Evaluation of Femtosecond Laser Clear Corneal Incision: An Experimental Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of corneal topography following femtosecond laser and manual clear corneal incision (CCI). METHODS: Inflation testing was performed in 14 human eye globes to evaluate the topographic response of the cornea to CCIs. In seven samples (femtosecond laser group), a 2.75-mm three-plane CCI was created using the iFS femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Ana, CA); the remaining seven samples (control group) received a 2.75-mm manual CCI using disposable angled knives. Topographic maps of the anterior and posterior cornea were acquired using a Scheimpflug topographer Pentacam HR (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany). Keratometric data were used to analyze the curvature changes of the cornea. The changes of corneal astigmatism were analyzed by vector analysis.