What is True About IntraLasik?

Now that Lasik vision correction surgery has been accepted for a number of years, there are some popular options for the procedure.  One (1) of these is IntraLasik, or Intralase, or bladeless Lasik.  As the name implies, there is no cutting of the eye with a blade, instead the flap in the eye is made using a laser.  Since bladeless Lasik is a newer procedure, there are a number of opinions around about how well this procedure works.  Let’s look at several of these and determine which of these are true or false.

First, more Lasik clients get 20/20 vision or better using IntraLasik.  Any Lasik method cannot guarantee perfect vision for every client, though more than 90% get results to at least 20/40 vision.  However, it is true that the new techniques of IntraLasik do get even better statistics for giving clients clear vision.

Some are concerned that the laser that makes the corneal flap is standard, and cannot be tailored to each individual eye like can be done by the Lasik surgeon when using a blade.  This is not true.  The Lasik physician has control over the use of the laser for each individual in the same way that he can control the microkeratome blade.

IntraLasik can be used for both a standard and a custom Lasik method.  This is true.  Custom Lasik methods using Wavefront technology (another somewhat recent advance in Lasik vision correction) can easily be used with a laser making the initial flap.  This custom Lasik method, though more costly, is of great benefit for people with unusual eye shapes or problems.

Some have heard that using the laser is less accurate than the standard Lasik method.  This is not true, since lasers can be controlled to micron level accuracy.  This gives the Lasik physician extreme control to create exactly the flap needed for this particular individual eye: the precise size, shape, and depth for successful completion of the Lasik method. 

Another common fallacy is that IntraLase has not been around long enough for trusted Lasik physicians to have confidence in it.  On the contrary, many of the most honored Lasik physicians strongly endorse IntraLase due to the track record of very good results from the Lasik methods.  In addition, the quality of the machines and the precision that they give these Lasik physicians is very impressive.  Many of the top flight Lasik doctors recommend this as a procedure of choice, assuming cost is not a significant variable in the decision of which Lasik method to use.

Similar to the objection above, some people think that Intralase is not a sufficiently test Lasik method option.  On the contrary, more than one million of these procedures have been performed, and the impressive track record for this Lasik method has been discussed above.  More and more Lasik physicians are trained in this option, and we will see many more such Lasik methods in the future.

We trust that this discussion of bladeless Lasik has given more accurate information to those considering this Lasik technique.  Please discuss this option with the professionals at your local Lasik center.