BLADELESS LASIK

Bladeless Lasik Eye Surgery

If you and your doctor have decided that LASIK is right for you, the next step is to decide which type of LASIK is ideal for your situation. While bladeless LASIK still offers the same benefits as traditional LASIK procedures, advancements in the technology used in this treatment result in fewer complications and a lower risk profile. As a result, bladeless LASIK is fast becoming the more popular procedure.

Bladeless LASIK vs. Traditional LASIK Procedures

During LASIK procedures, a small, hinged flap is cut into the cornea and then folded back, allowing for a laser to reshape and correct the underlying part of the eye. The flap is then replaced, creating a natural bandage that will allow for faster healing.

Traditional LASIK procedures use a blade or microkeratome to cut a small flap in the cornea. However, in 2001, the FDA approved bladeless LASIK — also known as all-laser LASIK — as a safe and viable alternative to the microkeratome instrument. During a bladeless LASIK procedure, a powerful laser is used to create the corneal flap.

Bladeless LASIK uses femtosecond computer technology, which, when controlled by an experienced surgeon, can create flaps that are much more exact than those made using a blade. The diameter and depth of the flap are pre-determined by the eye surgeon, thus reducing the risk of human error more commonly associated with microkeratomes.

The laser uses high speed and hyper-precision to focus on the target tissue and divide it at a molecular level by inserting a pattern of tiny, conjoined bubbles just under the surface of the cornea. This not only increases the accuracy of the procedure but also reduces the risk of damaging the surrounding tissue.

Advantages of Bladeless LASIK

Since its introduction, bladeless LASIK has provided vision correction opportunities for those who would not be suitable for the traditional procedure, especially those with thin corneas. Because bladeless LASIK is incredibly precise, it can accurately and safely create corneal flaps of varying thicknesses. In addition to allowing more people to receive LASIK treatments, all-laser LASIK also offers the following advantages.

Reduced Risk Profile

Bladeless LASIK proponents claim that this particular method increases the overall safety of LASIK procedures. Indeed, studies have shown that all-laser LASIK generally results in lower complication rates overall. It also reduces the risk of certain complications that may occur during traditional LASIK procedures.

For example, surgeons believe that bladeless laser procedures help reduce the risk of epithelial in-growth — when cells grow underneath the flap and dislodge it — and the defects and complications that result from this. Additionally, some studies have shown that this type of LASIK reduces the risk of postoperative dry eye and the complications that result from it.

Increased Flap Quality

Corneal flap creations is a central — and therefore important — component of the LASIK procedure. While microkeratomes do allow for the creation of adequate flaps, a precision laser can help enhance flap predictability and quality. Flap complications resulting from microkeratomes may include incomplete flaps, buttonhole flaps, free caps, epithelial sloughs, and more.

Because bladeless LASIK tools allow for pre-programming and increased precision, flap complication risks are reduced, and flap quality may be increased.

Increased Healing Rate

Bladeless LASIK is believed to increase the rate at which a patient heals. This is due to how the flap is created. The laser precision creates an accurate and even flap that will re-adhere to the eye more naturally and thus allow for a cleaner healing process.

Fewer Follow-Up Enhancement Procedures

Thanks to the precise nature of bladeless LASIK technology, many eye surgeons believe that this procedure requires fewer postoperative touch-ups.

Bladeless LASIK: Potential Complications

LASIK complications are rare and are most often associated with procedures that use a traditional microkeratome blade, which is more likely to create ragged or uneven flap edges. This can result in damage to the surface of the cornea and associated vision defects.

However, it is important to note that while bladeless LASIK procedures result in a lower overall complication rate, they do still carry the risk of complications.

One potential complication common to bladeless LASIK is photophobia or unusual light sensitivity. While these complications appear to be unique to all-laser LASIK, they also appear to be only temporary and often resolve within a few weeks with the use of eye-drop steroid treatments.