What is best lasik equipment?

Answer 1

If you ask 10 different doctors you will probably get 5 different answers to that question. Therefore keep in mind that this answer is personal and based on 15 years experience in LASIK technology, working as a LASIK consultant, and from one of the only doctors who ever developed a laser specifically for LASIK and had it FDA approved and then used it to treat thousands of patients (The Dishler Excimer Laser).

Currently I believe that the best excimer laser in the world is the MEL 80 made by Carl Zeiss Meditec. The reasons for this are many but in summary are based on three factors. First and most importantly are the results. As a clinical investigator for this company, and with using the product post approval it has produced the best clinical results (% of patients who see 20/20) of any laser I am familiar with. Second, it works by producing a custom optimized ablation pattern, which means it does not change the natural prolate shape of the eye as much as other laser systems which gives more natural vision and less distortions and greater satisfaction. Third, it is a robust system that is easy to calibrate, has dual eye trackers, and many features that make it technologically superior. My second favorite laser is the Wavelight Allegretto, which was designed by engineers/scientists who originally worked at Zeiss, and incorporates many of the same features. This laser is currently approved for a wider range of indications in the US market which is desirable.

The other part of LASIK is making the flap, and I believe that a femtosecond laser is essential for this critical part of the procedure. Many centers still use mechanical microkeratomes, but this is the part of the procedure where complications can occur and are much less likely with femtosecond technology. The original femtolaser is the Intralase and this is a reliable and good piece of equipment. Even better is a femtosecond laser also made by Zeiss called the VisuMax. The VisuMax runs at much lower energy, at a higher treatment rate, and treats the natural curvature of the eye rather than flattening it like most of the other femtolasers do. It has many other technological advances as well.

Therefore, my first choice is the combined workstation of the VisuMax and the Mel80 for LASIK and my second choice would be the Intralase and Allegretto combination.

Other lasers utilize older "broad beam" technology which has been improved but are not as advanced as the types described in this answer. Many doctors are very satisfied with their results, but there has been a trend in the last few years towards the types of systems described here.

My Answer

Traditional Lasik that uses handheld cutting tool (called microkeratome) is still popular among Lasik surgeons and continues to help thousands of people improve their eyesight. However, more sophisticated eye surgeons prefer using a special femtosecond laser to create corneal flaps during blade free Lasik (IntraLasik) due to the proved higher precision of this new technology. This modern technology allows the surgeon to analyze and get a detailed map of patient's eye optical system. My main point is that your surgeon's experience and skill level will be the most significant factors influencing your surgery outcome.