What is the different kinds of blade free lasik?

Answer 1

Originally LASIK was performed using a microkeratome which is an electric razor device to make the flap which is the first step in LASIK. Starting in 2000 several investigators began to research a new way of making flaps. This group included Lee Nordan, MD, Steve Slade, MD, and Jon Dishler, MD who performed the first cases in the United States for a company named Intralase using a femtosecond laser. This laser operated at 15 khz or 15,000 spots per second to make tiny perforations at a precise depth, thus separating the tissue and ending the requirement for the razor blade.
This technology has been improved over the years and now most of these lasers operate at 60khz or four times the speed. Intralase was purchased by AMO and they have recently introduced even newer modesl of the same technology.
In 2007, Dr. Dishler became an investigator for Zeiss/Meditec with a more advanced femtosecond laser called the Visumax. This laser operated at 200 khz when introduced and has been upgraded to 500kz which is a half million spots per second. Besides being very fast, this laser uses much lower energies and is more accurate than its predecessors. For this reason many doctors are moving to only offering the blade free approach for the benefit of their patients, even though this is a more expensive option.
Other lasers have also entered the field including the Zeimer, which is a hybrid between the mechanical delivery system and a femtolaser to replace the blade. This laser does not have all the features of the other systems mentioned but has gained in popularity.
Blade free LASIK involves using a femtosecond laser, and there are several on the market today. The most advanced system currently is offered by Zeiss/Meditec, and uses a naturally curved contact lens and a very precise focus ability. All of the blade free design lasers are an improvement over the older method of LASIK but there are still almost 50% of centers which do not offer this more modern and safer approach.