To correct your vision there are two options i.e. traditional or blade LASIK or bladeless Intralase surgery. Patients who want to undergo LASIK procedures have a responsibility to know as much as they can gain knowledge about it. Getting more knowledge will facilitate them in optimizing their results and choose a procedure presumably to create optimistic results, says Dr. Kevin Niksarli.
Several studies that are available on blade and bladeless surgery are contradicting and signifying both blade LASIK and Intralase (bladeless) procedures bring similar outcomes. Though it may appear quite overwhelming to a layman, but being a patient you should know the difference among these two types of surgery and the benefits and risks associated with each of them.
In the process of traditional (blade) LASIK microkeratome is used to cut a thin flap in the cornea. In order to reveal the stoma (the middle cover of the cornea) the flap is folded back. To reshape the corneal surface by correcting refractive errors a laser of high accuracy, called the excimer laser, is used by the surgeon. The flap is then relocated to perform as a natural cover. The microkeratome which used to produce a flap in actual is a surgical blade and hence the process is also termed as blade LASIK.
With the advent of innovative techniques a high energy laser (Intralase laser) is used to produce a flap during surgery. It is just opposite to conventional LASIK as in Intralase surgical blade is not employed and this is the reason why the procedure is often promoted “all laser” or “bladeless” LASIK. The word itself has raged a dispute between eye surgeons, as to whether it should be employed in Intralase promotions or not. A number of surgeons emphasized that the term “bladeless” involves that conventional LASIK, which is done by using microkeratome (surgical blade), is a scarier proposal, when in reality it’s not.
Producing a flap is a significant part of the laser eye surgery process. It’s fact that flap certainty is enhanced with a laser flap or bladeless LASIK. Furthermore, there is an abridged risk of flap complications, such as flap dislocation, free flaps, partial flaps etc. However, a professional surgeon manipulating a contemporary microkeratome can very well meet the refinement of bladeless LASIK. Although the possibilities are exceptional, there is a concern of ephemeral light sensitivity as well – a distinctive risk related with bladeless LASIK.
Moreover, as compared to the traditional LASIK procedure, the LASIK method which is bladeless may cost additional $300 for every eye. Whether it’s blade or bladeless, LASIK itself is one of the harmless refractive surgery technique, it mainly depends on the eye surgeon of your preference. It is a good option to go for a microkeratome procedure only if the surgeon is well experienced in carrying it out. If otherwise, you can prefer the relatively innovative bladeless LASIK surgery.
So knowing everything about the blade LASIK and Bladeless LASIK you can opt the one about which you are more confident, says Dr. Kevin Niksarli.