[Ablation on the undersurface of a LASIK flap. Instrument and method for continuous eye tracking]

The risk of iatrogenic keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) increases with thinner posterior stromal beds. Ablations on the undersurface of a LASIK flap could only be performed without the guidance of an eye tracker, which may lead to decentration. A new method for laser ablation with flying spot lasers on the undersurface of a LASIK flap was developed that enables the use of an active eye tracker by utilizing a novel instrument. The first clinical results are reported.

Patients wishing an enhancement procedure were eligible for a modified repeat LASIK procedure if the flaps cut in the initial procedure were thick enough to perform the intended additional ablation on the undersurface leaving at least 90 microm of flap thickness behind. (1) The horizontal axis and the center of the entrance pupil were marked on the epithelial side of the flap using gentian violet dye. (2) The flap was reflected on a newly designed flap holder which had a donut-shaped black marking. (3) The eye tracker was centered on the mark visible in transparency on the flap. (4) Ablation with a flying spot Bausch & Lomb Technolas 217z laser was performed on the undersurface of the flap with a superior hinge taking into account that in astigmatic ablations the cylinder axis had to be mirrored according to the formula: axis on the undersurface=180 degrees -axis on the stromal bed. (5) The flap was repositioned.

Detection of the marking on the modified flap holder and continuous tracking instead of the real pupil was possible in all of the 12 eyes treated with this technique. It may be necessary to cover the real pupil during ablation in order not to confuse the eye tracker. Ablation could be performed without decentration or loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Refractive results in minor corrections were good without nomogram adjustment.

Using this novel flap holder with a marking that is tracked instead of the real pupil, centered ablations with a flying spot laser on the undersurface of a LASIK flap are feasible. Thus, the additional risk of iatrogenic keratectasia associated with stromal enhancement ablations is avoided.