TITLE:
Flaporhexis: Alternative Way to Make a Femtosecond Laser Corneal Flap
AUTHORS:
Wolfgang A. Pfaeffl
KEYWORDS:
Flaporhexis; Hinge Opening; Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis; Flap Lifter; Flaporhexis Forceps
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.4 No.3,
March
28,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Flaporhexis, a technique to make the femtosecond laser corneal flap was developed primarily to reduce the mechanical trauma associated with separating the corneal tissue by taking advantage of the cornea’s natural anatomy and was first described in a peer reviewed artice in 2008. The anterior part of the cornea tends to be stronger, thereby allowing tearing (Greek “rhexis”) along the preformed cuts of the femtosecond photo disruption. Flaporhexis differs from Binder’s technique of “hinge opening” as published in 2006 by opening the flap from the opposite side. If a femtosecond flap lift is performed correctly, the surgeon will find a virgin, uniform, dry stromal bed, which had not been manipulated by any surgical instrument and is therefore perfect for wavefront guided laser surgery as “Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis”.