Anterior chamber gas bubble formation during femtosecond laser flap creation for LASIK

Abstract

Purpose: To report anterior chamber gas bubble formation during corneal flap creation in a myopic patient who underwent LASIK using a femtosecond laser (IntraLase).

Methods: A 30-year-old man underwent customized wavefront-guided LASIK for myopia. The IntraLase FS15 was used to create the corneal flap.

Results: During flap creation, gas bubble formation was noted in the anterior chamber, in addition to cavitation bubbles under the flap. Flap creation was successful and myopic ablation was uneventful. One day postoperatively, the flap was well apposed, and no air bubbles were present in the anterior chamber.

Conclusions: Gas bubbles in the anterior chamber can be an infrequent occurrence during the use of femtosecond laser for corneal flap creation. Although gas bubbles do not hinder flap creation, their presence may interfere with eye-tracking mechanisms.