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Today, LASIK flap creation can be performed with either a precision device called a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. Of the leading methods of flap creation, the Bausch & Lomb Hansatome® microkeratome is the nation's most widely used. Known as the "gold standard" of flap creation, the device has been used in more than seven million procedures worldwide.
An Intralase® laser creates bubbles in the cornea, which help separate the flap from other corneal tissue. This so called "all-laser LASIK" actually requires the use of a hand held metal instrument to separate and pry the flap open.
LASIK surgery with the Hansatome® microkeratome is in most cases three to four minutes faster than with the latest Intralase® device. A faster procedure means less anxiety for patients. Also, many surgeons acquired Intralase to make ultra thin flaps to preserve tissue, but the thin flaps sometimes allow the bubbles to penetrate the flap in essence causing a "button hole" effect which can cause affect your final outcome.
Studies at two prestigious research institutions, the MAYO Clinic in Minnesota and STANFORD University in California, concluded that the Intralase® technique provides no improvement in results over the Hansatome® microkeratome.
As of January 1, 2008, less than 25% of all current U.S. LASIK procedures were performed by using Intralase. So what really are the advantages and disadvantages of IntraLase?
The main advantage of using IntraLase is in the event of a partial flap (a partial flap is an incomplete corneal flap which happens very rarely). If an actual partial flap occured with Intralase, you only have to wait an hour to attempt another flap. With a mechanical microkeratome, you must wait 3 months in order to make another flap. Other advantages may include more variable flap thicknesses and fewer corneal abrasions.
The main disadvantage of Intralase is the additional cost of $300-$500 per eye the IntraLase commands.With the chance of creating a partial flap by most microkeratomes in a skilled surgeon’s hand being well under one in a thousand, and the fact that multiple heads can be used to provide different flap thicknesses, most surgeons opt for using a mechanical microkeratome versus the IntraLase. If a person is hesitant about any of the risks associated with making a corneal flap, PRK is an option that should be discussed with the surgeon.
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Did You Know?
ENVISION LASER CENTERS'
ESA (enhanced surface ablation) technique is actually safer than Intralase with the same visual results! The best part is our ESA technique doesn't command the $400-$500 cost that Intralase commands.
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