Like most of the things created and nurtured through technology, LASIK has gone through several improvements over the years. LASIK was first introduced as a laser eye corrective procedure which involves the use of blades. Years later, these blades (called microkeratomes) were replaced with a femtosecond laser. This laser allowed LASIK to be performed using solely lasers – making it completely bladeless. This advancement put many patients at ease, as many had hang ups about a blade being anywhere near their eyes. But aside from putting patients at ease, what was the reason for the creation of the femtosecond laser? Is bladeless LASIK better than traditional LASIK?
At Loden Vision Center, surgeons perform a procedure called LASIK, which is 100% blade-free. The increased safety and precision of LASIK attracts more patients than the traditional LASIK, but for what reason? There are several advantages that LASIK has over traditional LASIK, and these advantages make LASIK worth the expense.
Blade or No Blade?
The main difference between traditional and bladeless LASIK is the use of the microkeratome. The microkeratome cuts a thin, hinged flap in the eye’s cornea, and then the flap is lifted so the layers underneath can be reshaped by an excimer laser. Bladeless LASIK uses a femtosecond laser to cut the flap. The creation of the flap is an essential piece of the surgery, and with a bladeless surgery, there is a reduced risk of complication.
While the femtosecond laser is considered an incredible advancement that adds an extra blanket of safety to LASIK, traditional LASIK surgery is still widely used and accepted as a safe procedure.
Complications
LASIK performed with a femtosecond laser is thought to lead to less risk of complication, because of its extreme accuracy. Complications from LASIK surgery are already a very rare occurrence, but removing the variable of a blade certainly does a lot to further improve the odds. Complications from microkeratome blades include corneal scarring and uneven corneal flap, which can both lead to problems in the future. Again, complications like these are very rare, and are usually treatable.
Wider LASIK Candidacy
Possibly the biggest advantage of bladeless LASIK is that it opens up LASIK surgery as a possibility for a wider variety of patients. Before the femtosecond laser, many patients could not undergo LASIK surgery safely due to factors like thin corneas or severe refractive error. Because of the femtosecond laser and customizable LASIK procedure, LASIK is a possibility for a much larger amount of patients.
Traditional and bladeless LASIK both have their own advantages and both are used by eye surgeons all over the world. Each person has different eye specifications, so your ophthalmologist at Loden Vision will be able to determine which procedure is best for you. To get to know these two LASIK procedures more, get in touch with Loden Vision Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
