Laser eye surgeons use a range of different techniques and technologies. If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, the bladeless method is a great choice. It is a very popular option widely recommended by laser eye surgeons, as it typically carries less risk of complications compared to traditional LASIK.
What does bladeless LASIK involve?
In traditional LASIK eye surgery, the surgeon uses a small device with a disposable blade called a microkeratome to cut a thin flap into your cornea — the curved, transparent front surface of your eye.
The surgeon then uses a laser to reshape the tissue beneath the flap, adjusting the refraction of light entering your eye, and thus, correcting your vision.
During a bladeless procedure, LASIK eye surgery doctors use a high-energy laser instead of a microkeratome to create the flap. The laser is computer-controlled for greater precision and speed compared to traditional 17.
Bladeless LASIK is an outpatient procedure, and the whole process shouldn’t take longer than 30 to 40 minutes. A special clasp will hold your eye open so that you don’t blink, and the surgeon will numb your eye with a local anesthetic.
The FDA approved bladeless LASIK in 2001, and it has been available to patients ever since. It can correct vision problems such as:
* Farsightedness
* Nearsightedness
* Presbyopia
* Astigmatism
What are the benefits of bladeless LASIK compared to traditional LASIK?
1. Quicker healing time
Patients who undergo bladeless LASIK eye surgery tend to heal quicker compared to the traditional method. Thanks to the use of the high-energy laser, the flap is cut more accurately and evenly, and it will recover better as a result.
2. Reduced chance of vision defects following surgery
In some cases, after LASIK, cells can begin to grow underneath the flap and push it upward. This growth results in an uneven cornea and less than perfect vision. Bladeless LASIK may reduce the possibility of this happening due to the difference in the structure of the flap compared to traditional LASIK eye surgery.
3. More people are eligible for bladeless LASIK
People who have thin corneas are usually ineligible for traditional LASIK eye surgery because of the difficulty in cutting the corneal flap manually. That is not the case with bladeless LASIK. Since it uses a computerized laser rather than a manual blade, there is minimal difficulty in ensuring a proper cut, even for patients with thin corneas.
Final words
LASIK eye surgery has already revolutionized the world of vision correction, and bladeless LASIK takes it one step further. The method can reduce recovery time and the risks involved, as well as widening the pool of patients who can receive the treatment.
If you are interested in LASIK eye surgery and would like to find out more, search for a trusted and skilled provider of LASIK in your area and book an appointment for a consultation.