Reproducibility of flap thickness with IntraLase FS and Moria LSK-1 and M2 microkeratomes
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
A Pre-clinical Rat Model for the Study of Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Reconstructive Microsurgery
Published on: November 8, 2019
Jonathan H Talamo1, Jeremy Meltzer, John Gardner
1Laser Eye Consultants of Boston, 1601 Trapelo Rd, Ste 184, Waltham, MA 02451, USA. jtalamo@lecb.com
Purpose:
To compare flap thickness reproducibility of the femtosecond laser and two mechanical microkeratomes.
Methods:
Flap thickness for all eyes was measured as the difference between the preoperative (day of surgery) full corneal thickness and post-flap creation central stromal bed thickness using ultrasonic pachymetry. Flap thickness values produced by three different microkeratome systems were compared for accuracy and reproducibility.
Results:
For 99 flaps created using the IntraLase FS laser with an intended thickness of 110 microm, the mean achieved thickness was 119 +/- 12 microm (range: 82 to 149 microm). In 100 eyes treated with the Moria LSK-1 microkeratome with an intended flap thickness of 160 microm, the mean achieved thickness was 130 +/- 19 microm (range: 71 to 186 microm). In 135 eyes treated with the Moria M2 microkeratome with an intended flap thickness of 130 microm, mean thickness was 142 +/- 24 microm (range: 84 to 203 microm). The standard deviation and range of corneal flap thickness created with the IntraLase FS laser was significantly smaller than either mechanical microkeratome (P < .0001).
Conclusions:
When compared to two commonly used mechanical microkeratomes, mean achieved flap thickness was more reproducible with the IntraLase FS laser, reducing the comparative risk of overly thick flaps.
