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Single-pass, double-pass femtosecond LASIK flap creation produce similar results

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2012;38(1):8-15.

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A single pass and a double pass of a femtosecond laser in LASIK flap creation yielded similar postoperative visual and refractive outcomes, a study found.

"We found no differences in visual acuity, refraction, or corneal [higher-order aberrations] after myopic LASIK in patients with a single femtosecond laser pass in one eye and a double femtosecond laser pass in the contralateral eye," the study authors said. "The visual and corneal optical qualities were comparable between single-pass and double-pass flap creation. Thus, if suction loss occurs when the flap is being created, a second femtosecond pass can be performed immediately, yielding good visual and optical outcomes."

The retrospective study included 42 eyes of 21 patients with a mean age of 31.8 years. An IntraLase femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics) was used to create flaps with a single pass in one eye and a double pass in the contralateral eye. A Visx S2 excimer laser (AMO) was used to perform ablation.

Investigators evaluated uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy and tonometry at 1 and 7 days and 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively. Wavefront analysis was used to evaluate corneal topography at 12 months.

Study results showed that between-group differences in uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity were statistically insignificant. A high percentage of eyes in both groups attained uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better at 12 months. All eyes in both groups attained a minimum uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/30.

No eyes lost one line of corrected distance visual acuity, and no complications were reported. Double-pass eyes had an insignificantly higher incidence of subconjunctival hemorrhage than single-pass eyes, the authors said.