Very high-frequency digital ultrasound measurement of the LASIK flap thickness profile using the IntraLase femtosecond laser and M2 and Carriazo-Pendular microkeratomes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal aberrometric outcomes and corneal flap thickness profile after LASIK using three different devices for lamellar keratotomy: Moria M2 microkeratome, SCHWIND Carriazo-Pendular microkeratome, and IntraLase femtosecond laser. METHODS: Sixty-six myopic eyes of 33 patients who underwent LASIK with the SCHWIND ESIRIS excimer laser were enrolled in this study. Lamellar keratotomy was performed using three different devices that were assigned randomly to each patient: the Moria M2 microkeratome, SCHWIND Carriazo-Pendular microkeratome, and IntraLase femtosecond laser. The intended flap depth was 110 microm in all cases. Flap thickness profile, corneal aberrations, contrast sensitivity, and refractive outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean central flap thickness was 117.50 +/- 7.80, 118.08 +/- 8.34, and 115.95 +/- 6.22 microm for the M2, Carriazo-Pendular, and IntraLase systems, respectively. No significant differences were found among the groups. Nasal thicknesses were significantly larger for the M2 flaps compared to IntraLase (P < .05) and Carriazo-Pendular flaps (P = .046 only at 3-mm position). Temporal thicknesses were larger for the M2 flaps, although only differences between M2 and Carriazo-Pendular flaps reached statistical significance. Larger superior and inferior thicknesses were also observed for M2 flaps, although no statistically significant differences were found. Regarding corneal aberrometry, no statistically significant differences were observed in coma-like (P = .138) and spherical-like root-mean-square (P = .300). CONCLUSIONS: The M2, Carriazo-Pendular, and IntraLase systems create flaps of predictable thickness during lamellar keratotomy in LASIK. Additionally, the Carriazo-Pendular and IntraLase devices create flaps with a planar profile.