LASIK involves making a flap in the cornea and reshaping the inner tissue. Traditionally this was done using a hand held mechanical instrument called a microkeratome which contains a metal blade. Blade-Free laser together with CustomVue Wavescan, combines two technologies creating an all-laser procedure that provides an unprecedented level of safety, precision, and comfort in vision correction.
The Procedure:
Step 1: Just like a fingerprint each person’s vision is 100% unique to their eyes. Our doctors use CustomVue WaveScan digital technology to detect and measure the optical distortions unique to your optical system. They then have a fingerprint or map of your vision. This information is then transferred to the VISX STAR IR® Excimer laser and used as a guide in reshaping the cornea during your laser vision treatment.
Step 2: On the day of the procedure, anesthetic drops are placed into your eyes. The flap is then created using our Ziemer FEMTO LDVTM laser. Using its ultrafast, tightly focused, low energy laser beam, a precisely measured flap is created at a depth predetermined by your doctor. The doctor is then able to lift the flap and the next step of the procedure is able to begin.
Step 3: Once the flap has been gently lifted and folded back, it is time to reshape the cornea tissue. Using the STAR S4 IR®Excimer laser with your unique WAVEPRINT map, our doctor then reshapes the inner tissue of the cornea. The doctor then smoothes the flap back to its original position. The entire procedure usually takes under 30 minutes.