Lasik Laser Eye Surgery
WHAT IS LASIK?
LASIK Vision Correction is a technique used to help you see better without glasses. It can successfully correct Shortsightedness, Longsightedness and Astigmatism. LASIK stands for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. The word “Keratomileusis” is derived from two Greek words that literally mean “to shape the cornea”. “In-situ” means “within”. The term LASIK literally means “to shape the cornea from within using laser”.
There are 2 components of the LASIK procedure.
Step 1: The formation of a Corneal Flap with INTRALASE.
The flap is folded back to allow:
Step 2: The reshaping the Cornea under the Corneal flap using the VISX Star S4™ Excimer Laser.
What is INTRALASE?
Intralase is a laser designed to create a 100% Blade-Free flap of corneal tissue at a precise, predetermined depth, prior to the actual reshaping of the cornea using the Excimer Laser. Once the Corneal flap is formed, it is then gently lifted before the reshaping of the Cornea by the Excimer Laser begins
Advantages of INTRALASE?
100% Blade-Free computer-guided technology
Accuracy in fashioning a uniform thickness Corneal Flap of desired thickness.
Better visual result
Better quality of vision
Virtually eliminates flap complications
Higher degrees of long and shortsightedness can be treated as thinner flaps can be formed
How Long does INTRALASE take?
The Intralase method takes 30 seconds for the formation of the 100% blade-free flap. The LASIK procedure takes 15 minutes in total.
Is INTRALASE painful?
The Intralase Lasik method is performed under local anaesthetic eye drops. There are no needles or stitches. While you may feel pressure, the procedure is generally painless.
What is WAVEFRONT?
LASIK can now also correct Wavefront determined “higher order aberrations”.
A perfect eyeball would focus every light beam that reaches it perfectly onto the retina. Unfortunately the eye is not perfect and as such some beams entering the eye, particularly the peripheral beams are sometimes focused either in front or behind the retina.
These out of focus beams create distortions known as higher order aberrations which can affect the quality of your vision, particularly at night or for those people with large pupils.
A Wavefront scan allows accurate measurement of each of these minute distortions known as higher order aberrations. The Wavefront scan itself is quick, painless and does not affect the eye or eyesight but as with the initial consultation and the LASIK treatment itself, needs to be performed without having worn contact lenses for a week.
Once the Wavefront scan has been completed, the results are uploaded into the Excimer Laser and the Wavefront treatment can be incorporated into the LASIK procedure. It is not an extra treatment, but in-built into the standard LASIK system. As a result, at the same time as treating Shortsightedness, Longsightedness or Astigmatism, your own individual higher order aberrations can be corrected in a customised treatment.
Is Wavefront treatment necessary for me?
If you have poor night vision, very large pupils or a moderate amount of Astigmatism, then Wavefront treatment may be appropriate.
If your pupils are too small, your corneas too thin, or you have very few higher order aberrations, then Wavefront treatment may not be appropriate.
Our 2 hour free initial consultation allows us to determine whether a Wavefront scan is necessary as well as an opportunity to answer all your questions.
Once the Wavefront scan has been performed, we will be able to discuss the results with you and explain whether or not Wavefront treatment is appropriate for you.