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Surface quality of human corneal lenticules after femtosecond laser surgery for myopia comparing different laser parameters

  • Refractive Surgery
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

To determine the surface characteristics of human corneal lenticules after femtosecond laser surgery for myopia.

Methods

The Carl Zeiss Meditec AG VisuMax® femtosecond laser system was used for refractive correction called Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction on 24 myopic eyes. The surface regularity on the refractive corneal lenticules recovered was evaluated by assessing scanning electron microscopy images using an established scoring system. Three different energy levels 150, 180, and 195 nJ were compared (n = 8 in each group).

Results

Surface irregularities were caused by tissue bridges, cavitation bubbles, or scratches. The surface regularity index (R2 = 0.74) decreased as pulse energy increased. The average surface regularity score obtained was 7.5 for 150 nJ, 7.25 for 180 nJ, and 6.25 for 195 nJ.

Conclusions

The human corneal lenticules created with the VisuMax® femtosecond laser system are of predictable, good-quality surface. This study shows the influence of pulse energy on surface regularity in human eyes. Further studies should focus on optimization of laser parameters as well as surgical technique to improve the regularity of the corneal stromal bed and so make the advantages of the femtosecond laser technology over conventional techniques clearer in the future.

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Abbreviations

Avg.:

Average

a.u.:

Arbitrary unit

DLK:

Diffuse lamellar keratitis

FLEx:

Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction

h:

Hour

kHz:

Kilohertz

LASIK:

Laser in situ keratomileusis

n:

Number of specimens

nJ:

Nanojoule

R2 :

Correlation coefficient

SD:

Standard deviation

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

TLSS:

Transient light sensitivity syndrome

μm:

Micrometer

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Nordhäuserstrasse 74, 99089, Erfurt, Germany

    Kathleen S. Kunert & Marcus Blum

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

    Gernot I. W. Duncker & Jens Heichel

  3. Department of Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Germany

    Rabea Sietmann

Authors
  1. Kathleen S. Kunert
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  2. Marcus Blum
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  3. Gernot I. W. Duncker
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  4. Rabea Sietmann
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  5. Jens Heichel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen S. Kunert.

Additional information

This project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Helios Klinikum Erfurt, 13 N8835A). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Thuringian Regional Medical Council and informed consent was obtained from all subjects. None of the authors has any financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

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Kunert, K.S., Blum, M., Duncker, G.I.W. et al. Surface quality of human corneal lenticules after femtosecond laser surgery for myopia comparing different laser parameters. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 249, 1417–1424 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1578-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1578-4

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