Surface Treatment Technology

When laser surgery was introduced, the only technique available for surface removal prior to reshaping was PRK. Surface cells were removed with gentle scraping, and they grew back over the course of several months. Potential concerns included irregular healing patterns and haze which could diminish visual acuity during and after recovery. As well, discomfort typically lasted 2 - 3 days and sufficient visual recovery to return to work could take 7 - 10 days.

LASIK was developed to address those concerns. By creating a flap that was gently lifted aside during reshaping, regrowth of cells involved only flap edges outside the centre of vision. Recovery was more predictable, more rapid and more comfortable than with PRK. Return to work typically was reduced to 3 - 4 days. However, conventional LASIK was performed with a gear-driven surgical blade, the microkeratome, which introduced concerns related to irregularities of the flap shape and underlying tissue with consequent concerns over how securely the flap sealed.

Today, both procedures continue with some refinements. At Demong Associate Eyecentre, Dr. Demong still performs PRK for specific corneal conditions. However, he no longer performs LASIK with a microkeratome. Since August, 2005, all LASIK procedures have been performed with the IntraLase Femtosecond laser.

The INTRALASE FS-60 Femtosecond Laser

The IntraLase has been developed to improve the safety, precision and visual result of your LASIK procedure by replacing the conventional microkeratome with a computer-controlled laser solution. The IntraLase creates a flap customized to meet your needs, featuring:

• precise depth with +/- 10 microns variation: 2 - 3 x more accurate than the leading microkeratome can achieve
• uniform thickness, meaning the underlying tissues awaiting reshaping have the same proportions of the curvature as measured preoperatively
• uniform tissue bed for wavefront treatment, ensuring no new irregularities are created when the flap is made
• precise centration using a stabilization ring and computer monitor
• beveled edge flap: surgeon-defined angle of the edge, created according to your corneal curvature, to stabilize the flap after reshaping is complete

What does this deliver?

• better safety: no risks of mechanical failure or concerns about the edge of the surgical blade; greater flap stability throughout recovery
• better accuracy: greater control over the depth of the flap and smoothness of tissue that will be reshaped
• better safety + better accuracy = better vision

The IntraLase Procedure

Anesthetic drops numb the surface of the eye before a stabilization ring is positioned to control any movement during the procedure. The depth of the flap is then created, using thousands of tiny 2 - 3 micron-sized bubbles generated by the laser beam. The bubbles are aligned side by side at the prescribed depth until the entire area defining the flap bed has been covered, separating the layers of cells. Then the IntraLase creates the edges of the flap by vertically stacking more fine bubbles in a curve delineating the flap edge, leaving the hinge side untouched. Within a few seconds, the stabilization ring is lifted, the surgeon passes a delicate instrument through the bubbles to finish separating the bubbles and the flap is lifted prior to reshaping your cornea with the Wavefront laser. Following treatment, the flap is gently eased back into place and seats securely over the newly treated area.

To better visualize the procedure, we invite you to view the animation below:

Now compare that with conventional LASIK using a microkeratome:

You may also want to visit the manufacturer's site through these links: www.intralasefacts.com, www.intralasik.ca and www.lasikflapfacts.com