[Keratomileusis with a lamellar microkeratome and the excimer laser]

In a combined prospective study with E. Arnott's department, intrastromal excimer keratomileusis on the lenticle stroma was performed in 15 eyes of 15 patients (follow-up 6 months). The primary keratectomy was performed using the lamellar automatic rotating microkeratome, followed by refractive modification by the excimer laser on the excised corneal discs. For the laser ablation, a repetition rate of 10 Hz and a fluence on the corneal plane of 180 mJ/cm2 was used. Following surgery, all treated eyes were subjected to guttae of Maxitrol q.i.d. for 12 weeks. Excimer laser intrastromal keratomileusis effectively combines corneal microsurgery and photoablation. The predictability of the refractive correction is better than with the other surgical keratomileusis techniques.