BLADELESS LASIK SURGERY

Blade Less Lasik or Total Laser Lasik is the latest in the world of refractive surgery. As ophthalmologists around India and South Asia are struggling to acquire it, we are proud to install a femtosecond laser [which is 1st in Gujarat and 2nd in the whole South Asia]. Yes, now Netradeep Eye Hospital, Rajkot is the place to be, for No-Blade Lasik or Total Laser Lasik.

In last few years, refractive laser surgery [c-lasik] has been has been proved to be safe and predictable and thus, it is the 2nd most commonly performed ophthalmic surgery. C-lasik involved 2 stages – 1st stage comprises of a mechanical microkeratome [which contains blade] to make the corneal flap and the 2nd stage consists of reshaping the cornea by excimer laser. This is a safe procedure but still has a few problems and all of these problems are related to the blade used in the microkeratome.

In this new technology, femtosecond laser is used to perform the work done by the blade used in the microkeratome, thus eliminating all the blade related complications.

This laser makes the flap within 30 seconds and it works with a precision of one trillionth of a second [10-15]. An infrared light of 1040 um wavelength is focused at a particular depth of cornea and at a very high frequency [more than 1 MHz]. This causes a fine cut at a very precise depth and thus, creates a fixed thickness flap. This procedure is fully computer controlled and is far better than any mechanical microkeratome.

More than 50% of American ophthalmologists have accepted this technique and it is also becoming popular in Europe.
With this technology, now lasik has become blade free and with that, all the blade related problems have gone. But the only disadvantage of this technique is its cost.

This laser machine costs 3,20,000 U.S.Dollars i.e; Rs.1.4 crore and the disposable consumables costs 150 U.S.Dollars [Rs. 8000] per patient. So, the normal cost of lasik which is Rs.25,000 at present, will climb up to Rs.50,000 for 2 eyes. But this is still reasonably cheaper if you compare the cost of same procedure in U.S.A [5000 U.S.Dollar], in Europe [4000 Euro] or in our capital New Delhi [Rs. 90,000].

The main benefit of this laser technique is its extreme safety, fast and clear visiual recovery, minimum night vision problems and minimum dryness. Apart from these, the best and the most important thing is that it maintains the corneal integrity in a better way.

In India, we get many thin corneas, the average corneal thickness being 519 um. Till date we had to refuse many patients for lasik because of their less corneal thickness, but now with the arrival of femtosecond laser, we will be able to perform lasik in those patients also.

Femto LDV has many advantages over traditional microkeratome, few of which are as under –

1. Flap related complications like free cap, button hole, incomplete flap, epithelial ingrowth are far less common with femto LDV.

2. Femto LDV gives a planner flap as compared to meniscus given by microkeratome. This is better for corneal integrity.

3. Very smooth bed – faster visual recovery, better vision and better contrast sensitivity due to least induced higher order aberrations.

4. Even in cases of a Bad flap, recut can be done on the same day, no need to wait for 3 months.

5. Less dry eye as less sensory fibers are cut.

6. Excellent flap thickness predictability – S.D.<5%.

7. Flap thickness independent of corneal thickness and K value.

So now, all the patients can have excellent quality vision post lasik without any risk of complications.