Corneal flap thickness during laser in situ keratomileusis.

To analyze the actual corneal flap thickness (FT) after flap making by MK-2000 microkeratome during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), 42 females and 20 males with myopia or myopic astigmatism were enrolled in this study. FTs were created using a microkeratome with a 130 microm head. Corneal thickness was measured by ultrasonic pachymeter. The correlations between FT and central corneal thickness (CCT), keratometric power and age were analyzed. The mean age at operation for all study subjects was 27.6+/-4.9 years. The average FT was 133.2+/-15.4 microm. The average CCT was 540.+/-30.3 microm. The average keratometric power was 43.66+/-1.32 D. There was a positive correlation between FT and CCT and no correlation between FT and keratometric power or between FT and age. We recommend that LASIK surgeons inspect the actual FT when using microkeratome.