flap thickness in the right and left eye created by three different widely used microkeratomes during consecutive laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: Corneal thickness of 132 eyes of 66 patients was measured preoperatively and intraoperatively. Corneal flap thickness was calculated by subtracting the corneal stromal thickness from the total corneal thickness. Three different microkeratomes were used for creating the corneal flap: Chiron Automated Corneal Shaper (ACS), Baush and Lomb Surgical Hansatome, and Nidek MK 2000 microkeratomes. The same surgeon performed all procedures on the right eye first and then on the left eye using the same blade and the same surgical technique.

Results: Mean corneal flap thickness created by the ACS (160-microm depth setting) microkeratome was 128.30 +/- 12.57 microm in the right eye and 122.96 +/- 13.30 microm in the left eye. The Hansatome (160-microm depth plate) microkeratome created a flap of mean 141.16 +/- 20.11 microm in the right eye and 120.95 +/- 26.95 microm in the left eye, and the Nidek MK 2000 (130-microm depth plate) microkeratome created a flap of 127.25 +/- 4.12 microm in the right eye and 127.54 +/- 3.7 microm in the left eye.

Conclusion: Corneal flap thickness tended to be considerably thinner than expected on both eyes using the ACS and Hansatome. With the ACS and Hansatome, the difference in corneal flap thickness between the first and second operated eye was statistically significant. With the Nidek MK 2000 microkeratome, there was no statistically significant difference between the first and second operated eye and measurements were close to desired corneal flap thickness. Intraoperative pachymetry is recommended for every LASIK procedure.