Why Choose Femtosecond Laser LASIK Over Blade LASIK?

Blade free Laser Vision Correction is all about the apex of technology for LASIK eye surgery. Blade-free allows laser eye surgery to grasp the highest degrees of accuracy and reliability, ease, comfort and safety for subjects. In Blade free Laser Eye Surgery, the corneal flap is created by means of a Femtosecond Laser as opposed to a Microkeratome (an oscillating blade) that is used in regular Lasik surgery.

The reasons Blade Free (Femtosecond Laser) LASIK is more advanced than Blade (Microkeratome) LASIK are numerous:

1. Blade-free LASIK creates a perfect flap every time; this is not the case when using a Microkeratome. A blade can sometimes produce a ‘button hole’ flap that fails to permit treatment to continue and includes a hazard of scarring the cornea. Working with a Femtosecond Laser all but eliminates this risk. A flawless flap equals greater vision.

2. The slimmer flaps made with a Femtosecond Laser are less dangerous in the long run in comparison to blade flaps as the cornea post op has greater firmness as it's wider. This lessens the risk of a consequence called Ectasia, where the cornea can bulge forward with a period of time, sometimes requiring a transplant of the cornea to correct.

3. Blade free (Femtosecond Laser) Laser Vision Correction routinely outperforms blade (Microkeratome) lasers in scientific studies reviewing visual quality. The flap profile and level of smoothness is superior, offering vision as good as or better than their eyeglasses.
A flap created by using a blade is thinner on the outside and thicker around the middle, this unevenness may blur vision. A Femtosecond laser (blade free) created flap is a steady thickness spanning its total diameter, reducing the possibility of micro-wrinkles, the ideal flap profile giving the best achievable vision in Laser Vision Correction.

4. Blade free (Femtosecond Laser) Laser Vision Correction allows the position of the flap to be crafted perfectly, an accomplishment unattainable with a Microkeratome. The ophthalmologist offers a digital image of the flap position superimposed over the affected individual’s cornea and prior to creating it he or she can manipulate and optimize the flap placement so it is centred flawlessly every time. This gives superior vision and safeness.

5. A Femtosecond flap is created with a top to bottom straight side cut, which is again a feat not doable with a blade or Microkeratome flap. This substantially minimizes the risk of a side-effect called epithelial ingrowth, where the cells on the surface of the cornea become seeded underneath the flap. It also enables a superior flap profile as the flap slides back downwards similar to a miniature manhole cover.

Laser Eye Surgery has progressed in an exhilarating new direction together with the introduction of blade-free femtosecond laser flaps; it is finally delivering on its promise of the safest and most exacting operation feasible.

Dr James Genge (M.B., B.S., B.Med.Sci. (Hons)., F.R.A.N.Z.C.O.) is an internationally trained and highly regarded eye doctor and laser eye specialist in the Sydney area. If you would like to know more, take a look at his website at Laser Eye Surgery Sydney.