Blade Versus Bladeless LASIK Eye Surgery: What Is The Difference?

Patients considering LASIK eye surgery may perhaps come across medical jargon, such because “blade” and “bladeless” LASIK. To a layman, such terms possibly will appear overwhelming. However, because a patient you be required to know the difference between the two surgery types, and the rewards and risks associated using all.

Traditional LASIK makes exercise of a microkeratome to cut a thin hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is then folded back to reveal the stroma – the middle layer of the cornea. A high precision laser, called the excimer laser, is used to reshape the corneal surface so since to correct any refractive mistake. The flap is then repositioned to act as a natural bandage. As the microkeratome used to create a flap is in information a surgical blade, the method is also known since blade LASIK.

A more recent innovation, introduced in 1999, makes usage of a high energy laser (IntraLase or femtosecond laser) to create a flap during surgery. As opposed to traditional LASIK, IntraLase does not employ a surgical blade, and hence the practice is often marketed because “bladeless” or “every laser” LASIK. The term itself has raged a debate among eye surgeons, as to whether it should be used inside IntraLase advertisements or not. Any surgeons assert that the term “bladeless” implies that accepted LASIK, which makes usage of a surgical blade (microkeratome), is a scarier proposition, when in reality it’s not.

The creation of the flap is an worthy section of the laser eye surgery procedure. It’s true that flap predictability is greater with a laser flap, that is, using bladeless LASIK. Moreover, there is a reduced possibility of flap complications, such because partial flaps, flap dislocation, free flaps etc. However, an expert surgeon wielding a contemporary microkeratome can very healthy match the finesse of bladeless LASIK. Although the chances are rare, there is an issue of transient light sensitivity since healthy – a unique risk associated with bladeless LASIK. Moreover, the bladeless LASIK method costs an extra $300 per eye, when compared with conventional LASIK.

All said and done, LASIK itself is one of the safest refractive surgery procedure. Whether it’s blade or bladeless, it largely depends on the eye surgeon of your decision. If the surgeon has loads of experience carrying out microkeratome procedures, it’s greater to have it that way. If otherwise, you might go in for the relatively fresh bladeless LASIK surgery.

Finding a LASIK surgery that you are confident about will be able to make available you extra truth about blade and bladeless LASIK.