Laser in situ keratomileusis intraoperative complications using one type of microkeratome

To identify the incidence and refractive outcome of intraoperative laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) complications using one type of microkeratome. Retrospective noncomparative case series. Three hundred thirty-four consecutive myopic LASIK patients (September 1997 to November 1998) operated on by one surgeon. Myopic LASIK surgeries were performed with the Mediate Mel 60 Aesculap Meditec Laser system. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative spherical equivalent, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSVA), and corneal anatomic features (as obtained from videokeratography) were recorded, as was the incidence of intraoperative complications. Forty-eight (14%) eyes had keratome-related complications. Thirty-seven (77%) eyes were immediately treated; the remaining eyes were treated on a later date. One year after treatment, 13% of the immediately treated complicated eyes maintained the preoperative BSVA; 24% had a 1-line loss; 2.7% had a greater loss of BSVA. Microkeratome-related complications may result in loss of BSVA. The complication of an irregular flap had the poorest refractive outcome in this series of eyes. We did not find any statistically significant relationship between corneal anatomic factors and keratome-related complications in this series.