Power loss during flap creation may result in complications

Loss of power to a microkeratome can cause serious flap or other complications, according to a case report.

I.S. Tuominen and T.M. Tervo at Helsinki University Hospital described the case of a patient scheduled for LASIK because of myopia and anisometropia caused by retinal detachment surgery. During surgery, the power was inadvertently cut off from the microkeratome during its forward pass. The surgeons noted that reversing the blade manually along the suction ring was impossible and the suction ring itself was attached firmly to the ocular surface.

The surgeons detached the suction line from the control unit, which aborted the vacuum and allowed the surgeon to move the microkeratome blade backwards. An almost-normal flap was observed, and the operation continued uneventfully.

The case is reported in the October issue of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica.