FAQ

• Why IntraLASIK?
• How does IntraLASIK differ from traditional LASIK?
• Does IntraLASIK improve outcomes?
• Is IntraLASIK a safer procedure?
• Is traditional LASIK unsafe?
• Is Intralase™ new? How is Centre for Sight able to offer the procedure when others in the UK do not?
• How do VISUAL results of IntraLASIK compare with traditional Lasik?
• Is IntraLASIK more expensive?
• I have been recommended Centre for Sight by a friend who had traditional LASIK surgery by you and today enjoys better than 6/6 (20/20) vision. Why should I have IntraLASIK and pay more?

Why IntraLASIK?

Traditional LASIK is a good procedure. Our surgeons at Centre for Sight have performed thousands and thousands of procedures with traditional technology. While the risk of complications in their hands is minimal, any surgery carries some degree of risk. Now, an advanced laser technology is available the Intralase™ femtosecond laser that demonstrably increases the precision of LASIK surgery and reduces the risk of complications. Rather than using traditional keratomes that require careful cleaning sterilization and regular servicing, the IntraLASIK procedure uses disposable instruments on the eye further improving safety and minimizing risks of infection.

How does IntraLASIK differ from  traditional  LASIK?

LASIK surgery is a 2-step process. The cornea is the transparent dome-like structure that covers the iris and pupil of your eye. First, a flap of corneal tissue is prepared and then folded back. By creating a flap in the cornea, the surgeon is able to perform the laser vision correction treatment on the exposed central layer of the cornea. Traditionally, the surgeon creates the corneal flap with a hand-held mechanical device called a microkeratome, which utilizes a metal blade. While this method has performed well over the years, occasionally the device fails leading to a complication. The incidence of this is small and varies between once or twice in 1000 cases. Although LASIK complications are rare, the mechanical keratome is a major source of reported Lasik complications. With IntraLASIK, the surgeon uses the precision of a laser to create the corneal flap. The accuracy of the laser cutting the flap to within 10 one thousandths of a millimeter has not been matched by any other technology in vision correction surgery. This advanced technology enables the surgeon to perform even more accurate surgery, customizing the corneal flap thickness for each individual patient. Because of its consistent accuracy, IntraLASIK now makes it possible to treat many patients who were dismissed as candidates for laser vision correction due to thin or unusually shaped corneas.

Does IntraLASIK improve outcomes?

Apart from being more accurate, there is evidence that making predictable flaps improves predictability of outcome. Kezirian and colleagues compared Intralase™ to several traditional keratomes and concluded Intralase™ was safer and resulted in less induced astigmatism making for a more predictable outcome [See Ref 1 below].

Is IntraLASIK a  safer  procedure?

This has been the main thrust for use of this technology. Even though traditional Lasik in the right hands is a safe procedure, the use of the Laser improves safety further. Compare the superiority of a computer controlled laser versus a hand held microkeratome which uses a metal surgical blade. The precision of Intralase™ has been documented in studies and trials conducted for the FDA (United States of America) approval of the laser, where the accuracy of flap thickness was demonstrated at +/- 10 microns. This was reproduced recently by Binder et al who demonstrated accuracy of +/- 12 microns. Precise flap thickness is critical to a successful LASIK outcome, and Intralase™ - created flaps feature a consistent and uniform thickness from edge to edge. Binder has in his study demonstrated the accuracy and reproducibility of Intralase™ [See Ref 2 below]

Is traditional LASIK unsafe?

No, but IntraLASIK seems to reduce the risk of many complications reported with traditional LASIK. We feel this is important enough for us to acquire the technology and offer this to our patients

Is Intralase™ new? How is Centre for Sight able to offer the procedure when others in the UK do not?

This technology is not new and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (USA) since 2001. Between 2001 and 2005 over 400,000 procedures have been performed.

Centre for Sight based in an academic environment within the National Health Service is a reference centre for laser vision correction technology. Their surgeons are involved in the evaluation of new technologies and make decisions to acquire new devices based on evidence of improved safety and accuracy. The centre is a training centre for Bausch and Lomb and the surgeons are involved in training and education nationally and internationally. We acquired Intralase FS, for the benefit of our patients in terms of safety and visual outcomes. We are also able to use this technology to perform corneal transplants (in which we have special expertise) as well as implant Intacs and Ferrara intracorneal rings for keratoconus. The technology is very expensive (more than the Excimer laser for reshaping the cornea) and may be a reason why it is not more available in the UK.

How do VISUAL results of IntraLASIK compare with traditional Lasik?

In our experience, whilst the 6/6 (20/20 - “perfect vision”) rates are comparable to Traditional Blade Lasik, we have found that patients tend to get higher levels of vision even better than this with more patients getting 6/5 (20/15) and 6/4 (20/12.5) vision using a combination of Zyoptix TS with Intralase. See Results.

Is IntraLASIK more expensive?

Advanced technologies are usually more expensive and these costs are passed on to the patient.

We now offer interest free credit. Please contact us for details.

I have been recommended Centre for Sight by a friend who had traditional LASIK surgery by you and today enjoys better than 6/6 (20/20) vision. Why should I have IntraLASIK and pay more?

We at Centre for Sight have had a long history of excellent outcomes. Our medical director amongst the first in the UK to perform Lasik constantly evaluates new technology and is considered a key opinion leader internationally. We do believe this new technology provides additional and unparalleled safety further reducing the level of risk with regards flap creation and furthermore in only using disposables in flap creation reduces the very rare risk of infection. As practitioners who have your best interests in mind, safety is paramount. We have traditionally acquired any technology that we believe improves the safety of laser vision correction further. We have made the choice of Intralase™ technology at considerable cost as we do believe it is in your best interests. Our doctors will be more than happy to discuss these issues further with you

Given the choice - patients choose IntraLASIK : For the first two months after INTRALASE was installed at Centre for Sight, we offered either Traditional Blade LASIK or IntraLASIK. Although less expensive, NO patients chose the Blade procedure !!!

References

1. Kezirian GM, Stonecipher KG. J Cataract Refract Surg 2004; 30(4):804-11.

2. Binder PS. J Cataract Refract Surg 2004; 30(1):26-32.

Optician Magazine

Article authored by Centre for Sight medical Director, Published in Optician magazine, UK.