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¹M.D. Associate Professor, Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul/TURKEY
²M.D. Professor, Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul/TURKEY Purpose: To analyze the stromal pocket and opaque bubble layer (OBL) formation during femtosecond laser flap creation using the anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
Materials and Methods: During femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), 20 eyes of 10 patients were examined prospectively by AS-OCT to evaluate the flap-OBL-pocket relations immediately after flap creation. High resolution corneal images in four quadrants were recorded and analyzed using the software's flap tool.
Results: The mean age of the patients (3 women, 7 men) was 42.06.2 years. No preoperative or postoperative complications were observed. An OBL was observed in 10 eyes without pocket formation; the mean OBL thickness was 251 μm, and the mean OBL depth was 393.8 μm. Pocket formation was programmed to be performed on 10 eyes; it was rudimentary and could hardly be detected in 3 eyes by AS-OCT. In eyes containing stromal pocket, a lower amount of OBL was also found to expand to the limbus. The mean pocket thickness was 85 μm and the mean pocket depth was 301.2 μm.
Conclusion: AS-OCT is a useful tool to evaluate the flap-OBL-pocket relations in vivo immediately after femtosecond laser during LASIK procedures. The presence of flap related stromal pockets significantly decrease OBL formation in femtosecond laser assisted LASIK. Keywords : Femtosecond laser; LASIK; anterior segment optical coherence tomography; pocket; opaque bubble layer