LASIK eye surgery technology
Author: Sherman Winston Reeves, M.D., M.P.H.
VISX Star 4®
The VISX STAR® platform is a very well known and respected excimer laser system. The STAR S4 from VISX has taken that reputation to an even higher level. This most recent excimer laser system represents the most advanced laser technology platform available today. Integrating data collected by the WaveScan WaveFront System, the STAR S4 utilizes these exclusive VISX technoloies to deliver precision custom ablations.
The Pentacam®
The Pentacam is a revolutionary diagnostic tool that assists refractive surgeons with analyzing a prospective the cornea. The Pentacam images the anterior segment of the eye by a rotating camera measurement known as Scheimpflug. This rotating camera supplies pictures in three dimensions. The end result is that the center of the cornea is measured very precisely. For more information visit – www.oculususa.com
Topographic analysis of the corneal front and back surfaces is based on the true elevation measurement from limbus to limbus. Comparison of pre-op and post-op topographies is easy. Both corneal surfaces can be selected for analysis in axial (sagittal) , tangential or elevation representation modes.
The Bausch & Lomb Technolas® 217z Zyoptix™
You may know of the quality reputation of Bausch & Lomb. This company has been on the forefront of vision care for years and continues to push the filter with an excellent excimer laser. The Bausch & Lomb Technolas® 217z Zyoptix™ System for Personalized Laser Vision Correction is the world's leading excimer laser for personalized vision correction. Its innovative "flying spot" technology produces an extremely smooth corneal surface.
NIDEK's Excimer Laser EC-5000CX Series
This is also an excimer laser and is designed to reshape the cornea for PRK/LASIK to reduce or eliminate myopia/hyperopia with or without astigmatism, and PTK. The features include an innovative scanning technology to realize a uniform ablated surface with the highest precision.
Allegretto Wave®
The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Excimer Laser, is the only laser developed specifically for custom LASIK by the Wavefront pioneer WaveLight Laser Technologie AG in Germany. The Allegretto Wave provides superior clinical results, with the speed and precision necessary to take advantage of the promise of Wavefront technology.
Expanding the possibilities of the refractive laser, the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® incorporates features witch ensure speed and precision in spherical , astigmatic and customized correction.
The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Excimer Laser brings new capabilities to the refractive surgeon, including the ability to correct higher order aberrations. The smaller diameter of the laser treatment beam combined with high-speed scanning capability allows for the correction of spherocylindrical refractive errors and higher order aberrations in a single step.
The Orbscan®
The Orbscan® is an advanced diagnostic device that quickly and painlessly measures the thickness and shape of both the front and back surfaces of the cornea, providing a three-dimensional map of the complete corneal structure. This diagnoistic evaluation used to be the best method for measuriung and analyzing the cornea for LASIK eye surgery but with the advent of Pentacam we have another excellent diagnostic device. The orbscan process is an essential step for analyzing irregularities of the cornea. As you might understand from reading about LASIK on this website the cornea is critical to the success of LASIK.
The LADARVision® System
The LADARVision® system, manufactured by Alcon is proven to deliver customized LASIK results, which traditional LASIK can't match. This system like the VISX Wavescan and the Bausch and Lomb Zyoptix utilizes the latest in wavefront technology
The system is comprised of three major components:
- The The LADARVision® system wavefront system lets your doctor create a three-dimensional map of your unique visual distortions.
- Powered by technology designed for NASA, the The LADARVision® system Eye Tracking device ensures accurate placement of thesmall spot laser beam
- The The LADARVision® system excimer laser precisely removes targeted tissue and reshapes your cornea.
Intralase (ALL-Laser LASIK)
The IntraLase, also known as Intralasik is a bladeless method for creating the corneal flap that is imperative to the LASIK procedure. Traditionally this flap was made with a microkeratome blade. With the IntraLase Method, LASIK is not only 100% blade-free, but safer than ever and able to provide more patients with vision that is 20/20 or better. Intralase has some clear advantages and should be considered by each patient that is analyzing the LASIK procedure.
The IntraLase System essentially eliminates the need for a surgeon to use a blade. Instead, this computer-controlled laser technology works by using a laser to develop the much needed corneal flap. This system will move back and forth across the eye, forming a corneal flap. Once the flap has been created the surgeon lifts the flap and then performs the LASIK procedure using the excimer laser.
The revolutionary NEW ALL-LASER LASIK Flapmaker
Z-LASIK by Ziemer
The advancements in Laser Vision correction have been truly amazing. LASIK, laser vision correction is by far the most common type of refractive surgery. In an effort to make LASIK safer Ziemer Company has created a new ALL-LASER flap maker. They call this system Z-LASIK. This is a technologically advanced system that makes flaps without a microkeratome like the previously mentioned Intralase.
Z-LASIK is a LASIK procedure performed with the Ziemer FEMTO LDV Femtosecond Surgical Laser in conjunction with any one of the leading excimer lasers. With the combined use of state of-the-art lasers and diagnostic equipment, Z-LASIK provides the best currently available treatment for superior vision correction.
Z-LASIK is a completely different treatment in fundamental ways. Ziemer's FEMTO LDV is not just another femtosecond laser, similar to Intralase, Femtec, or Zeiss. Compared to these conventional femtolasers, the FEMTO LDV operates at pulse rates that are orders of magnitude higher, pulse energies that are much lower, and delivery optics that are very tightly focused for maximum tissue disruption in the focal spot and no thermal or radiation effects to the surrounding tissue. Unlike other femtolaser-based treatments, Z-LASIK is a highly integrated procedure, giving surgical teams a time-efficient workflow.
