【Objective】 To compare the recovery of corneal flaps prepared by femtosecond laser and microkeratome and their influence on corneal biomechanics.【Methods】 Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for corneal flap preparation with microkeratome and femtosecond laser

respectively

under general anesthesia. In the follow-up on 1 day

3 days

1 week

1 month

3 months

and 6 months after surgery

image was taken by slit lamp. After the follow-up at 6 months

rabbits were euthanized under general anesthesia. Both eyes were enucleated and were used for preparation of intact cornea with some sclerotic tissue. The isolated corneas were mounted on the Barron artificial chamber and images of the anterior segment were taken at varied posterior pressures by Pentacam. The biomechanics of the corneas were measured by this model. 【Results】 Thickness of corneal flaps by microkeratome was (107 ± 27) μm

while thickness of corneal flaps by femtosecond laser was (107 ± 18) μm. No statistically significant difference was seen in corneal flap thickness between the two groups (P > 0.05). As anterior chamber pressure increased

the depth of anterior chamber was continuously increased. Under the pressure of 60 or 75 mmHg

the increase of anterior chamber depth was (0.25 ± 0.06) mm

(0.30 ± 0.06) mm respectively in microkeratome group; whereas (0.18 ± 0.03) mm

(0.22 ± 0.06) mm in femtosecond laser group. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). As anterior chamber pressure increased

anterior and posterior corneal curvatures increased gradually and became stable beyond 30 mmHg. Statistically significant differences were seen in posterior corneal curvature between the two groups beyond 30 mmHg (P < 0.05). As anterior chamber pressure increased

corneal thickness and corneal volume decreased

and volume of anterior chamber increased

but no statistically significant difference was seen between femtosecond laser and microkeratome groups under varied pressure gradients (P > 0.05). 【Conclusion】 At higher intra-ocular pressure

there are smaller changes of posterior corneal curvature and corneal protrusion in femtosecond laser group compared with microkeratome group. Corneal flap prepared with femtosecond laser has better biomechanical stability.