1. What is IntraLase®?

IntraLase is a femtosecond laser, which means it emits super-fast laser pulses. Although femtosecond lasers may be used for other types of eye surgery, the IntraLase is specially designed to perform bladeless LASIK surgery.

2. What is LASIK surgery?

LASIK surgery corrects refractive vision problems by reshaping the cornea. As light enters your eye, it’s bent by the cornea. This bending, called refraction, is essential to focus the light and produce a clear vision.
Your cornea must be perfectly shaped to properly bend light. When it’s too steep or flat, or irregularly shaped, light rays aren’t focused properly and you develop refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The LASIK procedure uses a laser to precisely remove microscopic pieces of your cornea, restoring its normal shape and improving your vision.

3. What is bladeless LASIK surgery?

Before your doctor at UltraVision can use their advanced WaveLight® EX500 excimer laser to perform LASIK surgery, they must cut an opening in the outer layer of the cornea.
In traditional surgery, this important first step is done using a mechanical tool called a microkeratome blade to cut around the cornea and create a flap of tissue that’s folded over during the corneal reshaping.
During bladeless LASIK surgery at UltraVision, your doctor creates the flap using the IntraLase laser instead of a blade. The laser has a significant advantage over the blade because it ensures a very precise, smooth edge and cuts the flap with uniform thickness.

4. How does IntraLase work?

As IntraLase sends out super-fast light beams, they form a uniform layer of microscopic bubbles just below the surface of the cornea. The bubbles, which are computer-controlled to match the shape of your eye, safely cut the corneal flap. The actual flap creation only takes about 20 seconds per eye.

5. What advantages does IntraLase provide?

If you have a flat or thin cornea, you may not qualify for standard LASIK using the microkeratome blade. However, you may be a good candidate when IntraLase is used. Bladeless LASIK promotes faster healing because the contoured flap fits perfectly back into place when your surgery is finished.
Although LASIK surgery using the microkeratome blade is safe, IntraLase significantly reduces the risk of complications associated with the procedure. Cutting the flap using the IntraLase laser also produces better vision for more patients, when compared with the success rates using a blade.
IntraLase makes LASIK surgery even more reliable and effective. To schedule an appointment, call UltraVision, or book an appointment online.