What is "all-laser" LASIK?
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Jay Bansal, MD
LaserVue Eye Center
1700 California Street
Suite 480
San Francisco, CA 94109
(800) 791-5691
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Southwestern Eye Center
3321 East Bell Road
Suite B12
Phoenix, AZ 85032
(800) 769-0037
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Jay Bansal, MD
LaserVue Eye Center
3540 Mendocino Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(800) 791-5691
In "all-laser" LASIK, the corneal flap is created with a laser rather than a bladed microkeratome.
The laser used to create the flap is a different type of laser than the laser used to reshape the cornea in LASIK. So in all-laser LASIK, two separate lasers are used to complete the procedure.
The laser used to create the LASIK flap is a femtosecond laser. It delivers ultra-short pulses of energy to separate corneal tissue by breaking cell bonds and producing microscopic gas bubbles at a computer-specified depth.
How short is "ultra-short"? A femtosecond is one-billionth of one-millionth of a second. For context, a femtosecond is to a second what a second is to about 32 million years. (Yes, really!)
Today's modern femtosecond (FS) lasers for creating corneal flaps in all-laser LASIK operate at a speed of up to 500 kilohertz (kHz), which means they can deliver up to a half million laser pulses per second (depending on the laser brand and model).
Using a femtosecond laser rather than a bladed microkeratome to create corneal flaps can reduce the risk of certain flap-related LASIK complications. Also, surveys show many refractive surgery candidates are significantly less apprehensive about LASIK when the flap is created with a laser rather than a bladed instrument.
Sometimes, all-laser LASIK is called "IntraLASIK." This is because the first and still most popular femtosecond laser used in the United States for LASIK surgery is called an IntraLase laser (Abbott Medical Optics). However, today there are several FDA-approved femtosecond lasers refractive surgeons can use for LASIK performed in the U.S. and worldwide. Femtosecond lasers are also now being used for other types of vision correction surgery, including surgery to treat cataracts and laser presbyopia surgery.
Note: This information is for general education purposes only. It is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice from your eye doctor or refractive surgeon.
Last updated: March 21, 2011
