View the Numbers

It is estimated that nearly 1.6 million laser vision correction procedures (LASIK and PRK) were performed in the United States in the year 2007. There are approximately 1,400 excimer laser systems currently operating in this country. While these figures may seem high, the number of people who have had laser vision correction surgery accounts for less than 4 percent of the vision care population.

Advancements

Over the past 15 years LASIK has had a steady rate of improvement based largely on advances in technology. Excimer lasers have seen dramatic improvement from 1st generation broad beam lasers which were slow and tissue damaging, to 4th generation lasers which are fast and tissue optimizing.

As important as these advances are, perhaps no step in LASIK has seen greater change than the creation of the fl ap. Originally, the flap was created using a mechanical microkeratome (surgical blade) which oscillated as it was advanced across the cornea. Because this step was an automated motion, the surgeon had little control over the depth and it was possible to have deep, shallow, incomplete, or amputated flaps. Perhaps more worrisome was a risk of some form of dry eye.

Six years ago the most impressive technological improvement in LASIK occurred with the advent of IntraLaseTM. IntraLaseTM is a surgical laser with incredible accuracy allowing the surgeon to make a very reproducible and safer, thin flap. Overnight, the incidence of post-LASIK dry eye and intraoperative flap errors were dramatically reduced. This laser took LASIK to a new and higher level of safety and accuracy.

Hoopes Vision is proud to announce the arrival, this August, of LASIK’s newest and improved version of IntraLaseTM called iFSTM. With iFSTM, surgical flaps are now created in 10 seconds equaling the speed of the blade… which up until now was the only remaining advantage of the microkeratome. Surgeons now have greater control in the dimensions of the flap. Of great anticipation is the ability to make an inverted edge, where the flap tucks under the surface of the cornea. Studies show that the inverted edge feature makes the flap 2.5 times stronger than the blade fl aps and 1.5 times stronger than the original IntraLase flaps. 1.

This will give the surgeon and patient greater peace of mind and less worry about future eye injury perhaps damaging an existing flap. Additional features include increased laser energy which allows for easier flap lift and less post operative inflammation as well as touch screen capabilities that help the surgeon center the flap on the eye with greater ease.Hoopes Vision patients have the reassurance that if there is newer, safer, and more advanced technology available, we will have it long before most other practices. Call Hoopes Vision at (801)568-0200 for a free surgical evaluation to see if this exciting new 5th generation IntraLaseTM laser is right for you.

1. Knorz MC, Vossmerbaeumer U. Comparison of flap adhesion strength with the Amadeus microkeratome and the IntraLase 150 kHz Femtosecond laser with different side cut configurations in rabbits. J Refract Surg. (In Press)

Article Updated:  August 10, 2009