Precise Flap Replacement

Various techniques, devices, and instruments are available and utilized to assist in repositioning or “flipping” the flap back on to the corneal bed. The LAHayeSIK™ platform is designed to facilitate (with minimal handling) replacement of the flap to the stromal bed with a single movement while simultaneously maintaining ocular fixation and surgical field containment.

It is the opinion of most ophthalmic surgeons that reducing manipulation and reducing exposure of the cornea bed and flap tissues to cul-de sac fluids and lid margins may reduce some post-operative complications.

Conventional LASIK - The flap is typically reflected over onto the flap bed by a series or combination of multiple manipulations directly to the flap using surgical forceps, spatulas, or cannula. (Illustration 29)

Once the flap has been flipped over onto the flap bed additional manipulations and irrigation may require the insertion of an irrigation cannula (connected to a manual squeeze bottle) between the flap and flap bed. This added manipulation delivers uncontained irrigation to “float the flap” to smooth out and align the flap back into the original position. In addition to generating more pooling and backwashing of surgical fluids the added irrigation increases flap hydration, which can contribute to increasing the required time and manipulation needed to dry and fixate the flap. (Illustration 30)

Uncontained use of irrigation fluids can pool and mix with the lid margins/lashes and backwash “debris” may become permanently trapped within the flap/bed interface. (Illustration 31) Any material left in the interface has the potential to cause DLK, infectious keratitis, and can contribute to epithelial undergrowth.

LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System - In addition to providing an area to temporarily lay the flap during ablation, the LAHayeSIK™ platform is designed to facilitate (with minimal handling) replacement of the flap to the stromal bed with a single movement while maintaining ocular fixation and surgical field containment. LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System is designed to facilitate with returning the flap back into its original position by uniquely providing simultaneous fixation, surgical field containment, irrigation, aspiration, and platform movement functions, thereby minimizing manipulation to the delicate corneal tissue and allowing for reducing contact of the exposed corneal tissues to lid margins, lashes, lid speculum blades and debris backwash. (Illustration 32)

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