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Break in microkeratome oscillating pin during LASIK flap creation
Chandrashekar Balachandran1, Ioannis M Aslanides
1Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Summary
A rare LASIK complication occurred when a microkeratome's pin broke, causing an irregular flap. Despite this, the patient achieved good vision recovery after the procedure was carefully managed.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a common refractive surgery.
- Proper functioning of surgical equipment is crucial for patient safety.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old myopic female patient experienced a complication during LASIK.
- The microkeratome's oscillating pin fractured, leading to an irregular corneal flap with missing portions.
Findings:
- The LASIK procedure was aborted due to the hardware malfunction.
- The irregular flap was repositioned, and the patient achieved a final Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) of 6/7.5.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of rare, extreme hardware failures in ophthalmic surgery.
- Effective management of intraoperative complications can lead to favorable visual outcomes.
- Manufacturers must implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence of such critical equipment failures.
