Intralase still makes a 'cut' on the eye although uses a laser to do so. The true bladefree or No - Cut LASIK is EpiLASIK which we do offer.
You could first run through our Epi - LASIK FAQ's link as many of your doubts may get cleared from there.
We only perform Custom or wavefront LASIK procedures
Basically treating your numbers has two steps:
Step 1 to create a 'flap' to make this procedure painless and heal well. That is its only objective.
Flap creation requires the skill of the surgeon as well as the use of a good equipment to be free from flap related complications. If Centers face Flap related complications due to reasons like multiple users (doctors), new inexperienced surgeons or using poor equipment creating flaps then to reduce these complications one looks at using a femtosecond laser which uses a laser beam to make the flap. So, a femtosecond laser does not treat your numbers, it only creates the flap.
However, this itself is not free from its own set of issues. The frequency and other profiles with which a femtosecond laser is working currently is under an upgrade programme since it is resulting in its own complications, hence until then, we are not in favour of the same.
Further, the cost of this femtosecond laser used just to create the flap is passed on to the patient which is an extremely high fee.
Most users of a femtosecond laser are using the VISIX laser to treat the numbers (Step 2 of LASIK). The VISIX laser, is a far older machine working at a speed of just 60 Hertz compared to the advanced systems today working at 500 Hz (such as ours). However, it is sold together as a unit as it is made by the same company.
Hence till a femtosecond laser is more well established, we work best with the Moria M2 microkeratome to create the flap and the Concerto 500 Hz laser system with complete disposable kits.
Step 2 to treat the numbers completely, accurately with safety
Your concern is treating your eye numbers ACCURATELY WITH SAFETY. The numbers are treated by another laser technology (other than the femtosecond laser), and if this old, then you will not have the desired outcome. VISIX or Zyoptix usually used with Intralase and has only been upgraded to customized wavefront treatments, not built from scratch for wavefront principles as our laser, the Concerto 500 Hz.
It is very important for one to focus more about the laser technology being used to treat your numbers rather than the pre steps of using the blade or bladeless, unless the Center is having some complications in these pre steps, for which one would try to reduce the same by the bladeless method.
Epi-LASIK is a safe, effective and permanent procedure.
You can expect making a safe LASIK procedure even safer.
A unique blade-less instrument called the epikeratome separates the epithelium to make a flap.
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