Blade source effect on laser in situ keratomileusis flap thickness with the Amadeus I microkeratome

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Adrienne L. Ruth, Emory University; Michael Lynn, Emory University; Bradley Randleman, Emory University; R Doyle Stulting Jr., Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-03
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2007 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2007.11.020
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• ISSN: 0886-3350
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 407
• End Page: 410
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported in part by Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York, and National Institutes of Health Core Grant P30 EYO6360, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Opthamology

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of different blades on laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap thickness created with the Amadeus I microkeratome (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems). Setting: Emory University Department of Opthalmology and Emory Vision, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Methods: This retrospective nonrandomized comparative case study from January 2005 through June 2006 compared LASIK flap thickness created with blades from 2 manufacturers: the Surepass from Surgical Instrument Systems and distributed by AMO and the ML7090 CLB distributed by Med-Logics, Inc. Sex, preoperative corneal thickness, surgical-eye sequence, flap thickness and variance, and residual stromal bed were evaluated in each group. Results: This study evaluated 424 eyes of 226 patients. Surepass blades were used in 238 eyes and ML7090 CLB blades in 186 eyes. There were no significant differences between the 2 blade groups in preoperative corneal thickness, sex, or cases with corneal thickness greater than 550 µm. Mean flap thickness and variance were significantly lower in the ML7090 CLB group than in the Surepass group (P<.0001). There were no significant differences in flap thickness in either group based on sex; however, in both groups, flap thickness was significantly lower in second eyes and in eyes with a preoperative thickness less than 550 µm (P<.001). Conclusions: The Amadeus I microkeratome created thinner, more consistent LASIK flaps with the ML7090 CLB blade than with the Surepass blade. Preoperative corneal thickness and eye sequence affected flap thickness, while sex did not.