What is Bladeless LASIK?

Bladeless LASIK is an all-laser LASIK technique. Traditionally, a microkeratome blade is used to create the corneal flap in the procedure. The bladeless technique uses a laser to create the flap. The most common bladeless system is IntraLase or iLASIK.

The bladeless technique was introduced in 1999. IntraLase was FDA approved in 2001. All-laser procedures were touted as being suitable for people with thin corneas, and the technique was also associated with a decrease in flap-related complications.

The bladeless difference is a matter of LASIK technology. In addition to the excimer laser used to reshape your cornea, a second laser – called a femtosecond laser – is used in IntraLase.

IntraLase lets many people who were not previously LASIK candidates undergo the procedure. Some people cannot receive LASIK because of steep corneas; all-laser techniques often enable eye surgeons to create flaps in thin corneas. Bladeless LASIK also may reduce the risks of certain complications associated with a microkeratome. These rare risks include buttonhole-shaped flaps, detached flaps, and partial flaps. While these complications are possible, they are also extremely rare, occurring in less than one percent of LASIK surgeries. Both techniques have achieved improved vision for millions of LASIK patients.

To find out more about LASIK and the various techniques, please contact an experienced LASIK eye surgeon in your area.

Femto-LASIK for Children Active in Sports

At the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in Prague, research was presented that indicates femto-LASIK may be a safe and successful procedure for some children, according to Ocular Surgery News. If children are ever to receive the procedure, there must be very strong reasons for electing to do so. A major motivation for such a surgery would be if a child is heavily involved in sports. Because of the complications possible with such a procedure, the risks and benefits for a child would have to be very carefully assessed.

Dr. Kristina Vodickova, M.D., presented the results at the meeting. Twenty-five young people – some nearsighted, some farsighted – underwent femto-LASIK. The average age of the patients was about 14. All of the children were involved in high-performance sports, the kind requiring daily training. The children were motivated to participate in the procedure, and their parents were provided with counseling regarding the procedure.

Unlike traditional LASIK, femto-LASIK does not use a microkeratome, the blade used to create a corneal flap. Instead, femto-LASIK is an all-laser procedure. All-laser techniques are often recommended for LASIK patients with thin corneas. Dr. Vodickova reported that all the children were happy with their vision following the procedure, and that no complications – including dry eye – were experienced.

In the US, LASIK is FDA-approved only for people age 18 and older. In extremely rare cases, LASIK for a child may be approved for critical medical reasons, but never for cosmetic reasons alone.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

LASIK with Corneal Inlay May Help Treat Presbyopia

A new study is showing that LASIK with the implantation of small-aperture corneal inlays helps to treat presbyopia. The Hawaiian study was performed on 2000 patients between the ages of 40 and 65. All patients underwent LASIK and were implanted with the Karma intracorneal inlay. Around 85% of those in the study were still satisfied a year after the 2011 study.

Presbyopia is an age related condition in which eye patients begin to lose the near vision. Most patients make do with reading glasses, even if they have undergone LASIK in the past.

Corneal inlays are made to closely resemble the surface of the eye and are made of biocompatible material. Like contact lenses, they alter the way light enters the eye. However, they are implanted into the eye and do not need further care. In this case, they are implanted at the same time as LASIK surgery.

The Karma corneal inlay is not approved yet by the FDA, but is under an investigational device exemption clinical trial. It was made to block light rays reflecting from objects nearby that would affect the vision of eyes with presbyopia. Its inclusion into the LASIK procedure as something positive may help rid patients of reading glasses, even though they have perfect far-sightedness.

If you would like to learn more about LASIK and treatment of presbyopia, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area today.

PRK Reduces the Risk of Epithelial Ingrowth after LASIK Regression

The PRK procedure reduces the risk of epithelial ingrowth when the procedure is used to correct for regression after LASIK, according to a report from Ocular Surgery News.

Regression occurs when your cornea begins to return to its original vision error. Serious regression after LASIK occurs to only a small percentage of patients, and most often to patients with farsightedness (hyperopia). Some people experience regression many years after their LASIK surgery. A second LASIK procedure is often used to correct regression, which typically involves re-lifting the original corneal flap, instead of cutting a new one.

Unfortunately, these "lift-flap enhancement" procedures run the risk of causing epithelial ingrowth, a complication in which epithelial cells (cells on the outer surface of the cornea) grow underneath the corneal flap.

Epithelial ingrowth tends to occur with flap procedures. In PRK, a corneal flap is not created. Instead, the outer surface of cells is vaporized, or "ablated." Apparently, patients experiencing regression can still achieve corrected vision with PRK while avoiding the risk of epithelial ingrowth.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

LASIK Candidacy for People with Glaucoma

Glaucoma – a collection of eye diseases affecting more than 60 million people worldwide – is receiving special attention this January, which is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve of your eye and causes vision loss. In some cases, glaucoma leads to blindness.

Glaucoma does not necessarily make you a poor candidate for LASIK; however, there are often several vision correction options that may be less risky for people with glaucoma.

The two most common forms of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma, cause the pressure inside your eye to increase. This pressure is called "intraocular pressure" (IOP). IOP is actually the pressure of the fluid in your eye.

LASIK procedures that use a microkeratome blade may not be recommended for people with glaucoma. IOP is increased while the microkeratome is being utilized. If you already have high IOP, your eye surgeon may advise against increasing it even more during a LASIK procedure. On the other hand, your eye surgeon may determine that it is reasonably safe for you to undergo LASIK if you are receiving treatment for glaucoma, and if your intraocular pressure is under control. Otherwise, a LASIK alternative may be recommended, which may include:

• PRK
• IntraLase
• Implantable lenses

For those who have not been diagnosed with glaucoma, Glaucoma Awareness Month is an important reminder to be screened regularly for glaucoma during an annual eye exam.

To learn more about your candidacy for LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.

More Health Services, including LASIK, Popping Up on Daily Deal Sites

According to a recent Associated Press story, daily deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial are offering more health-related deals, and people are using them. These discounts are even being offered for LASIK eye surgery.

Traditionally, these sites offer limited-time discounts at participating restaurants, hotels, spas, and for other goods and services. Consumers purchase the deal online, and then redeem the deal at some point before it expires. Dentists, doctors and ophthalmologists have begun offering discounts for medical services on these websites. About one of every 11 deals offered online are for a health service, according to the AP story.

One man saved more than $1,300 on his LASIK surgery, according to the article. He may have been otherwise deterred from pursuing the procedure. Millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and for people who are insured, policies covering LASIK often cover only a small percentage.

As someone who is interested in LASIK, you should not be prevented from achieving better vision because of inadequate financing.

Even with the great deals sometimes offered on these sites, you should not neglect careful research and selection of your LASIK surgeon. Surgeon experience, education, training and other qualifications are important to consider, not cost alone. Most LASIK surgeons offer some form of financing. Paying for your procedure may include:

• Cash
• Credit card
• Personal check
• In-house payment plans
• Third-party loans

When considering LASIK, cost should be just one of many factors influencing your decision. You should feel confident you are not sacrificing quality of results for expense. Fortunately, many LASIK surgeons have financing consultants committed to helping you plan for the expense.

To learn more about LASIK and financing available for LASIK, please contact an experienced LASIK eye surgeon in your area.

Supplemental Lidocaine Gel may Lessen Pain related to LASIK Surgery

Supplementing topical anesthetic with lidocaine gel during LASIK surgery may reduce pain, according to a recent study.

The study measured the pain scores of 51 LASIK patients during the surgery and in the 45 minutes following surgery. Significantly lower pain scores were reported in the group who received lidocaine gel in addition to topical anesthetic, compared to the pain scores reported by the group treated with topical anesthetic only.

Lower pain for the lidocaine-treated group was reported during:

• Corneal flap creation with a microkeratome blade.
• Ablation of the cornea with the laser.
• 30 minutes, and again at 45 minutes after the LASIK surgery.

The lidocaine-treated group did not require as much additional topical anesthesia as the other group.

In general, pain and discomfort associated with LASIK surgery varies by patient. Some people experience no pain, only mild discomfort. Other people are more sensitive to the pressure of the microkeratome blade or the laser pulses and report this pressure as being painful.

Pain and discomfort experienced during the procedure may also depend on the LASIK technology used. You may want to consider choosing a LASIK surgeon who uses state-of-the-art lasers and up-to-date equipment.

If you are concerned about pain during LASIK, you should discuss this concern with an experienced LASIK surgeon. Your surgeon can inform you of what you can expect during the surgery and the healing period.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.