Laser eye surgery without the risks

A new technique that replaces a scalpel with a laser could mean that laser eye surgery is now safer than ever before.

A thin flap at the front of the cornea is created with the Intralase femtosecond laser. The flap is lifted and the shape of the cornea is altered using an Excimer laser.

With traditional LASIK, a flap is cut using a thin blade in a sophisticated machine called a microkeratome. IntraLASIK uses a revolutionary laser that is much safer and far more accurate. Instead of cutting, it separates a layer on the cornea and converts it into a flap.

The flap is then carefully lifted and the cornea reshaped with the Excimer laser and the flap is replaced.