Original Article

Management and Outcomes of Suction Loss During LASIK Flap Creation With a Femtosecond Laser

Minoru Tomita, MD, PhD; Miyuki Watabe, PhD; Tadayuki Nakamura, MD; Nobuo Nakamura, MD, PhD; Tadahiko Tsuru, MD, PhD; George O. Waring IV, MD

  • Journal of Refractive Surgery
  • January 2012 - Volume 28 · Issue 1: 32-36
  • DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20111122-01
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Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate risk factors, management, and outcomes in patients who experienced suction loss during LASIK flap creation with a femtosecond laser (Intra-Lase FS 60, Abbott Medical Optics Inc).

METHODS:

Pre- and postoperative visual outcomes and refractions for 71 eyes of 70 patients after suction loss during flap creation with the IntraLase FS60 femtosecond laser were analyzed and studied.

RESULTS:

In patients requiring a second or third lamellar flap cut immediately after suction loss, 97.2% of eyes achieved uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR (20/20) or better and 100% of eyes achieved corrected distance visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR (20/20) or better at most recent follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study suggests that excellent visual outcomes can be achieved if an immediate lamellar recut is performed after suction loss with a femtosecond laser.

AUTHORS

From Shinagawa LASIK Center, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan (Tomita, Watabe, T. Nakamura, N. Nakamura, Tsuru); ReVision Advanced Laser Eye Center, Columbus, Ohio (Waring); and St Joseph’s Translational Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia (Waring).

The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in the materials presented herein.

Correspondence: Minoru Tomita, MD, PhD, Shinagawa LASIK Center, Yurakucho ITOCiA 14F, 2-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo, 100-0006, Japan. Tel: 81 3 5221 2207; Fax: 81 3 5221 8138; E-mail: tomita@shinagawa.com

Received: December 05, 2010
Accepted: October 11, 2011
Posted Online: December 02, 2011

doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20111122-01

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