Bilateral comparison of corneal flap dimensions with the Moria M2 reusable head and single use head microkeratomes

PURPOSE: To compare the Moria (Antony, France) M2 automated microkeratome with the head 130 to a new disposable single use head to evaluate complications, accuracy, and safety of the procedure. METHODS: Ninety-eight eyes of 49 consecutive patients were operated with the Moria M2 microkeratome. One eye was operated with the metallic head 130 and the other with a plastic single use head, both designed to create a 160-microm flap. Intraoperative flap dimensions were correlated to preoperative parameters and evaluated 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: With the head 130, mean thickness was 153.3 microm (standard deviation [SD] 13.3, range: 102 to 179 microm). When using a single use head, mean thickness was 148.0 microm (SD 9.8, range: 120 to 170 microm). Occasional iron particles were observed in one eye with both head types. No true epithelial ingrowth was detected in any of the eyes, but epithelial dots at the wound edge occurred in one eye, when using the head 130, but not in the eyes operated with a single use head. CONCLUSIONS: On average, both head types created thinner flaps than attempted. Single use heads produced thinner flaps than the head 130. Accuracy in flap thickness in terms of standard deviation was significantly better in single use heads than in the head 130. Single use heads also had fewer microkeratome-related complications. In clinical practice, the single use head was easier to use because no assembly was required. Plastic single use heads also worked more smoothly than the metallic head 130.