The All-Laser PerfectPulse™ LASIK system combines two advanced technologies to offer patients the highest quality of results with precision, safety and comfort. At Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center, we use the IntraLase femtosecond laser and the WaveLight® Allegretto Wave® Excimer laser, which utilizes advanced wavefront technology in each and every LASIK procedure. "Our patients appreciate the safety of IntraLase and the improved quality of vision from PerfectPulse Technology™," Dr. Alan L. Mitchell said.
The Allegretto Wave is the first excimer laser that can perform a customized LASIK procedure to provide each individual patient with their best possible results. Excimer lasers were approved by the FDA in 1995 and have since relieved millions of patients from their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. However, traditional excimer lasers perform the exact same procedure on all patients with the same optical prescription, despite differences in their individual eyes. With the introduction of wavefront-guided custom treatment in 2002, the LASIK procedure can now be customized to address the unique imperfections in each patient's optical pathway, allowing them to see with 20/20 vision or better!
Making the Corneal Flap
The first step in the LASIK procedure is the creation of a flap in the cornea in order to access and reshape its inner tissue. IntraLase technology allows Dr. Mitchell to create the corneal flap with a laser instead of a blade. The IntraLase femtosecond laser directs a laser beam into a tiny, two-micron-sized spot of energy, which safely passes through the outer layers of the cornea until it reaches its exact target within the cornea. The flap is then created in just a few seconds with the high-speed delivery of over 1 million laser pulses that separate the layers of corneal tissue for a completely customized flap.
With an unprecedented level of control, the IntraLase laser lets Dr. Mitchell adjust the thickness, size, orientation and location of the flap to perfectly match each patient's eye. The laser also makes LASIK possible for patients with thin corneas, who were previously at risk for complications from a flap created with a blade.
High Quality Vision
Once the flap has been successfully created with the IntraLase laser, the cornea is reshaped with the Allegretto Wave laser, the fastest excimer laser system in the world that corrects vision in less than 30 seconds! With a laser beam that is less than 1mm wide, Dr. Mitchell can sculpt the cornea with the utmost care and precision. The Allegretto Wave laser features PerfectPulse Technology, which ensures that every laser pulse is stable and delivers energy to its precise target location.
To further ensure the accuracy of the LASIK procedure, the Allegretto Wave laser also features an ultra-fast eye tracking system that follows the movement of the eye during the procedure to make sure the eye does not travel out of the range of treatment. In fact, treatment will pause if the eye moves out of range and will resume once it has moved back into position.
Patient Benefits of All-Laser LASIK
The All-Laser Perfect Pulse LASIK procedure performed with IntraLase and Allegretto Wave lasers nearly eliminates many of the complications associated with the traditional LASIK procedure by offering:
- a safer intraoperative procedure
- customized corneal flap creation, especially beneficial to patients with thin or abnormal corneas
- less worry about surgical complications
- reduced risk of unwanted side effects, such as nighttime glare and halos
- higher chance of achieving 20/20 or better vision
We made the investment in these advanced lasers in order to give our patients the results they deserve. The LASIK procedure is safe for most of our patients with this technology, letting a higher number of people enjoy improved vision, near and far.
Advantages of Using the IntraLase as Compared to Traditional LASIK
The following points are advantages that can be derived when you use the IntraLase instead of the traditional LASIK method:
- You will heal faster, and you will recover much quicker.
- The surgery will be more accurate, which makes better results possible.
- More and more patients have reported to achieve perfect 20/20 vision.
- Fewer patients are reported to have deteriorated vision.
- You will have better cornea flap cuts.
- The process is much safer because you are relying on lasers instead of blades.
- The cut will be cleaner which makes it less prone to infections and inflammations.