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What is
blade-free?
Bubble-Powered For A Blade-Free
LASIK Experience
The IntraLase Method™*
is a 100% blade-free approach to corneal flap
creation—the critical first step in the LASIK
procedure.
The creation of the corneal flap prepares the
eye for the second step of the LASIK procedure,
when another laser, known as an excimer laser, is
used on the inner cornea to correct vision.
Unlike other procedures, the IntraLase Method
creates the corneal flap by applying tiny, rapid
pulses of laser light—not a metal blade
(microkeratome). Each pulse of light passes
through the top layers of your cornea and forms a
microscopic bubble at a specific depth and
position within your eye that is determined by the
doctor. As the IntraLase® laser moves back and
forth across your eye, a uniform layer of bubbles
forms just below the corneal surface. Your doctor
creates your corneal flap by gently separating the
tissue where these bubbles have formed.
Because of the unique way in which the
IntraLase Method creates a precisely positioned
layer of bubbles just beneath the surface of your
eye, it creates a smooth, even surface after your
flap is lifted.
The corneal flap is then folded back so the
doctor can perform the second step of your LASIK
treatment.
Corneal Flap Creation In The
Blink Of An Eye
Using the latest IntraLase laser technology,
your corneal flap can be made fast—in only about
15 seconds per eye. Including preparation time,
the entire LASIK procedure takes about 10 minutes.
Once the entire procedure is completed, the
corneal flap created with the IntraLase Method
“locks” back into position.
Choose IntraLase With
Confidence
At the end of 2006, over 1,000,000 procedures
will have been performed safely and effectively
using the IntraLase Method. And, in a clinical
survey of LASIK patients who had their corneal
flaps created using a microkeratome in one eye and
the IntraLase Method in the other, preferred the
vision in the IntraLase-treated eye 3:1 over the
microkeratome among those who stated a
preference.
There are several benefits
to using the IntraLase Method:
- Better vision. More patients in clinical
trials achieved vision that was 20/20 or better
when their LASIK procedure was performed with
the IntraLase Method. And patients report better
quality of vision overall, particularly in terms
of their ability to see well in low light such
as at dusk or at night.
- Ability to tailor the procedure to your eye.
The IntraLase Method enables your doctor to
tailor the flap according to the shape of your
eye. Everything from the diameter of your flap
to the angle of its edges can be precisely
determined. This is important because everyone’s
eyes are shaped a little differently. Having a
corneal flap that’s individualized to your eye
will help ensure that you get the best possible
results.
Only your healthcare professional can determine
if LASIK and the IntraLase Method is right for
you. As with all elective procedures, you should
ask your doctor for a complete list of the risks
and complications associated with LASIK and the
IntraLase Method.
How does the IntraLase Method
differ from the Epi-LASIK and photo-refractive
keratectomy (PRK) procedures?
These procedures differ from one another in the
way they prepare the surface of the cornea for the
second step of LASIK, which involves vision
correction within your inner cornea.
Epi-LASIK uses an epikeratome—a blunt
separator—to make a superficial flap. Similarly,
photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) is performed by
scraping the surface layer of the cornea.
Both the Epi-LASIK and PRK procedures can be
painful and require the use of more medication to
make you comfortable after the procedure. In
addition, healing times may be longer than with
procedures performed with the IntraLase
Method.
How does IntraLase differ from a
microkeratome?
The microkeratome is a handheld instrument that
contains a steel blade. The blade cuts a flap as
it moves along the surface of the cornea.
Unlike the IntraLase laser, the microkeratome
can only make a single, one-dimensional cut across
the cornea. As it cuts, the blade rapidly moves
back and forth, which can leave an irregular
surface after the flap is lifted. This can affect
the quality of your vision following your
procedure. | 
