Definition
The microkeratome is a surgical device with an oscillating blade that is used to create a predetermined thickness corneal flap during laser in situ keratomileusis. The flaps created with this instrument have a thickness of 100–200 μm.
Epidemiology
When in 2007 the number of femtosecond and microkeratome LASIK procedures was nearly 1:1, the microkeratome will probably become less used due to higher precision and faster methods.
History
Jose Barraquer developed the first microkeratome in the 1950s for use in lamellar refractive surgery. About 30 years later, Luis A. Ruiz modified the device and was able to create a flap of corneal tissue.
Clinical Features
Microkeratomes consist of two pieces, a suction ring for fixation and the flexible head with an oscillating blade. Currently, there are three main microkeratomes on the market, Carriazo–Barraquer (Microtech, Doylestown, PA), the M2 of Moria (Moria Surgical, Antony, France), and the Bausch & Lomb/Chiron Hansatome. Each one of...
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Further Reading
Albert DM, Miller JW, Azar DT (2008) Albert & Jakobiec’s principles & practice of ophthalmology. Saunders, Philadelphia
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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Ostovic, M., Kohnen, T. (2015). Microkeratome. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_360-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_360-3
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4
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