The effect of corneal flap on optical aberrations
David Zadok, Carlos Carrillo, Nora Robledo, Arturo S Chayet, Filippo Missiroli, Sergio Litwak.
PURPOSE:
To evaluate the changes in ocular aberrations induced by corneal flap creation.
DESIGN:
Prospective interventional nonrandomized clinical trial.
METHODS:
This study included 15 patients who were scheduled for laser in situ keratomileusis. A nasal hinge flap was created, using the Nidek MK-2000 microkeratome and then replaced without performing laser ablation. The ocular aberrations were measured before and after flap creation using the Nidek Optical Path Difference Scanning System ARK-10000.
RESULTS:
The root mean square wavefront errors of the higher-order optical aberrations (third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-order aberrations) were not significantly altered at 1 week postsurgery compared with the preoperative values (P >.35).
CONCLUSIONS:
Creating a corneal flap with the Nidek MK-2000 microkeratome did not induce changes in higher-order optical aberrations as measured with the Nidek Optical Path Difference Scanning System ARK-10000 during the early postoperative period.