All-Laser (Bladeless) LASIK Eye Surgery in Chicago

What is bladeless LASIK eye surgery

Bladeless LASIK, also known as blade-free or all-laser LASIK, is the most advanced way of performing LASIK surgery. Here at the Kraff Eye Institute, we utilize the Intralase Femtosecond Laser (iFS). The iFS, is a sophisticated laser that makes a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. The iFS allows Dr. Kraff to customize the dimensions of a flap for each individual patient. The edges of the flaps are smooth, as opposed to the edges of a flap made by a mechanical blade. LASER technology helps with precision and accuracy while minimizing the risk of an error or issue developing during the procedure.

How the Kraff Eye Institute can help with the all-laser procedure

Here at the Kraff Eye Institute, we’ve been performing all-laser LASIK since it was first approved by the FDA. The Intralase Femtosecond Laser, or iFS, is a highly sophisticated piece of technology that allows us to safely and effectively customize LASIK flaps for each individual patient. This technology allows us to adjust the perimeters and dimensions of a flap taking into account a patient’s specific structural characteristics. The iFS creates a pain-free experience that is over in less than 1 minute for each eye.

How Bladeless Laser Eye Surgery Works

The Consultation

The first step in determining if all-laser LASIK surgery is a safe treatment option for you is to come in for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. During this appointment, you will meet with a Refractive Counselor who will perform a series of screening measurements. Some of these measurements include taking photos of the surface of your corneas (corneal topographies), measuring the thickness of your corneas, and checking your corrected vision in glasses or contact lenses. The Refractive Counselor will then discuss the different treatment options that are available. Following that, you will meet with Dr. Kraff who will look over the measurements and let you know which option he feels is safest for you. Dr. Kraff will discuss risks and answer any questions you may have. The Refractive Counselor will go over pricing and financing options and help you look at dates and times to schedule surgery.

The Pre-Op Exam

The measurements gathered at a patient’s initial consult are meant only to be a screening evaluation to see if you fall within treatable perimeters for surgery. If you decide to move forward with surgery, and wear contact lenses, you will need to be out of your contacts anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks (sometimes longer) leading up to the final measurements and surgery. At your pre-op, a series of detailed measurements will be conducted to get an exact idea of your refractive error and dimensions of the corneas. You will also be dilated at this exam so that we can get a better look at the internal structures and health of your eyes. Dr. Kraff will examine your eyes and look over all measurements and confirm if surgery is still a safe treatment option for you. You will then meet with one of our surgical coordinators who will go over all the necessary information you will need for the day of surgery.

Surgery

On the day of surgery, you should plan on being in the office for about 2 hours and you’ll need a way of getting home without driving yourself. After collecting paperwork and payment, a patient will be given an oral sedative to help them relax. During the treatment, the patient will be given several sets of topical numbing drops to create a pain-free experience. The procedure itself is around 30 minutes, and the LASER portion to correct your vision is only a matter of seconds. Once completed, the patient will be brought into a recovery room where all their post-op instructions will be gone over. Dr. Kraff will take one final look at the eyes and then the patient is encouraged to go home and try to sleep as much as possible. The patient will need to follow up for a handful of visits within the first year to ensure that everything is healing according to plan. Most patients have a highly functioning vision within 24 hours from their surgery and can go back to most of their normal day-to-day activities.

Bladeless LASIK versus Traditional LASIK

Bladeless LASIK is a newer, more advanced way of creating a flap on the surface of the cornea. This is done by utilizing a LASER that is programmed with specific parameters for each individual patient. With Traditional LASIK, a small blade is inserted into a mechanical instrument known as a microkeratome or hansatome. The blade then moves in a specific pattern to create a flap on the cornea of the eye. LASER technology minimizes the risk of an error or mechanical issue developing during the actual procedure. Flaps created by a LASER are more precise and can heal better than those created by a blade.