How does a laser create a corneal flap for LASIK? Can you explain the technology?
The first step of your LASIK procedure is the creation of a corneal flap. Dr. Holzman and his TLC team are dedicated to improving the safety and vision correction results of all of our patients through the use of the latest technologies in the field. TLC Laser Eye Centers and Alcon Surgical, Inc. have chosen Dr Holzman to roll out the most advanced Femtosecond laser there is to date, the FS200, at our TLC Tysons Corner location. The FS200 is a femtosecond laser that accurately and quickly creates the corneal flap for the LASIK procedure. Dr Holzman also uses the highly advanced IFS Femtosecond laser by AMO, Inc. This is the most advanced Intralase laser there is to date. Dr. Holzman firmly embraced the femtosecond technology after it was approved in the US, and has not used a blade in the LASIK procedure since 2004. It is his belief that by using a femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap, your cornea is more secure and stronger than with the older LASIK procedure using bladed devices. The femtosecond technology allows Dr. Holzman to customize the corneal flap for each individual patient. So how does a femtosecond laser create your corneal flap?
The technology allows the computer-guided infrared femtosecond laser to focus just below the surface of the cornea. Each laser pulse that is delivered creates a tiny bubble. A pattern of numerous overlapping bubbles is created, allowing the flap to be gently lifted exposing the cornea. This is the first step in your LASIK procedure. The second part of your LASIK procedure then continues with an excimer laser removing material from the exposed surface beneath the flap to be reshaped to correct your refractive error and give you your best corrected visual outcome.
Femtosecond lasers are regarded by many Ophthalmologists as an improvement over bladed LASIK because of a greater accuracy in flap size, shape, and thickness with minimal disruption of your corneal architecture, stronger flaps, fewer possible complications.
