Looking for an Alternative to Traditional LASIK? Blade-Free LASIK Boston

As LASIK technology advances, new approaches have found proven success and each offer a unique set of benefits to patients. By meeting with a board-certified surgeon, you can begin to learn more about which type of procedure is best for you,and how factors like lifestyle and your unique eye characteristics determine the best treatment. 

The highly trained specialists at Sheth-Horsley Eye Center, Drs. Nilesh M. Sheth and Robert Kupsc, perform blade-free LASIK for patients residing in Boston and surrounding communities and states, including New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut. To learn more about blade-free LASIK and our available refractive surgeries, or to schedule an appointment to determine which procedure is best for you, contact our Stoneham office today. 

How Does Blade-Free LASIK Differ From Traditional LASIK?

During the traditional LASIK procedure a microkeratome, or mechanical cutting tool, is used to make an incision in the outermost layer of the cornea. The surgeon then moves the "flap," a thin, circular piece of tissue, to the side, allowing access to the deeper layers of the cornea. During blade-free LASIK, also known as all-laser LASIK, a laser replaces the microkeratome during the creation of the corneal flap. 

Two types of lasers are used to perform this type or refractive surgery:

• Femtosecond laser: used to create the corneal flap that is lifted from the surface of the eye and replaced after reshaping of the cornea is complete
• Excimer laser: used to permanently reshape deeper, exposed layers of the cornea to refocus light on the retina and provide vision correction

IntraLase®, the first femtosecond laser used for blade-free LASIK, was introduced in 2001, and the procedure has enjoyed growing popularity since that time. zLASIK®, Femtec®, and VisuMax® are additional bladeless technologies that are becoming more widely incorporated in the field. 

Benefits of Blade-Free LASIK

Though traditional LASIK complications are extremely rare, notable benefits of the bladeless procedure have been observed. Incomplete or improperly formed corneal flaps have been linked with a higher instance to metal blades. These types of mistakes can cause permanent scars that may result in vision loss. The femtosecond laser, however, imparts no damage to surrounding tissue during cutting.

Am I a Good Candidate?

Blade-free LASIK is a suitable alternative for patients who have been deemed unfit candidates for traditional LASIK due to thin corneas. The femtosecond laser is able to create thinner corneal flaps than a microkeratome, offering a distinct advantage for a number of patients. A thorough examination at our office can determine whether blade-free LASIK is right for you. 

Learn More

At Sheth-Horsley Eye Center, our specialists' extensive experience in the successful implementation of refractive surgeries ensures you are resting in trusted hands. Our ongoing commitment, to improve and protect the precious resource of your eyesight, drives our focus on providing best in care services and flawless customer service from the moment you reach out to us. Fill out our online contact form to learn more about our available services, and schedule a consultation to learn more about what our vision correction surgeries can do for you.