A comparison of LASIK flap thickness and morphology between the Intralase 60- and 150-kHz femtosecond lasers.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare the achieved thickness and consistency of LASIK flaps created with a 60- and 150-kHz femtosecond laser.

METHODS

One hundred twenty eyes of 60 patients with myopia were treated with LASIK. One eye had flap created by the Intralase FS 60-kHz femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics, Abbott Park, IL) and the fellow eye was treated with the IntraLase iFS 150-kHz femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics). Eyes were randomized according to ocular dominance. Flap morphology and measurements were taken with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) at the 1-month postoperative visit.

RESULTS

AS-OCT showed similar regular planar morphologies in both groups. The mean thickness of the flaps in the FS 60 group was significantly higher than that of the iFS 150 group (105.4 ± 3.9 μm vs 103.9 ± 4.8 μm, P = .009). The mean deviation from targeted flap thickness was not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The Intralase iFS 150-kHz femtosecond laser creates flaps of similar thickness and uniformity to the Intralase FS 60-kHz femtosecond laser.