All-Laser iLASIK Technology
Since LASIK became a household word in the late 90s, advances in technology have exceeded all expectations. In fact, the field of laser vision correction is one of the most rapidly evolved fields of medicine, with some of the lasers themselves becoming almost household words.
Intralase and VisX are two names you have probably heard, for good reason; these have become the lasers of choice for almost two-thirds of US LASIK surgeons.
The Intralase system means all-laser LASIK, or iLASIK, and is used for the first step of the procedure. In the early days of LASIK, an instrument called a microkeratome, a hand-held spinning razor blade, was used to create the corneal flap. With all-laser iLASIK this step is performed with a special laser called IntraLase which creates a thinner and more precise flap that enables the tissue to heal much faster and with greater strength. iLASIK also permits more people to have LASIK as it resolves some issues the microkeratome was unable to address.
