Femtosecond applications for anterior segment surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Technology
• Laser Medicine

Background:

• Mechanical microkeratomes have been standard for anterior segment surgery.
• Advancements in laser technology have introduced femtosecond lasers as an alternative.
• Understanding the comparative benefits and risks is crucial for surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available femtosecond lasers for anterior segment surgery.
• To compare femtosecond lasers with mechanical microkeratomes.
• To summarize applications and discuss risks of femtosecond laser technology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of femtosecond laser systems and manufacturers.
• Comparison of hardware and software features of femtosecond lasers.
• Review of mechanical microkeratome literature and comparative analysis with femtosecond lasers.

Main Results:

• Outcomes and risks of mechanical microkeratomes are compared to femtosecond lasers.
• Numerous applications of femtosecond laser technology in anterior segment surgery are summarized.
• New risks and complications specific to femtosecond lasers are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Femtosecond laser technology significantly enhances anterior segment procedures.
• It enables surgeries not feasible with mechanical microkeratomes.
• Femtosecond laser flap creation offers increased predictability and safety over mechanical methods.