FREQUENTLY ASKED Questions about LASIK

Bladeless  LASIK technology provides:

SAFETY

LASIK has proven to be a relatively safe procedure, with most LASIK complications related to the creation of the corneal flap. Bladeless LASIK makes LASIK surgery safer than ever by replacing the blade commonly used for corneal flap creation with a laser, a more precise process that works from the “inside-out.” Greater precision means improved safety and results. Dr. Hollingshead was the first eye surgeon in Idaho to offer his patients the added safety of bladeless LASIK technology.

UNPRECEDENTED PRECISION

Bladeless LASIK is the most sophisticated and precise technology available, making it possible for Dr. Hollingshead to tailor the flap for each individual eye.

SPEED

When it comes to LASIK, faster is better. The bladeless LASIK method creates the corneal flap in only 30 seconds per eye, making it possible to perform the entire procedure in approximately 10 minutes.

RESULTS

With bladeless LASIK, more patients achieve 20/20 vision.

PROVEN SUPERIORITY

The United States Navy has tested and approved bladeless LASIK technology for naval aviators. Previously, LASIK vision correction was off-limits for these pilots because of concerns with vision quality following the procedure. According to the Navy’s studies, bladeless LASIK delivered better quality vision and faster visual recovery time, as compared to procedures that treat the surface of the cornea and those involving a microkeratome (a hand-held, bladed mechanical instrument) for flap creation. NASA followed suit by approving bladeless LASIK for astronauts.

PATIENT SATISFACTION

LASIK patients enrolled in a clinical study had the flap for one eye created with a microkeratome and the flap for the other eye created with bladeless LASIK. Three out of four patients who stated a preference preferred the vision in the eye treated with bladeless LASIK.

Clinical studies confirm that patients see better following bladeless LASIK-initiated LASIK than following a traditional LASIK procedure.
More patients achieve 20/20 or better vision with bladelessLASIK.

• Patients stating a preference preferred the post-operative vision of their bladeless LASIK-treated eye 3 to 1 over the vision of their eye treated with traditional LASIK.
• Bladeless LASIK creates fewer high-and-low-order aberrations, thought to be associated with glare and halos at night.
• Bladeless LASIK patients have a reduced incidence of post-operative dry eye symptoms.
• Bladeless LASIK patients required fewer enhancement procedures following LASIK.
• The precision of the bladeless LASIK flap significantly reduces the incidence of post-operative induced astigmatism, as compared with a traditional LASIK flap.

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Yes, TRADITIONAL LASIK IS SAFE, but bladeless LASIK reduces the risk of complications reported with the microkeratome and has given many patients more confidence in choosing laser vision correction.

However, bladeless LASIK improves the safety, precision and visual results of LASIK, whether you choose to have a standard or custom procedure.
This is a result of the superior precision provided by the computer-guided bladeless LASIK laser, as compared to that of a hand-held microkeratome, which cuts across the cornea to create a flap. Bladeless LASIK uses the precision of a beam of light to create a laser flap without traveling across the cornea, virtually eliminating severe sight-threatening complications as a result.

Precise flap thickness is critical to a successful LASIK outcome, and bladeless LASIK flaps feature a consistent thickness from edge to edge. This degree of accuracy is unprecedented in flap creation technology. Flap stability is also an important factor, as the consequences of flap slippage can be problematic. Bladeless LASIK flaps provide added assurance and peace of mind for many patients.

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LASIK laser vision correction is not for everyone. Certain factors, such as corneal thickness or the strength of your eyeglass prescription, determine whether or not you may be a candidate. That is why, before any vision correction procedure is performed, our eye care professionals will conduct a detailed examination to determine your candidacy. Based on the results of those tests, your doctor will recommend the vision correction option best suited for you.