|
If you've considered having LASIK eye surgery to correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you might think about spending a little more and having Intrasase LASIK instead. Intralase is a bladeless form of LASIK surgery that's more accurate, doesn't require the use of a blade to create the corneal flap in your eye, and a thinner flap is created which speeds the healing process and overall success rate.
In case you weren't aware, all laser eye surgery involves creating a flap in the cornea of your eye. In traditional LASIK procedures, a hand held oscillating blade known as a microkeratome is use to create this flap, which isn't always that precise. But with the new Intralase technology, a computer-guided blade is used that is much more accurate. With the aid of a computer, the LASIK surgeon guides the laser over your eye, and then makes three small incisions.
These bubble-like incisions are used to create a thin flap that is required so that the surgeon can access the inner layers of your cornea, where the laser resurfacing will be performed. The cornea is resurfaced to either make it flatter, or more curved, depending on the type of vision correction that is required. Then, once this part of the procedure is complete, the flap is placed back over the cornea, protecting the surgery area as the eye is allowed to heal.
Because Intralase LASIK creates a more accurate cut, sometimes hundreds of times more accurate than standard blades, the risk of the cornea being scarred by the surgery is greatly reduced. Some studies suggest that up to four times as many patients achieve 20/20 vision after an Intralase procedure when compared to regular laser eye surgery.
Another benefit is the fact that the more precise flap created by Intralase surgery is cleaner and heals faster. The vast majority of complications associated with traditional LASIK surgery are flap-related, so any improvement in this area is bound to lead to higher post-operative success rates.
Recovery times are also shorter when compared to standard LASIK procedures, especially LASEK surgery, which can take up to one week before vision is fully restored. This means the patient can get back to work and other activities within days, and the discomfort following surgery goes away much faster.
And becase of the high success rates associated with Intralase, there's less of a chance that the patient will need additional surgery or re-treatment at a later time. There's a better chance that the improvements in vision will last for many years, or even a lifetime.
The procedure is also very fast to perform. Intralase surgery is typically completed in ten minutes or less, meaning the patient is in and out of the doctor's office and on their way home in a short period of time. This leads to less stress on the patient, as having one's eyes operated on is stressful enough, and having to spend a long time in surgery can be a un-nerving experience for anyone.
There is some additional cost to this type of laser vision correction surgery. An Intralase procedure can typically cost from $350 to $600 over traditional LASIK, but most people consider the advantages well worth it. After all, how can you put a price tag on having great vision?
Share your story If you have an inspirational LASIK or other eye surgery story that you'd like to share with our readers, we'd love to hear about it! Use our Contact page to email us your story.
Did you know that over one million laser vision correction procedures are performed in the US each year?
Becase of the accuracy of results, speed of recovery, and ease of treatment, lasik laser vision correction has become one of the most commonly performed surgeries throughout the US and the entire world.
