Comparison of the visual response to corneal enhacement on femtosecond and microkeratome created flaps.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the evolution of visual acuity after enhacement after LASIK performed either with a mechanical microkeratome (MM) or femtosecond laser (FS), up to the third month post‐op. Methods Retrospective analysis of 148 consecutive eyes who had LASIK, 125 with femtosecond laser (intralase) and 123 with a mechanical microkeratome (Moria M2), had an enhacement performed between the third and the sixth month post‐op. All the surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. All the patients were examined preoperatively, 24 hours, 7 days, one month and three months after the enhancement. Results Both groups had good visual outcomes with no significant differences in visual acuity at the third month. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 1.02±0.2 in both groups (p=0.9), the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.07±0.1 and 1.09±0.1 for the FS and the MM groups respectively. The safety (1.02±0.1 in the FS group, 1.03±0.1 in the MM group, p=0.7) and efficacy (0.97±0.1 and 0.95±0.1 for the FS and MM respectively, p=0.4) were similar in both groups. Neverthelerss we found a statistically significant difference on UCVA on the first week (0.93±0.1 femtosecond vs 0.98±0.1 microkeratome, p=0.01). Conclusion Visual acuity recovery is slower after enhacement on FS flaps only on the early postoperative period. Probably, there is an increased epithelial damage or a superior inflammatory response due to a more difficult flap‐lifting in FS vs a MM cases.