The laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure is a safe, painless and quite common corneal refractive surgical procedure for the correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It involves the initial creation of a corneal flap, followed by remodelling of the corneal stroma using an excimer laser. Finally, the corneal flap is placed back onto the corneal stroma and allowed to heal.
The success and safety of laser treatment during LASIK surgery is highly dependent on the precision and consistency of the corneal flap created. Mechanical microkeratomes have been conventionally used for flap-cutting during LASIK surgeries and their use has been associated with a good efficacy and safety record.1 Despite this good performance record and innovations in mechanical microkeratomes, however, their use is still associated with variations in the morphology, diameter and thickness of the corneal flap created.2–5 Furthermore, many complications of LASIK surgery are related to flapcutting with mechanical microkeratomes. For example, rare complications such as free caps, epithelial abrasions, incomplete cuts and button holes have been reported.6–10
Femtosecond lasers were introduced nearly 10 years ago. Considerable progress has since been made in femtosecond technology, with improvements in flap thickness reproducibility,11,12 stromal bed quality,13 biochemical outcomes14,15 and wavefront measurements.16 The use of femtosecond laser technology represents a new approach to improving the safety and efficiency of flap-cutting during LASIK and femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK. This is commonly referred to as All-Laser LASIK.
It is now well established that femtosecond lasers are superior to mechanical microkeratomes for flap cutting during LASIK surgery.17–24 It has been shown in several studies that the thickness of the corneal flaps created with femtosecond lasers is less variable than flaps created with mechanical microkeratomes.17–19,25,26 Currently available femtosecond lasers, the last of which is a recent introduction to the field, include:
- the Femto LDVTM Femtosecond Surgical Laser (Femtec Laser);
- the IntraLase FSTM Laser;
- the LensAR Laser SystemTM;
- the VisuMAX Femtosecond Laser System; and
- the WaveLight® FS200 Femtosecond Laser.
The FS200 has been used in several laboratory corneal procedures in cadaver corneas in the Laservision Institute laboratory in Athens, Greece. Some of these investigative laboratory procedures included LASIK flap simulation, intracorneal pocket crosslinking (CXL), lamellar and penetrating keratoplasty simulation and intracorneal keratoprosthesis placement. Following the granting of a CE mark for the device, the FS200 has been also utilised in LASIK practice at the Institute. The aim of this article is to discuss the mechanics of, and clinical experience with, the WaveLight FS200 laser for flap cutting during LASIK surgery.
The Mechanics of the WaveLight® FS200 Laser for Flap Cutting A mechanical microkeratome is a blade-like instrument that utilises shear force to mechanically separate the cornea and create the flap. By contrast, femtosecond lasers, such as the WaveLight FS200, do not actually cut the cornea, but instead create a flap by using a photodisruption method.27
The Wavelight FS200 is illustrated in Figure 1. Flap cutting with the WaveLight FS200 laser initially involves the placement of an automated suction ring onto the corneal surface in order to immobilise the eye. Subsequently, a computer-controlled applanation cone is docked into the suction ring. The femtosecond then releases infrared laser pulses in a raster pattern onto the cornea. This results in the formation of small cavitation bubbles within the cornea. The creation of thousands of such cavitation bubbles in a lamellar pattern leads to the creation of a cleavage plane within the cornea.
Subsequently, laser pulses are fired in a peripheral circular pattern onto the corneal stroma in order to create a vertical side cut and a hinge. The suction of the WaveLight FS200 laser is turned off and the corneal flap lifted, thereby exposing the corneal stroma (the middle section of the cornea).
Clinical Experience
At the Laservision Institute, the WaveLight FS200 laser has been used for flap-cutting during LASIK surgery. In the experience gained at the Institute, it has been noted that this laser system has several features that allow the improvement of safety, precision and efficiency of the flap-cutting procedure.
An important feature of the WaveLight FS200 laser is the calibration of the system to ensure consistency. Two instances of calibration occur. The first is when the machine is initially turned on and the second is just prior to applying the cone to the cornea surface. During the second calibration, the distance between the focusing device and the anterior surface of the cone is measured to compensate for deviations in applanation glass thickness. If the laser cone is outside the pre-determined parameters, the WaveLight FS200 laser will reject the use of that particular cone and move onto a second one. This is an important safety feature, as it allows the WaveLight FS200 laser to choose the most appropriate laser cone to ensure consistent flap thickness.The complications associated with flap cutting using mechanical microkeratomes – such as button holes, free flaps and incomplete flaps – have not been observed when using the WaveLight FS200 at the Laservision Institute. The availability of a screen and a microscope with the WaveLight FS200 laser mean that the surgeon can clearly see the entire flap-cutting procedure. These features provide the opportunity for improved physician confidence and control throughout the procedure.
The WaveLight FS200 laser also offers potential benefits to the patient in terms of a shortened procedure time. The flap-cutting period is probably the most uncomfortable part of the LASIK procedure, but the WaveLight FS200 laser has a rapid firing speed of 200kHz, which takes approximately six to seven seconds for the laser to create a 9.0mm corneal flap. Furthermore, the total procedure time for flap-cutting with the WaveLight FS200 laser has been estimated to be approximately 30 seconds from when the suction is turned on to when it is turned off. The fast firing speed of the laser also reduces the energy requirement and makes flap lifting easier.
The efficiency of the procedure is further enhanced through the use of an exhaust channel that minimises the build-up of an opaque bubble layer during the flap-cutting procedure. This makes the procedure more efficient and comfortable for the patient as the physician does not have to wait for the opaque bubble layer to dissipate in order to perform the ablation.
The thickness of LASIK flaps is crucial for accurately predicting the residual stroma bed after excimer ablation as well as for preventing complications after LASIK surgery, such as corneal ectasia (a long-term complication).28,29 At the Laservision Institute, the WaveLight FS200 laser has provided improved precision and consistency of the flap diameter and thickness compared with mechanical microkeratomes. A magnified image of the flap-cutting edges created using the Wavelight FS200 laser is shown in Figure 2 and an image of the stromal bed is shown in Figure 3.
The WaveLight FS200 laser allows individualisation of the flap shape, size and hinge position, allowing the surgeon to optimise the flap morphology and dimensions based on the patient’s condition. For example, flaps with a thickness of approximately 110μm and a diameter of 8mm are generally created for cases of myopia, whereas for cases of hyperopia they are approximately 140μm thick and 9.5mm in diameter.Using the WaveLight FS200 laser, the surgeon can also create very large flaps of up to 10mm in diameter. For these types of flaps, the exhaust plume is even more important as it has been shown that bubbles are more common when thicker and smaller diameter flaps are created.30 Furthermore, creating flaps with a large diameter may also compensate for any decentration relative to performing the ablation.31 Finally, the WaveLight FS200 laser has network connectivity with the WaveLight diagnostics and WaveLight EX500 Excimer laser system. It is possible for the ablation profile from the excimer laser to be displayed on the screen of the femtosecond laser. This allows the surgeon to be aware of where the ablations are going to take place and he/she can then create the corneal flap accordingly.
Limitations
The cost and availability of femtosecond lasers remain important concerns and the use of femtosecond lasers should be evaluated on the basis of a cost versus benefit analysis. Nevertheless, the availability of femtosecond platforms is becoming less of a problem as a result of the increasing popularity of this technology. Although there have been no reports of any complications with the WaveLight FS200 laser, rare complications with other femtosecond lasers have been reported. These include epithelial ingrowth and new syndromes, such as transient light sensitivity.32
Conclusions and Future Research
Femtosecond lasers are now considered to be superior to mechanical microkeratomes for flap-cutting during LASIK surgeries. It is therefore likely that, in time, femtosecond lasers will replace microkeratomes for corneal refractive procedures, particularly for flap-cutting during LASIK procedures.
Experience gained at the Laservision Institute using the recentlyintroduced WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser revealed several advantageous features compared with mechanical microkeratomes that allow for a more efficient, precise and safer procedure. These features include:
- a rapid laser firing speed;
- high visibility for the majority of the flap-cutting procedure;
- laser cone calibration methods;
- good network connectivity; and
- the opportunity to individualise flap shape and size.
Finally, there have been initial reports of promising results with the WaveLight FS200 laser for other corneal procedures, such as the implantation of a presbyopic lens and the creation of tunnels for corneal rings. Further research into these applications would be of considerable interest.
