Astigmatism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Astigmatism, including details on cornea, retina, treatment, types, signs, tests.

Femtosecond laser-assisted corneal surgery.

Mian SI, Shtein RM

Division of Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The femtosecond laser has potentially improved the safety and precision of creating corneal flaps in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). This review focuses on recent advances in applying femtosecond laser technology to other corneal procedures. RECENT FINDINGS: The femtosecond laser is capable of cutting tissue at various depths and patterns with minimal collateral tissue injury. The laser can now be used to perform corneal pockets for ring segments, arcuate wedge-shaped resection in correction of high astigmatism, lamellar dissections in anterior lamellar keratoplasty, donor tissue preparation in Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty, and shaped full-thickness keratoplasty. SUMMARY: Femtosecond laser-assisted corneal surgery may provide a more precise and safer approach to corneal surgery.

Published 14 June 2007 in Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 18(4): 295-9.
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