Wavelight FS 200

There are two steps in the LASIK procedure. Firstly, the surgeon creates a micro-thin corneal flap, which is lifted to expose the deeper cornea allowing the second step to be completed by the Excimer laser which smoothly reshapes the cornea to the required prescription.

With a femtosecond laser, the surgeon can precisely control the first step of LASIK using a computer-controlled laser (Wavelight FS200) that delivers rapid ultrashort pulses of energy (femtoseconds) to a pre-programmed depth and position within the cornea. Each pulse forms a microscopic bubble. As the femtosecond laser beam moves back and forth across the eye, the bubbles are connected to form a hinged corneal flap.

Just prior to vision correction, the flap is gently lifted to allow the Excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct the patient's focus. Because of the remarkably small spot size and the femtosecond precision, surgeons are able to design very accurate incisions at a pre-programmed depth within the cornea, without the risk of damaging surrounding tissue.

The flap diameter, shape, and thickness, and the position of the flap hinge, can be controlled by the surgeon with great precision.

The IntraLase FS laser introduced the concept of blade-free LASIK in 2001. More than 2,000,000 LASIK procedures have been performed using the femtosecond method worldwide since its introduction. There are now several competing technologies available to perform femtosecond laser surgery.

With its excellent safety profile, patient comfort and superior visual outcomes, LASIK with the femtosecond blade-free method is among the safest refractive surgical techniques.