Corneal flap morphological analysis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography in laser in situ keratomileusis with femtosecond lasers versus mechanical microkeratome

AIM: To assess and compare the flap morphology using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with Femto LDV femtosecond lasers versus Hansatome mechanical Microkeratome. METHODS: AS-OCT (Visante) was used to compare 1 month postoperatively the morphology of the flaps created with Femto LDV femtosecond lasers or Hansatome Microkeratome. The intendedfiap thickness was 110 mu m and 160 mu m respectively. The thickness of twenty-five points across each flap, which were 0mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, and 3.5mm to the corneal vertex on the horizontal, vertical, 45 degrees and 135 degrees meridian respectively, was evaluated. RESULTS: One month postoperative, the central flap thickness in the Femto LDV group was 107.43 +/- 4.70 mu m, while 125.90 +/- 17.50 mu m in the Hansatome group. The difference between the actual and the expectedfiap thickness was 5.61 +/- 3.84 mu m and 31.52 +/- 12.27 mu m, respectively. The Hansatome group had presented a statistically significant result (P<0.001). Flap morphology showed a more regular planar shape in the Femto LDV group and a meniscus shape in the Hansatome group. CONCLUSION: AS-OCT is a direct and fast procedure to assess the flap morphology. The morphology by AS-OCT showed that the flaps created with Femto LDV femtosecond laser were more accurate and regular than the flaps created with Hansatome microkeratome.

Proportion and characteristic of emmetropia in schoolchildren aged 6-11y:the Shenzhen elementary school eye study

AIM:To investigate the proportion and characteristic of emmetropia in schoolchildren aged 6-11,especially estimate the normal value of ocular biometric parameters of emmetropia.METHODS:A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 6-11 y in Shenzhen.Totally,2386 schoolchildren from two primary schools were involved.The axial length(AL)and the corneal radius of curvature(CRC)were measured by partial coherence laser interferometry.Noncycloplegic refraction and refractive astigmatism(RA)was measured using autorefraction.The axial length-to-corneal radius of curvature ratio(AL/CRC),corneal astigmatism(CA)and spherical equivalent refraction(SER)were calculated.RESULTS:The proportion of emmetropia in elementary school students was 41.30%.This percentage decreased gradually from 6 to 11 years of age and decreased rapidly after 9 years of age.The mean and 95%CI of each parameter were provided for boys and girls aged 6 to 11 years of age with emmetropia according to each age group.The change trend of parameters of boys and girls are similar.After 7 years of age,the AL of non-emmetropia started to increase faster than that of emmetropia.The change trend of AL/CRC was the same as that of AL.The other parameters tend to be stable after 7 years of age.CONCLUSION:The age of 7-9 is an important period for the changes of refractive state and ocular biometric parameters of primary school students,and it is a special focus period for children myopia prevention.The normal value and variation of ocular biometric parameters of emmetropia can provide the basis for the clinical judgment of whether or not children’s ocular biometric parameters obtained by single measurement and changes obtained by multiple measurements are abnormal.