Reuse of the Microkeratome Blade to Make a Consistent Corneal Flap in LASIK

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the possibility of making a consistent corneal flap by reusing the microkeratome blade. METHODS: We performed LASIK surgery on 40 eyes of 26 patients by reusing the microkeratome blades which made the corneal flap thickness between 120 micrometer and 160 micrometer in the previous LASIK surgery. We selected 40 eyes of 25 patients with the same range of preoperative central corneal thickness, spherical equivalent, keratometry values, and astigmatism as a control group from the patients who had LASIK surgery with new microkeratome blades. We compared the mean and the deviation of the corneal flap thickness between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean central thickness of the corneal flap was 134.3 +/- 18.0 micrometer (range 89.6~161.7 micrometer) in the group using reused blades, and 134.4 +/- 24.6 micrometer (range 62.3~177.0 micrometer) in the control group. The mean deviation of the corneal flap thickness was 14.7 +/- 10.0 micrometer in the group using reused blades and 18.4 +/- 16.0 micrometer in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.218). CONCLUSIONS: The amount of deviation of corneal flap thickness was not decreased by reusing the microkeratome blade.