A new study shows equal outcomes when comparing the 500 kHz Visumax and the 60kHz Intralase femtosecond laser for creating a LASIK flap.
In LASIK laser vision correction, there are two steps. First a LASIK flap is created and then the cornea is re-shaped with the excimer laser. Broadly speaking, there are two different technologies that are used for making LASIK flaps: mechanical microkeratomes and femtosecond lasers. In this blog, I am going to look at a new study that compared the performance of two different, but contemporary, femtosecond lasers for making the flap in LASIK laser eye surgery: the Intralasae and the Visumax systems.
The Intralase femtosecond laser uses a higher pressure to hold the eye. It is more difficult to center in specific situations, such as in patients with small eyes or eccentric pupils. The Visumax system, by contrast, uses lower pressure to hold the eye and is easier to center. The Intralase uses a slower laser pulse application of 60 kHz while the Visumax places its laser pulses at a much faster rate of 500 kHz. A recent study from the Singapore National Eye Centre directly compared these two femtosecond lasers to see if there was a difference in either efficacy, predictability, or safety. In this retrospective study, 362 eyes had flaps created with the Intralase laser and 381 eyes had flaps made with the Visumax.
Results showed no difference in safety, predictability, or efficacy. There was, however, a slightly higher rate of loss of the suction holding the eye during flap creation with the Visumax because of its lower suction force, but all these cases still had good outcomes.
In the end, both femtosecond laser systems for creating LASIK flaps appeared equally excellent.
See Also
Visual Outcomes Comparison of 2 Femtosecond Laser Platforms for LASIK
A study showing equal outcomes between 2 different femtosecond lasers for making LASIK flaps.
Bladeless Flap: Creating a LASIK Flap with Precision
All About Vision discussion of femtosecond laser LASIK flaps.
Femtosecond Lasers for LASIK Flap Creation: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology about using the femtosecond laser to make flaps in LASIK
Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Corneal Flap Cuts: Morphology, Accuracy, and Histopathology
A review of the characteristics of a corneal LASIK flap created using the femtosecond laser.
Making A Flap with the VisuMax Femtosecond Laser
A video showing flap creation with the VisuMax femtosecond laser.
IntraLase and LASIK: Risks and Complications
A review of Intralase LASIK (IntraLASIK) complications.