Blade Vs Bladeless Lasik Eye Surgery

By Author: Abhimanyu Singh
Total Articles: 5
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LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a type of eye surgery that is used to treat myopia (farsightedness), hyperopia (nearsightedness) or astigmatism. The surgery works to reshape the cornea, so when light enters the eye, it focuses on the retina properly. This allows for clearer vision. It gives people with less-than-perfect eyesight the chance to live a life free from prescription glasses and corrective lenses.

The procedure is customized as per the patient’s requirement. For correcting nearsightedness, the cornea is flattened; for farsightedness, the cornea is made steeper; and for astigmatism, a more normal shape gets applied to the cornea by smoothing any abnormal elements in the eye.

LASIK surgery is a two-step process – (i) Flap creation and (ii) Corneal reshaping. Anyone who has been wanting to get a LASIK eye surgery, and has been researching about it, may have definitely come across the issue of blade versus bladeless procedure.

Blade Lasik Surgery: In traditional LASIK eye surgery, a microkeratome (a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade) cuts a thin, hinged flap ...
... into the eye’s cornea. The flap is then lifted for application of laser energy that reshapes the eye for vision correction. Discomfort and pain during the surgery is minimal. Plus, the microkeratome’s extreme sharpness helps the corneal flap to fit perfectly back in place for the eye to heal.

Bladeless Lasik Surgery: In another and more recent technique, a femtosecond laser is used instead of a blade to correct the cornea. This method is often marketed as “bladeless” or “all laser” LASIK. Many surgeons prefer this technique as it grants more flexibility to plan and carry out a personally customized procedure for the patient.

After creating the flap using the blade or bladeless technique, i.e. outside the creation of the flap, both types of LASIK surgeries work the same way. The procedure is very similar, and both produce similar results. Even the preparation and aftercare instructions are the same for both types of LASIK.

The risks and safety elements are generally the same for both the blade and bladeless type of procedures. There may be temporary side-effects like pain or discomfort, blurry or hazy vision, poor night vision, light sensitivity, etc.

They are similar, but not same! Apart from the process discussed, there are certain other factors that differentiate both these types of surgeries.

1. Risk: In regard to microkeratome-created flaps (Blade Lasik), the risk for complications, such as detached flaps, is low but there is risk for flap thickness variation. On the other hand, in regard to femtosecond laser-created flaps, the risk of swelling is higher as compared to the blade type, because extra laser energy is applied to the cornea but there is no risk for flap thickness variation.

2. Comfort: Blade Lasik requires less suction, with most surgeons needing only three seconds, so it may be more comfortable than Bladeless Lasik. It also does not take as long to perform as the Bladeless version.

3. Post-Surgery Vision: In the Bladeless Lasik, the post-surgery vision is usually better compared to the blade type. Also, the incision is computer calibrated, so the precision is ensured. Most people never need a touch-up surgery.

4. Bladeless surgery is particularly well-suited to patients with particularly sensitive eyes or unusually refractive errors that need to be treated with immense precision. On the other hand, Blade Surgery is well-suited for people with Glaucoma.

5. Effectiveness: Both – blade and bladeless – LASIK surgeries are effective in improving the vision. But, being a bit advanced, the femtosecond laser creates better quality vision and fewer complications. Both are among the safest and most reliable elective surgeries available, providing patients with crystal clear vision for years – even decades after their procedures.

Final Words

Although the medical community appreciates the blade procedure for its comfort and speed, surgeons assess the overall visual and general health of the patient and helps them make the best decision.

Thus, traditional blade LASIK is cheaper, faster and more comfortable, while bladeless is safer, more precise and less risky. However, ultimately the choice depends upon the patient’s visual and general health, and also the surgeon’s skills and experience. The surgeon should be Lasik Surgery Specialist, and should have experience treating patients with the specific type of vision problem the patient has.

A consultation with an eye specialist is really the only way to get an understanding of which procedure is best for you. LASIK may be a common procedure today, but it is important to take each aspect of the process seriously.

Plan My Lasik offers latest treatments for Lasik, Smile and Contoura Vision Eye Surgery. We have 30 years of expertise and our laser machines are fully tested and approved. Our team of qualified ophthalmologists provides best treatment for Lasik Laser Operation in Delhi which has helped us gain recognition over years in Delhi-NCR in Lasik Laser Technology.