IntraLase
What is blade-free?
The IntraLase Method™* is a 100% blade-free approach to corneal flap creation—the critical first step in the LASIK procedure.
The creation of the corneal flap prepares the eye for the second step of the LASIK procedure, when another laser, known as an excimer laser, is used on the inner cornea to correct vision.
Unlike other procedures, the IntraLase Method creates the corneal flap by applying tiny, rapid pulses of laser light—not a metal blade (microkeratome). Each pulse of light passes through the top layers of your cornea and forms a microscopic bubble at a specific depth and position within your eye that is determined by the doctor. As the IntraLase® laser moves back and forth across your eye, a uniform layer of bubbles forms just below the corneal surface. Your doctor creates your corneal flap by gently separating the tissue where these bubbles have formed.
Because of the unique way in which the IntraLase Method creates a precisely positioned layer of bubbles just beneath the surface of your eye, it creates a smooth, even surface after your flap is lifted.
The corneal flap is then folded back so the doctor can perform the second step of your LASIK treatment.
Corneal Flap Creation In The Blink Of An EyeUsing the latest IntraLase laser technology, your corneal flap can be made fast—in only about 15 seconds per eye. Including preparation time, the entire LASIK procedure takes about 10 minutes. Once the entire procedure is completed, the corneal flap created with the IntraLase Method “locks” back into position.
Choose IntraLase With Confidence
At the end of 2006, over 1,000,000 procedures will have been performed safely and effectively using the IntraLase Method. And, in a clinical survey of LASIK patients who had their corneal flaps created using a microkeratome in one eye and the IntraLase Method in the other, preferred the vision in the IntraLase-treated eye 3:1 over the microkeratome among those who stated a preference.1
Blade-Free Advantages
- Better vision. More patients in clinical trials achieved vision that was 20/20 or better when their LASIK procedure was performed with the IntraLase Method.2 And patients report better quality of vision overall, particularly in terms of their ability to see well in low light such as at dusk or at night.3
- Ability to tailor the procedure to your eye. The IntraLase Method enables your doctor to tailor the flap according to the shape of your eye. Everything from the diameter of your flap to the angle of its edges can be precisely determined. This is important because everyone’s eyes are shaped a little differently. Having a corneal flap that’s individualized to your eye will help ensure that you get the best possible results.
Only your healthcare professional can determine if LASIK and the IntraLase Method is right for you. As with all elective procedures, you should ask your doctor for a complete list of the risks and complications associated with LASIK and the IntraLase Method.
Are You Ready For IntraLase?If you are looking for a 100% blade-free LASIK experience that virtually eliminates almost all the most severe, sight-threatening complications, the answer is yes. But to get this procedure, you have to locate one of the many physicians who perform the IntraLase Method™.
Leading doctors from around the world believe in the IntraLase Method.
How does the IntraLase Method differ from the Epi-LASIK and photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) procedures?
These procedures differ from one another in the way they prepare the surface of the cornea for the second step of LASIK, which involves vision correction within your inner cornea. Epi-LASIK uses an epikeratome—a blunt separator—to make a superficial flap. Similarly, photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) is performed by scraping the surface layer of the cornea. Both the Epi-LASIK and PRK procedures can be painful and require the use of more medication to make you comfortable after the procedure. In addition, healing times may be longer than with procedures performed with the IntraLase Method.
How does IntraLase differ from a microkeratome?The microkeratome is a handheld instrument that contains a steel blade. The blade cuts a flap as it moves along the surface of the cornea.
Unlike the IntraLase laser, the microkeratome can only make a single, one-dimensional cut across the cornea. As it cuts, the blade rapidly moves back and forth, which can leave an irregular surface after the flap is lifted. This can affect the quality of your vision following your procedure.
*Only the IntraLase FS Laser can be used to perform the IntraLase Method.