IntraLase®
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IntraLase Method™?
The IntraLase Method
is a 100% blade-free technique used to perform the
critical first step in the LASIK procedure: creating
the corneal flap. The creation of the corneal flap
prepares the eye for the second step of the LASIK
procedure, where an excimer laser is used on the inner
cornea to correct vision.
How does the
IntraLase Method work?
The IntraLase Method
uses tiny, rapid pulses of laser light to create your
corneal flap—instead of using a metal blade—during the
first step of LASIK. Each pulse of light passes
through the top layers of your cornea and forms a
microscopic bubble at a specific depth and position
within your eye that is determined by the doctor. The
IntraLase® laser moves back and forth across your eye,
creating a uniform layer of bubbles just beneath your
corneal surface.
Just prior to applying laser vision correction, the
doctor creates your corneal flap by gently separating
the tissue where these bubbles have formed. The
corneal flap is then folded back so the doctor can
perform the second step of your LASIK treatment.
What is the
difference between a corneal flap created with the
IntraLase Method and one created with a microkeratome?
The microkeratome is
a hand-held instrument, which contains a steel blade
that moves back and forth and creates a cut as it
travels across the cornea. A microkeratome is only
capable of making a single, one-dimensional cut across
the cornea. As it cuts, the blade oscillates back and
forth, which can leave an irregular surface after the
flap is lifted. This can affect the quality of your
postoperative vision.
Because of the unique
way in which the IntraLase Method creates a precisely
positioned layer of bubbles just beneath the surface
of your eye, it creates a smooth even surface after
your flap is lifted. With the IntraLase Method, a
blade never touches your eye.
How is the IntraLase
Method different from Epi-LASIK or photo-refractive
keratectomy (PRK)?
These procedures
differ from one another in the way they prepare the
surface of the cornea for the second step of LASIK.
Epi-LASIK uses an epikeratome—a blunt separator—to
make a superficial flap. Similarly, photo-refractive
keratectomy (PRK) is performed by gently scraping the
surface layer of the cornea, which may lead to corneal
scarring. Both the Epi-LASIK and PRK procedures can be
painful and require more postoperative medication. In
addition, healing times may be longer than with
procedures performed with the IntraLase Method.
Are there other
benefits to using the IntraLase Method?
There are several
benefits to using the IntraLase Method:
Better vision. More
patients in clinical trials achieved vision that was
20/20 or better when their LASIK procedure was
performed with the IntraLase Method. (1) And patients
report better quality of vision overall, particularly
in terms of their ability to see well in low light
such as at dusk or at night. (2) Ability to tailor the
procedure to your eye. The IntraLase Method gives your
doctor the ability to tailor the dimensions of your
corneal flap based on what’s best for your eye.
Everything from the diameter of your flap to the angle
of its edges can be precisely determined. This is
important because everyone’s eyes are shaped a little
differently. Having a corneal flap that’s
individualized to the patient contributes to excellent
postoperative outcomes. In addition, a corneal flap
created with the IntraLase Method also “locks” back
into position after the LASIK procedure is performed.
Is the IntraLase
Method painful?
Prior to creating the
flap, the doctor applies drops to numb the eye, and
then applies a special ring and an instrument that
gently flattens your cornea in preparation for the
IntraLase Method. This part of the process is not
painful—patients report feeling only slight pressure.
Is the IntraLase
Method safe?
More than 600,000
procedures have been performed safely and effectively
using the IntraLase Method.
How long does it
take to create a flap using the IntraLase Method?
The creation of the
flap itself takes only about 15-30 seconds per eye.
Including preparation time, the entire LASIK procedure
takes about 10 minutes.
What’s the reaction of patients who have experienced
the IntraLase Method?
In a clinical survey of LASIK patients who had their
corneal flaps created using a microkeratome in one eye
and the IntraLase Method in the other, the vision in
the IntraLase-treated eye was preferred 3-to-1 (among
those who stated a preference).(3)
Is the IntraLase
Method right for me?
If you are looking
for a 100% blade-free LASIK experience that virtually
eliminates almost all the most severe,
sight-threatening complications, the answer is yes.
But to get this procedure, you have to ask your
physician for the IntraLase Method™ by name.
For more information
visit
http://www.intralasefacts.com/
REFERENCES:
Tanzer DJ, Schallhorn SC, Brown MC, et al. Data on file,
IntraLase Corp. 2005.
Durrie D. Data on file, IntraLase Corp. 2005. Durrie DS.
Randomized prospective clinical study of LASIK:
IntraLase versus mechanical keratome. Subsets presented
at: Meeting of the International Society of Refractive
Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology;
November 14-15, 2003; Anaheim, Calif; American Society
of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium; May 1-5,
2004; San Diego, Calif; Refractive Surgery 2004:
International Refractive Surgery: Science and Practice;
October 22-23, 2004; New Orleans, La; American Society
of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium, April
15-20, 2005; Washington, DC. |
