LASIK vs. IntraLase

San Francisco, Bay Area & San Jose, California

IntraLase is often referred to as “bladeless” or “all-laser” LASIK. In the beginning steps of the procedure, a high-precision laser is used instead of a metal blade. Although both technologies have achieved successful laser vision correction for numerous patients, IntraLase avoids the risks associated with the metal blade and allows your eye surgeon to customize your LASIK procedure.

At the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, our experienced eye surgeons provide laser vision correction to people in San Francisco and the surrounding California areas. Before receiving any kind of laser vision correction, an eye surgeon must determine your candidacy for the procedures.

What is the Difference between LASIK and IntraLase?

In a traditional LASIK procedure, an oscillating razor blade called a “microkeratome” cuts a hinged flap in the cornea. Performed manually by the eye surgeon, this step in the procedure presents the most likely moment for an error to occur. Once the flap is created, the underlying cornea is reshaped with an excimer laser to improve nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

In the IntraLase procedure, the corneal flap is created with a femtosecond laser, not a microkeratome. The femtosecond laser delivers tiny, rapid pulses of energy that vaporize targeted tissue with excellent precision and without damaging surrounding tissue.

IntraLase has several advantages, including:

• Bladeless, all-laser technology
• More predictable outcomes
• Highly personalized to your eyes
• No microkeratome risks
• Reduced dry eye risk

Using Wavefront mapping technology and IntraLase, your eye surgeon can accurately create a corneal flap according to the unique characteristics of your eyes. IntraLase allows the surgeon to control more precisely the various parameters of corneal flap creation, including:

• Depth
• Width
• Diameter
• Hinge location

Precisely tailoring a LASIK procedure to your eyes increases the chances of satisfactory vision results and a safer procedure.

The Right Vision Solution for You

At the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, our eye surgeons provide IntraLase to good candidates. Using an all-laser approach has been highly beneficial to our patients, decreasing LASIK risks and yielding better results.

Although modern-day LASIK with a microkeratome is a safe and viable procedure, certain risks are still associated with it, including:

• Flap that is too thick
• Flap that is too thin
• Buttonhole flap
• Uneven flap
• Corneal folds
• Wrinkles in the flap
• Corneal abrasion
• Eye inflammation

Most of these complications can be corrected with an additional procedure, but using IntraLase drastically decreases the chances of these complications occurring.

If you live in San Francisco or the surrounding California areas, find out if IntraLase or LASIK surgery is right for you; please contact the experienced eye surgeons at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule a consultation.

1.800.725.0740