My Intralasik Experience

I wanted to consider Lasik vision correction for myself, and found that there were more than a few options.  After talking it over with a great Lasik physician, I decided on using bladeless Lasik, or Intralasik, or Intralase.  I cannot say that I decided that for any great technical reasons, mine were mainly psychological.

The advantage of Intralasik over a traditional Lasik method is that a laser is used to make a flap in the eye.  Every Lasik method needs to make a flap in order for the excimer laser to be able to reshape the corner.  In traditional Lasik, the flap is made with a microkeratome, which is “a very small blade, not a scalpel”.  Well, maybe to you.  Somehow, even though both the laser and the blade made the same flap, the idea of someone taking a sharp object to….. well, you get the picture.

In addition (though there is a lot of argument and debate over this) using a laser to make the flap might (let me emphasize might to be fair to everyone) make the Lasik method have less chance of getting other cells underneath the flap.  I don’t really understand all of the Lasik arguments with regard to this, but I think you should discuss the various Lasik options with the physician.  They do vary in cost also.

Before I talk about the procedure itself, let me give a bird’s eye view of myself as a Lasik candidate.  In short, spectacular!  Seriously, all of the items for a good Lasik candidate could describe me: a healthy guy in my mid-thirties, with moderate nearsightedness and slight astigmatism, with good results on all eye exam tests (thick cornea, no eye scarring or infections, etc.).

 I did visit two different Lasik surgeons to get their independent opinions of me as a candidate, and also their description of their services.  One of the Lasik surgeons is on the staff at the medical college in a nearby major metropolitan center, so I was pretty assured that their opinions were valid.

On the day of the Lasik surgery I came in, paid my first payment for the procedure, and had my eye prescription rechecked.  I was given post-procedure instructions on eye drops, no exercising (yeah!), and to go to sleep after the Lasik method.  I was given a relaxant, and the Lasik physician and I went to the surgery suite.

The chair has padded pillows to rest and restrict head movement, and a teddy bear to hold if I wanted it.  There was a clamp to hold my eyes open, and a suction ring, and then my vision in that eye went a bit dim.  The first Lasik laser made the flap, and I focused on a small light while the other laser made the cornea changes.  This took less than thirty seconds, or so I was told.  Mainly I was aware of clicking noises and some pressure, but no pain or real discomfort.   After the eye flaps were put back in place, I rested in a recliner for about Twenty minutes.  I could see more clearly immediately after the Lasik operation was over, but was told not to try and test my eyes for a number of days, and rather concentrate on getting them healthy and healed.

I am surprised and immensely pleased it went so easily, well, and pain free.  I would recommend this type of Lasik method to anyone.