Conventional Versus Inverted Side-cut Flaps for Femtosecond Laser-Assisted LASIK: Laboratory and Clinical Evaluation

PURPOSE: To study the differences in early corneal cellular events and biomechanical properties after femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK performed using conventional or inverted side-cut angles. METHODS: In the laboratory study, left eyes of 24 rabbits underwent LASIK flap creation with a 70° or 115° side-cut. The contralateral eyes served as controls. The corneas were harvested 24 hours postoperatively. In the clinical study, 2 eyes of each patient (n = 29) were randomized to corneal flap creation with 70° or 115° side-cut angles during LASIK. The Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Depew, NY) was used to assess biomechanical properties of the cornea. RESULTS: In rabbit eyes, epithelial ingrowth was observed more frequently in flaps with 70° side cuts compared to flaps with 115° side-cuts. Corneas with 70° side-cuts showed significantly increased apoptotic cells compared to 115° side-cuts in the central ( P = .001) and peripheral ( P = .004) regions. Fifty-eight eyes of 29 patients were included in the clinical study. An overall reduction in Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure, corneal-compensated intraocular pressure, corneal resistance factor, corneal hysteresis measurements, p1 area, p2 area, and p1 area 1 and p2 area 1 was noted 37 ± 2 months after surgery ( P < .001). No significant difference was observed in the change of any of these parameters between both groups ( P ≥ .146). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in wound healing were observed in rabbit corneas that underwent LASIK with conventional or inverted side-cuts. Variation in flap side-cut angles did not alter the long-term biomechanical properties measured with the ORA in patients after LASIK. [ J Refract Surg. 2017;33(2):96–103.]