All-Laser LASIK

In recent years, all-laser LASIK has become available and allows creation of the flap using a laser instead of a microkeratome. The laser used is not an excimer laser, but rather a different type of laser called a femtosecond laser. The femtosecond laser is scanned, under computer control, just below the surface of the cornea. The laser creates thousands of tiny bubbles that outline the desired flap. The bubbles separate the flap from the cornea, allowing the flap to be created and lifted without using a knife or blade. This method is also called blade-free LASIK.

All-laser LASIK has two advantages over standard LASIK. First, with the all-laser approach, problems with the flap are very rare and easily handled. Second, the result of the laser treatment is more accurate. Studies by the U.S. Navy have shown a higher percentage of patients achieve 20/15 vision with all-laser LASIK compared to standard LASIK.

Seeing Better than 20/20 with LASIK »