Femtosecond Laser Technology

If you have been told you are not a good candidate for LASIK because your myopia is too severe or your cornea is too thin, Femtosecond Laser or femtolaser technology may be the solution for you. Femtosecond lasers can be used to create the flap used in LASIK instead of the metal blade, called a microkeratome, used during traditional LASIK. When a femtosecond laser is used, the procedure is sometimes referred to as "all-laser" or "bladeless" LASIK.

The first femtosecond laser was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001, and since then the technology has helped hundreds of thousands of people improve their vision. Because it is done completely with lasers, those whose corneas were deemed too thin for traditional LASIK to create a hinged corneal flap may benefit from this procedure.

Corneal Flap

The problem that may occur when the cornea is too thin is that there will not be enough thickness left over to control pressure from inside the eye. Fluid in the eye creates this pressure, and presses against the cornea. When the pressure in the eye is not contained well enough, the cornea will bulge out. This creates a condition known as keratoconus, which will impair eyesight. Using a laser to create the corneal flap minimizes this concern.

The flap is created by the pulses from a femtolaser at a microscopic depth. Tiny bubbles are created on the epithelium, or surface, of the cornea by the laser. The bubbles loosen the connection between the cells, which makes it easier for the eye surgeon to create the flap. Thousands of these bubbles are created during the femtosecond laser treatment.

Types of Femtosecond Lasers

Since the approval of the first femtosecond laser, many others have followed. Some of the more popular FDA-approved femtosecond lasers are:

IntraLase
Wavelight FS200
Femto LDV
Femtec from Technolas

Advantages

Some of the many advantages of femtosecond laser surgery include:

A smoother surface for the laser is created using femtosecond laser, which is different from the back and forth movement done by a microkeratome
Femtosecond lasers allow people with thin corneas to have laser vision correction whereas traditional LASIK will not
Femtosecond lasers allow for precise customizing of the corneal flap due to its blade-free approach
Femtosecond laser patients have reported less trouble seeing in dim light conditions than those who have had other procedures
Some studies show femtosecond lasers create 20/20 vision conditions for more people than other methods

Read more about Traditional LASIK vs. Intralase.

Recovery after LASIK with Femtosecond Laser

Healing with femtosecond lasers may be faster in some cases than with other types of LASIK. You will use topical eye drops provided by your eye doctor that are an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic, and also keep your eyes moist. Your vision will show immediate improvement, but you may still be sensitive to bright light or have trouble reading for the first few days. This will pass. You will also return to your eye doctor several times for check-ups.

Learn more by reading What is Bladeless LASIK?

If you have been told you are not a candidate for LASIK, you may be a candidate for LASIK with a femtosecond laser. If you are interested in the LASIK procedure, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.