Blade-free IntraLase 'Femtosecond' LASIK

Ultimate in LASER Vision Correction: Blade Free LASIK at Ojas.

    

1. What is LASIK?

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a type of refractive surgery for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

Since LASIK was first approved in 1999, it has been regarded as a safe and successful method of vision correction. Even so, you’re not alone if you feel hesitant to move forward with surgery, wondering what future advancements may hold. Ojas now offers LASIK surgery using the IntraLase Method™—also known as all-laser LASIK or IntraLASIK™—and it could be the very advancement you’ve been waiting for.

2. What is the IntraLase Method?

The pulse duration of Femtosecond Laser is within 10-15 s range. The IntraLase Femtosecond Laser produces near infrared (1053-nm) pulses, which, unlike argon fluoride excimer pulse are not absorbed by optically clear tissue.

The IntraLase Method is a 100% blade-free technique used to perform the critical first step in the LASIK procedure: creating the corneal flap. The creation of the corneal flap prepares the eye for the second step of the LASIK procedure, where an excimer laser is used on the inner cornea to correct vision.

3. Is the IntraLase Method right for me?

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.

• More Patients attain perfect vision.
• Intralase method allows surgeons to tailor the corneal flap for each individual eye of each individual patient.
• Intralase method improves precision and visual result and delivers micron level accuracy to create a flap of precise size, shape and depth which are critical to a successful lasik outcome.
• Teaching hospitals around the world believe in Intralase and the use of Intralase method.
• More patients, when given a choice, choose Intralse method over a microkeratome blade
• Approx. 10,00,000 Intralase procedures have been safely performed.
• Intralase method takes approx. 30 sec per eye and a total of 10 minutes for the entire lasik procedure.

4. WHY INTRALASE LASIK?

• Intralase gives you all the benefits of a customized laser treatment.
• A safe and highly predictable technique in difficult cases e.g. thin, flat or steeper Corneas.
• Intralase gives precise cut, depth and flap measurements.
• Less epithelial damage as compared to microkeratome cut hence less post operative complications.
• Better contrast sensitivity even in dim illumination and night driving etc.

5. How does the IntraLase Method work?

• Intralase is a new ultra - short pulse laser.
• It uses a rapidly firing femtosecond laser to cause photodisruption in the corneal tissue at a predetermined depth and size.
• It creates focused cavitation spots or micro bubbles within the stroma in a raster pattern to create the lamellar cut.
• The laser is moved circumferentially in the periphery under computer control to create the side cut for the flap.
• Dimension of the flap (thickness, diameter, hinge size, location) can all be programmed exactly using highly advanced computer software.

6. What is the difference between a corneal flap created with the IntraLase Method and one created with a microkeratome?

The microkeratome is a hand-held instrument, which contains a steel blade that moves back and forth and creates a cut as it travels across the cornea. A microkeratome is only capable of making a single, one-dimensional cut across the cornea. As it cuts, the blade oscillates back and forth.

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. With the IntraLase Method, a blade never touches your eye.

7. How is the IntraLase Method different from Epi-LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)?

These procedures differ from one another in the way they prepare the surface of the cornea for the second step of LASIK. Epi-LASIK uses an epikeratome — a blunt separator — to make a superficial flap. Similarly, PRK is performed by gently scraping the surface layer of the cornea, which may lead to corneal scarring. Both the Epi-LASIK and PRK procedures can be painful and require more postoperative medication. In addition, healing times may be longer than with procedures performed with the IntraLase Method.

8. Are there other benefits to using the IntraLase Method?

There are several benefits to using the IntraLase Method:

• Better outcomes. More patient get better outcomes when their LASIK procedure is performed with the IntraLase Method.1 Patients report faster recovery, fewer LASIK flap-related complications, and fewer induced higher order aberrations.2 Higher order aberrations may contribute to visual disturbances such as halos and glare.
• Ability to tailor the procedure to your eye. The IntraLase Method gives your doctor the ability to tailor the dimensions of your corneal flap based on what’s best for 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 the patient contributes to excellent postoperative outcomes. In addition, a corneal flap created with the IntraLase Method also “locks” back into position after the LASIK procedure is performed.

9. Is the IntraLase Method painful?

Prior to creating the flap, the doctor applies drops to numb the eye, and then applies a special ring and an instrument that gently flattens your cornea in preparation for the IntraLase Method. This part of the process is not painful — patients report feeling only slight pressure.

10. Is the IntraLase Method safe?

Millions of procedures have been performed safely and effectively using the IntraLase Method.

11. How long does it take to create a flap using the IntraLase Method?

The creation of the flap itself takes only about 15 to 20 seconds per eye. Including preparation time, the entire LASIK procedure takes about 10 minutes.

INTRALASE- a step forward in excellence

Intralase gives your better refractive outcome owing to

• Accurate flap dimension which leads to better surgical results.
• A smoother bed Surface after flap creation which leads to lesser flap and interface complications.
• Flap induced Aberropia is less which leads to superior visual outcome.
• Better contrast sensitivity which leads to better night vision and better overall quality of vision.
• Faster recovery both surgical and visual.

12. What’s the reaction of patients who have experienced the IntraLase Method?

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, the vision in the IntraLase-treated eye was preferred 3-to-1 (among those who stated a preference).

13. IntraLase Option

Intralase can also be used for

• Corneal grafting
• Lamellar keratoplasty
• Keratoconus
• Intacs
• Correction of Astigmatism and the list goes on.

14. Intralase ( femtosecond laser) enabled corneal transplantation

IntraLase™ enabled keratoplasty gives surgeons the ability to precisely create uniquely shaped corneal incisions — opening a new era in corneal transplantation and delivering the potential for faster healing and improved visual recovery. Leading corneal surgeons have demonstrated that this technology advancement enables:

• Surgeons to create straight, angled and arcuate incisions within the cornea
• Multiplanar custom incisions with hermetic sealing properties that require less suture tension
• Less suture tension can result in less astigmatism
• Multiplanar custom incisions provide larger wound surface area for stronger healing
• Laser resectioning that produces more rapid healing
• Earlier suture removal and rapid visual rehabilitation

APPROVAL GIVEN BY

1. NASA
2. US FDA
3. US Air Force / Navy