Table 4.
Differences measured by OCT between the preoperative central and peripheral mean epithelial thicknesses, the nominal and actual laser ablation depths, and laser ablation efficiency of the VISX laser in PTK mode.
Center | Periphery | p | |
---|---|---|---|
Mean epithelial thickness | 60 ± 11 μm (range 55 to 78) | 58 ± 9 μm (range 44–71) | ns |
Mean nominal laser ablation depth | 113 ± 36 μm (range 75 to 177) | 103 ± 50 μm (range 62–183) | <0.05 |
Mean actual laser ablation depth | 142 ± 34 μm (range 75 to 187) | 140 ± 49 μm (range 62 to 185) | <0.05 |
Mean difference between nominal and actual laser ablation depths | 28 ± 30 μm (range −23 to 65) | 16 ± 20 μm (range −15 to 38) | ns |
Laser ablation efficiency | 120% | 126% | <0.00001 |