The Benefits of Femtosecond Lasers and Why We Use Them
Precision, safety, and speed
When it comes to your eyes, there is no such thing as being too careful, especially when you are talking about LASIK eye surgery. A traditional LASIK procedure uses a precise surgical instrument known as a microkeratome to create a thick hinged flap in the eye’s clear surface (cornea). The flap is then lifted, allowing for the application of laser energy to reshape the underlying cornea tissue. The downside of this method is the risk of complications due to human error, flap manipulation, and infection.
However, there is a new bladeless technology out there that uses femtosecond lasers. This new addition to the world of ophthalmology may cost a bit more than traditional LASIK methods, but it provides a variety of benefits that you won’t find anywhere else. Once you take a look at these startling advantages, it’s easy to see why the experts at Spindel Eye Associates choose to use femtosecond lasers.
Significant decrease in complications
Flaps created with a mechanical microkeratome are often associated with cornea complications, such as a detached flap (free cap), a hole in the center (buttonhole), small wrinkles or folds (striae), steep spots (central islands), and infection. The precision and speed of femtosecond lasers have significantly decreased these types of complications, virtually eliminating overly thick flaps, irregular cuts, and trauma induced by manipulation.
The biggest contributor to an increase in patient safety and satisfaction is the speed of the laser, which emits ultrashort optical pulses with a duration well below 1 picosecond. Creating the LASIK flap with a femtosecond laser takes about 10 seconds per eye. Since you, the patient, are under the machine for less time, your eye experiences less trauma. Also, a femtosecond laser allows for an inverted bevel-in side cut, which means the cornea flap can be tucked under instead of pulled back. With virtually no movement to the cornea flap involved, you have a shorter manipulation time and a decreased risk of infection.
Fine tuning allows for increased precision
One common result from mechanical microkeratome LASIK eye surgery is a cornea flap that is cut too thick. This can cause post-LASIK ectasia, a condition where the cornea starts to bulge forward and leads to a deterioration in vision. A femtosecond laser substantially reduces the risk of ectasia because it allows for precise adjustments to the flap’s diameter and the hinge’s placement depending on the patient’s needs, providing consistent results every time. This increase in predictability and consistency has led to a greater percentage of successful outcomes and an improvement in patient safety and satisfaction.
The benefits of femtosecond lasers in LASIK eye surgery cannot be overstated, which is why our Derry eye specialists are happy to provide this service. Your safety and vision clarity are our top priorities, so we will always stay at the forefront of technology to ensure the absolute best results!
For more information on femtosecond laser eye surgery, please contact our team at 603-421-6489 today!