The revised and correct definition of FLACIK in the treatment of keratoconus (invented by Dr. Mehrdad Mohammadpour)
FLACIK is a corneal stroma strengthening technique (stromal additive & reinforcing) in which:
🔹 Surgical technique
• Intrastromal pocket is created with femtolaser
• No flap is created
• A complete 360 degree ring of human corneal tissue (Allogenic)
is placed inside this pocket
⸻
🔹 key differentiating feature
Donor tissue:
• Already cross-linked
• Personalized based on:
• Kmax
• Cone location
• Corneal thickness
• Patient topography pattern
📌 So this method:
• ❌ not tissue-removing
• ❌ not biomechanically weakening
• ✅ stromal reinforcement is real and targeted
y
• Intrastromal pocket is created with femtolaser
• No flap is created
• A complete 360 degree ring of human corneal tissue (Allogenic)
is placed inside this pocket
⸻
🔹 key differentiating feature
Donor tissue:
• Already cross-linked
• Personalized based on:
• Kmax
• Cone location
• Corneal thickness
• Patient topography pattern
📌 So this method:
• ❌ not tissue-removing
• ❌ not biomechanically weakening
• ✅ stromal reinforcement is real and targeted
Scientific position (fair expression)
✔ Biomechanical rationale: very strong
✔ Compatible with tissue-adding philosophy
⚠ Current evidence:
• case series
• Needs multicenter data
• Lacks large RCT (similar to all new stromal techniques)
⸻
Final summary (publishable standard definition)
FLACIK is an intrastromal pocket-based technique in which a 360-degree ring of cross-linked and personalized human corneal tissue is implanted into the stroma for biomechanical reinforcement and reconstruction of the cornea affected by keratoconus.
