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Comparison of healing patterns of different side-cut angulations after FS-LASIK
Wei Wei1, Xi-Yu Sun1, Di Shen1
1Xi'an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi'an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China.
Aim:
To investigate and evaluate healing patterns around flaps made with different side-cut angulations after femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).
Methods:
Thirty-four patients (68 eyes) received a 90° side-cut (n=34) or a 120° side-cut flaps (n=34) made with a femtosecond laser. One day, 1wk, 1 and 3mo postoperatively, side-cut scar was evaluated under slit-lamp photography according to a new grading system (Grade 0=transparent scar, 1=faint healing opacity, and 2=evident healing opacity). In vivo corneal confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were used to observe wound-healing patterns around flap margin in the two groups. Sirius Scheimpflug Analyzer was also used to analyze higher order aberrations 3mo after surgery.
Results:
There were no significant differences in flap wound-healing patterns at each follow up between the two groups (P>0.05). Three months after surgery, the flap edge scar classified as Grade 0 had excellent apposition and rapid nerve regeneration. At 3 mm and 5 mm pupil diameters, there were significant differences in trefoil aberrations between the two groups (P<0.05), but no statistically significant differences were found in total higher order aberrations (HOAs), spherical aberrations or coma in any of the pupil size conditions (P>0.05).
Conclusion:
Flap edge scars classified as Grade 0 have excellent apposition and rapid nerve regeneration, and 120° side-cut angle flaps induce less trefoil aberrations after FS-LASIK.
