All Laser LASIK – your bladeless alternative for LASIK surgery

Published on : November 24, 2022|Last Updated :December 26, 2022
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Did you know that there are many options for LASIK eye surgery? Advancements in LASIK mean you can enjoy better vision with a non-invasive surgical solution known as All Laser LASIK. But what does this mean for patients vs. traditional LASIK surgery?

How is LASIK done traditionally?

You have probably wondered ‘How is LASIK done’? if you’re considering having this life-changing vision correction procedure. LASIK, also known as Laser In-Siu Keratomileusis, allows eye surgeons to reshape the cornea on the surface of your eye to allow light to focus properly on the retina at the back of your eye, to improve vision.

Traditionally, LASIK has 2 main steps:

  • Step 1: The first step is the application of topical anesthesia using eye drops. A thin surgical blade is then used to make a hinged flap on the cornea, which is gently lifted by your eye surgeon to expose the tissue layers below, which need to be reshaped.
  • Step 2: Next, a computer guide excimer laser performs the vision correction treatment on the corneal tissue, adjusting the contours to improve vision. Finally, the flap is put back in place and will act as a bandage to protect the eye during recovery.

How is All Laser LASIK different?

All Laser LASIK does not require the use of a surgical blade. The first step is accomplished using an extremely fast femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap. Next, the cool excimer laser reshapes the cornea, and the flap is put back in position as outlined in step two so that the eye can begin the healing process.

That’s why All Laser LASIK is sometimes referred to as bladeless LASIK, blade-free LASIK, femto-LASIK, or femtosecond-Assisted LASIK. No matter what you call it, you will experience the same amazing results as traditional LASIK surgery without the need for invasive surgery.

How does the femtosecond laser work?

With this type of LASIK surgery, energy waves in the far infrared light spectrum are used to create the corneal flap. These light pulses are used to generate a high-energy field that expands at ultrasonic speed to displace adjacent tissue.

Bubbles of carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen are also generated within the cornea, instantly lowering the temperature of the growing plasma energy field. The bubbles help the surgeon easily find free space under the flap too, to make the whole area easily accessible and ensure the flap is lifted gently.

How does the excimer laser work?

Once the flap is lifted from the cornea, a ‘cool’ excimer laser is used to reshape the tissue below, known as “photoablation”. This emits UV light that disrupts chemical bonds in the targeted tissue locations and consequently changes the corneal shape without causing heat-related damage.

Why choose All Laser LASIK?

There are many reasons our highly experienced surgeons might advise a bladeless LASIK procedure for you. One of the first benefits is a more accurate and consistent result in how the flap area is created due to the precision of the femtosecond laser, as it allows for better control and uniformity of the flap thickness. This enables a smoother surface underneath the flap, leading to an improve surgical outcome.

This procedure also allows for more flap customization, including its diameter and hinge, creating results that better reflect the patient’s specific cornea size and refractive errors like astigmatism. The flaps can then be placed back in place more accurately and with improved coverage for a better recovery experience.

The flap can also be better controlled by using a laser, which means it can be repositioned more securely, promoting faster healing.

All Laser LASIK also allows more people to be able to experience better vision. The ability to better address vision needs like thin corneas, high prescriptions, and dry eyes, means patients who would normally not qualify for traditional LASIK surgery can qualify for All Laser LASIK.

How to find out if you qualify for bladeless LASIK

Contact TLC San Antonio to see if you qualify for bladeless LASIK. We offer a free LASIK consultation where our skilled eye surgeons, led by the renowned LASIK surgeon Dr. Oday Alsheikh, MD can assess your eligibility for this type of LASIK surgery, taking your personal medical and vision history and current vision correction needs into account.