How does IntraLASIK work ?

The Cornea, a small area of transparent tissue at the front of the eye provides two-thirds of the focusing power. Altering its shape changes the focusing power of the eye. IntraLASIK laser eye surgery flattens the cornea for the correction of shortsightedness (Myopia) and steepens the cornea for correction of farsightedness (Hyperopia). Astigmatism is also corrected during the reshaping process.

With IntraLasik, the Surgeon creates an ultrathin corneal flap using the Intralase Femtosecond laser. This is usually about 100 microns (0.1mm) thick. A second laser, is used to reshape the cornea. The flap is then replaced and allowed to settle in place without stitches. With the flap in place, the eye is almost fooled into thinking that no surgical procedure has taken place and visual recovery is rapid. Patients examined 20 mins after the procedure can often see the visual driving standard or better !

SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

In the case of shortsightedness / myopia, the cornea is flattened once the Intralasik flap has been created and lifted. The Excimer laser ( Bausch & Lomb Z100 ) changes the shape using one of several algorithms Planoscan, Zyoptix Tissue savings , Zyoptix Wavefront or soon to be released Zyoptix Prolate. The suitability of each is highly individual and the best laser eye surgery options available will be discussed with you by your surgeon.

FARSIGHTEDNESS

For Farsightedness, the cornea is steepened by removing corneal tissue in the periphery of the cornea. There are presently two ways of reshaping the cornea for farsightedness : Planoscan and Zyoptix wavefront. Zyoptix Wavefront is suitable particularly in those with higher levels of farsightedness correction including astigmatism and those who have large pupils and night vision problems.The outcomes of Zyoptix wavefront for farsightedness in those suitable are remarkable.

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A Word about Presbyopia. As we get older (beyond the age of 40) the crystalline lens in our eye becomes larger and harder and less able to change shape.The lens is used to fine focus and enable us to read in earlier life.The ability to do this decreases over time and we then require reading glasses.

Presently Laser eye surgery does not correct presbyopia accurately and predictably and is not offered at Centre for Sight. However often patients in their 40s or older are able to read following laser eye surgery and this can be for many reasons, including mild residual shortsightedness or a multifocal cornea. Another option is Monovision or "Blended vision" where one eye (the non-dominant) is purposely made a little shortsighted to enable reading. We do offer this treatment in those who are already wearing Monovision contact lenses. We do not offer this routinely as patients often find monovision / blended vision difficult to get used to and often unhappy having one eye seeing very well at distance and the other (reading eye) blurred.

ASTIGMATISM

Yes Astigmatism can be treated with Intralasik laser eye surgery. Astigmatism Lasik or Intralasik is highly predictable especially when Iris Recognition technology using Zyoptix Wavefront is used to map the treatment onto the cornea. This results in more precise lasik astigmatism procedures with absolute accuracy of laser treatment delivery. To fully treat astigmatism, it is vital that the treatment is delivered in exactly the right angle and if the eye is rotated a few degrees the magnitude of correction can be reduced. Lasik astigmatism treatments can accomplish 6.0 D of correction. At Centre for Sight we have considerable experience treating patients who have in the past had corneal transplants and have high levels of astigmatism. Using our own developed Lasik astigmatism software we have successfully treated 12.0 D of astigmatism. These are obviously special cases, but demonstrate the expertise we have at Centre for Sight in dealing with those at the extreme of correction.

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