Blades not used in LASIK

In the most widely used procedure LASIK, corneal strand is cut by a blade mechanism called microkeratome. The cut was the main source of complications such as infection and poor form flap, although the incidence of those problems was less than one in 5000 patients.

A new procedure, IntraLASIK, employed at the Christenbury Eye Center and several other clinics in the country, replacing the microkeratome with a laser pulses 15000 times per second to create a component of a measurement accuracy desired within 10 micrometers.

 

Blade and Bladeless LASIK

Bladeless LASIK is also known as ‘Intralase LASIK’. It is known by all that the creation of the corneal flap is the first step and the most important one in LASIK which has to be done with utmost care.

When LASIK is performed traditionally, a bladed instrument which is a hand-held device with an oscillating metal blade, called as a ‘microkeratome’ is used to cut a flap into the surface of the eye. But with Intralase treatment, the LASIK flap is created using a silent, computer-guided laser energy. This is because with the precision of the laser, one can have greater assurance of a safer procedure and an excellent result. The intralase laser is an essential component and is the reason as to why the Intralase makes both standard and custom LASIK surgeries better.

Creation of a micro-thin flap of tissue on the outer layer of the eye which is also known as the cornea. For rapid healing, greater comfort and better vision, the flap is very important. The quality of the vision can be affected if the flap is too thick, too thin or irregular. Complications with LASIK surgery are rare. But when they occur, they are often associated with the use of a hand-held microkeratome blade while creating flap.

LASIK surgery is made better with Intralase replacing the hand-held microkeratome blade with a computer-guided laser that delivers micron-level accuracy over 100 percent greater than a microkeratome. This gives a greater assurance one needs that the first step of LASIK eye surgery will be accurate, safe and the first step towards giving the best LASIK result possible. It also helps to reduce blade related surgical complications including buttonholes in flaps and interrupted flaps.