Effect of microkeratome suction duration on corneal flap thickness and diameter in pigs / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To determine the effect of suction duration on thickness and diameter of corneal flap created by microkeratome in porcine eyes in laser in situ kerato-mileusis (LASIK).METHODS: Sixty porcine eyes were randomly assigned to three groups according to different suction durations: group 1 (10 seconds), group 2 (20 seconds), and group 3 (30 seconds). A Moria M2 microkeratome (Moria, France) with a 160μm head was used to create a corneal flap. Corneal flap thickness was measured by automated ultrasonic pachymetry, and the flap diameter was measured by a vernier caliper.RESULTS: The flap thickness of group 1, group 2 and group 3 was 146.05±13.46μm, 157.35±18.95μm and 169.25±21.02μm, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference among three groups (P=0.001). The mean flap diameter in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 8.63±0.19mm, 8.89±0.24mm and 9.06±0.18mm, respectively. A statisti-cally significant difference was found among groups (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: In LASIK in porcine eyes, an increase in suction duration resulted in a thicker and greater flap.

Corneal Flap Thickness according to Suction Time of Microkeratome in Porcine Eye

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the suction time in forming the corneal flap with microkeratome on the corneal flap thickness. METHODS: Thirty porcine eyes were randomly assigned into 3 groups according to suction duration: group 1(10 sec), group 2(35 sec) and group 3(60 sec). The Hansatome microkeratome with 160 plate and a suction ring with 8.5mm diameter were used to create corneal flap. The thickness of central cornea was measured with automated ultrasound pachymeter before the procedure. And after making the flap, the remained corneal thickness was measured with the same method. Then, the difference between the two values was thought to be the corneal flap thickness. RESULTS: The mean corneal flap thickness in group1, 2, and 3 were 91.0+/-24.1 micromiter, 110.1+/-8.9 mu m and 127.2+/-6.1 mu m, respectively. The difference was significant among the three groups(p=0.010), and the longer suction duration made the flap thicker. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in forming the corneal flap with microkeratome, the suction duration has an effect on the corneal flap thickness and an increase of suction duration makes the flap thicker in porcine eyes.