What Are The Advantages of a Laser Corneal Flap Over a Microkeratome Blade Flap?
There are MANY: 1) Similar to the excimer laser that reshapes the cornea, the laser corneal flap is under computerized laser control. Flap position, size, shape, depth and hinge location and width can be programmed with unprecedented accuracy and safety. 2) Flap thickness is reproducible to within 10-15 microns with laser generated flaps versus 30-40 microns or more with microkeratomes. This is critical in some patients with thin corneas. 3) Flap created with a femtosecond laser. 4) Laser flap formation is more comfortable and predictable. Patients with corneas that are too small, flat, steep, or thin for conventional LASIK with a metal blade microkeratome may be candidates for IntraLASIK with the femtosecond laser. 5) Laser flaps are planar shaped (same thickness throughout) whereas metal blade flaps are meniscus shaped (thicker at the edges and thinner in the center). Planar flaps are tighter fitting and are less likely to shift, develop wrinkles or incur surface tissue (epithelial)
Related Questions
- Boxer Wachler, what are the advantages of modern microkeratomes (blade) compared with IntraLase (laser) as LASIK flap makers?
- What is the difference between a corneal flap created with the IntraLase Method and one created with a microkeratome?
- Does the IntraLase create a more precise and uniform flap than the microkeratome (blade)?
