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Ultrafast (femtosecond) laser refractive surgery
1Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. asugar@umich.edu
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
|August 8, 2002
Summary
The femtosecond laser offers precise corneal flaps for LASIK surgery, minimizing tissue damage. This technology shows promise for various refractive and corneal procedures.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Ultrafast pulse lasers reduce energy requirements for tissue incision.
- Minimizing collateral damage to surrounding tissues is a key goal in surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the IntraLase femtosecond laser for lamellar corneal surgery.
- To assess the quality of corneal flaps created by the femtosecond laser for LASIK.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the FDA-approved IntraLase femtosecond laser (1053 nm infrared).
- Employed scanning pulses focused to 3 micrometers with 1-micrometer accuracy.
- Created lamellar flaps via a spiral cutting pattern within the corneal stroma.
Main Results:
- Femtosecond laser produced uniformly good quality corneal flaps.
- No flap-related complications were observed in clinical studies.
- Demonstrated precise flap creation for LASIK procedures.
Conclusions:
- The IntraLase femtosecond laser is effective for creating precise lamellar corneal flaps.
- This technology minimizes collateral tissue damage during corneal surgery.
- The system's flexibility suggests potential applications in other refractive and intrastromal corneal surgeries.