Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) has revolutionized vision correction, utilizing advanced LASIK technologies to reshape the cornea and correct common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The success of LASIK relies on the precision of specialized laser platforms, including excimer and femtosecond lasers, which enhance safety, accuracy, and patient outcomes.
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requires all lasers used in laser eye surgery to be tested with rigorous standards. In order to gain FDA approval, the manufacturer of the medical device needs to prove that it is both safe, and effective for its indicated purposes. The FDA continues to monitor medical devices after their approval, to ensure continued patient safety, so look for FDA-approved laser technology when considering LASIK surgery.
Femtosecond laser technology has revolutionized LASIK by enabling a completely bladeless LASIK procedure. Instead of relying on a mechanical microkeratome blade, femtosecond lasers use ultrafast pulses of infrared light to create the corneal flap with exceptional precision. This technique allows for greater customization of flap dimensions, enhancing safety and outcomes, particularly for patients with thinner corneas. A leading femtosecond laser used in LASIK procedures is the WaveLight® FS200, known for its speed, accuracy, and ability to optimize flap architecture for improved visual results.
At the core of LASIK is the excimer laser, which emits a cool ultraviolet light beam to precisely remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. This reshaping process corrects how light enters the eye, improving vision clarity. At TLC Laser Eye Centers, we use advanced excimer laser platforms, such as the WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser, to provide high-speed, high-precision treatment.
Wavefront-Optimized LASIK technology, also known as Custom LASIK, is a popular treatment option for laser eye surgery patients. Compared to a conventional LASIK procedure, custom LASIK offers an enhanced degree of personalization, which assist your surgeon to better provide vision correction while maintaining integrity of essential optical features on the eye.
Like Custom LASIK, Topography-Guided LASIK allows your surgeon to better customize and personalize your laser eye procedure. Topography-Guided LASIK incorporates the most recent topography technology from Contoura® Vision, which captures the unique curvatures of each individual eye and allow detailed assessment of their corresponding visual impact. Additionally, the latest Wavelight® EX500 Excimer Laser and its advanced software are other key components of the process. The measurements captured by the advanced topographer provide your surgeon with supplemental data to customize a treatment plan that further targets the specific needs of your eyes. The personalization details will then guide the Wavelight® Ex500 laser to correct your specific visual needs.
Choosing the right LASIK procedure is an important decision, and one that is best made with the help of your laser eye surgery team. An experienced team will be able to fill you in on all the details about the LASIK technologies available, and help you make the choice that best fits your unique needs.
Are you interested in learning more about LASIK technology, and discussing your laser eye surgery procedure options with a knowledgeable team? It starts with scheduling your free LASIK consultation at your local TLC Laser Eye Centers location. You can schedule your consultation by phone, or by completing a brief form on our website. Your free consultation is the perfect opportunity to learn more about LASIK, meet your surgeon and surgery team, and find answers to your laser eye surgery questions.
Resources:
Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (2018, September 6). List of FDA-Approved lasers for LASIK. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/list-fda-approved-lasers-lasik
Alcon WaveLight® Refractive Technology Suite | Alcon Professional. (n.d.). MyAlcon. https://www.myalcon.com/professional/refractive/wavelight-refractive-suite/
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Now is the time. Find out if LASIK is right for you.