Article

90 micron flaps get the thumbs up

Using a femotsecond laser (IntraLase) to create flaps of 90 microns does not increase the postoperative risk of striae formation or induction of optical aberrations.

Using a femotsecond laser (IntraLase) to create flaps of 90 microns does not increase the postoperative risk of striae formation or induction of optical aberrations, according to Omid Kermani and colleagues from Augenklinik am Neumarkt, Cologne, Germany.

A total of 25 eyes (18 patients) were treated with the femtosecond laser, applying an intended thickness of 90 microns. A further 25 eyes (14 patients) received LASIK flap cuts with a conventional microkeratome (MK 2000; Nidek), applying an intended flap thickness of 130 microns. All eyes were treated for myopia or myopic astigmatism with the Nidek EC CXIII refractive excimer laser.

No vision threatening complications occurred in any of the treatments and in all eyes, the flap could be opened and repositioned after laser ablation. Dr Kermani conceded that the 90 micron flaps were slightly more difficult to lift compared with normal femtosecond flaps of 120 microns.

The mean femtosecond flap thickness was 95 microns with a standard deviation of ±10 microns and the mean microkeratome flap thickness was 115 microns with a standard deviation of ±25 microns.

Ninety percent of all eyes (from both groups) were within ±0.5 D of target refraction and one day after LASIK, all eyes had a visual acuity of 0.8 or more. Furthermore, no eyes lost more than one line of best corrected visual acuity.

Dr Kermani concluded that flaps with a thickness below 100 microns were not associated with an increased postoperative risk.

Newsletter

Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews, straight to your inbox.

Related Videos
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Mark Lobanoff, MD, on making the move to office-based surgery
Barsha Lal, PhD, discusses the way low dose atropine affects accommodative amplitude and dynamics at the 2025 ARVO meeting
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) NeuroOp Guru: When eye findings should prompt neuroimaging in suspected neuro-Behcet disease
At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting, Katherine Talcott, MD, a retina specialist at Cleveland Clinic, shared her findings on EYP-1901 (EyePoint Pharmaceuticals) in the phase 2 DAVIO study.
Dr. Jogin Desai, founder of Eyestem Research, discusses his research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Michael Rivers, MD, shares his takeaways as a panelist at the inaugural SightLine event
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Karl Stonecipher, MD, on LASIK outcomes using an aspheric excimer laser for high myopia
John Tan talks about an emergency triage framework for retinal artery occlusion at the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting.
Dr Robert Maloney at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Wendy Lee, MD, MS, at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.