Abstract
We describe a protocol for adequate repositioning of free laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) corneal flaps created by a Mona M2 microkeratome even in the absence of fiduciary marks. In an enucleated porcine globe, a free flap was created by initially placing a longitudinal incision at the proposed hinge site followed by activating the forward pass of the automated microkeratome. A protocol was devised based on placement of a positioning dot on the free flap before the flap is retrieved from the microkeratome head. Prep laced surgical landmarks were used as a guide to determine the correct alignment of the free flap. Adequate orientation of the free flap to the stromal bed was achieved in 9 porcine eyes using the positioning dot method. The technique is applicable to the Mona M2 microkeratome only and must be validated for other types of keratomes.