We know the decision to have LASIK surgery is a big one, so we take great care to determine what’s best for you as our patient. That’s why we offer blade-free LASIK treatment using IntraLase®. With the IntraLase, pulses of laser light create your corneal flap, which is then lifted so the next step of LASIK the reshaping of your cornea can be performed. When your LASIK treatment is over, the flap is securely repositioned into place.
This bladeless, computer-guided technology is safer and far more accurate than the mechanical microkeratomes (hand-held devices with a thin metal blade) that surgeons may also use to create a corneal flap. You will be amazed to discover a world without the hassle of contacts or glasses with your newly enhanced vision.
What Is Blade-free Lasik?
IntraLase has been used successfully on hundreds of thousands of patients eyes and we trust this advanced technology to deliver exceptional results. Our commitment is to provide you with the ultimate in comfort, safety, and outstanding vision. LASIK with IntraLase can help you achieve all of this while it delivers the added assurance of knowing you’re being treated with the most advanced technology there is.
Why Is Intralase® Preferred by Patients?
In a survey of clinical practices, the vision in the IntraLase-treated eye was preferred up to 3 to 1 by patients over the vision in the mechanical blade treated eye (among those who stated a preference). LASIK performed with IntraLase delivers superior visual results.
In a clinical study comparing the IntraLase laser to the leading microkeratome, more patients achieved 20/20 vision or better in standard and custom LASIK surgery when the IntraLase method was used to create the corneal flap.
Blade-free Lasik Eye Treatment
The superior accuracy of IntraLase allows certain patients who were ineligible for LASIK to now be able to have vision correction treatment. In addition to providing this refractive eye surgery, our practice also offers other forms of eye care, including helping patients seeking treatment for cataracts and glaucoma in Chicago.
How Does Intralase® Work?
Unlike mechanical instruments, IntraLase technology is uniquely able to program the dimensions of your flap based on what’s best for your eye. Then the IntraLase laser creates your flap from below the surface of the cornea without ever cutting it. The laser procedure involves:
- Ultra fast pulses of laser light position microscopic bubbles at a precise depth determined by our LASIK surgeon.
- The laser light passes harmlessly through your cornea. Then the laser creates rows of these bubbles just beneath your corneal surface as it moves back and forth across your eye in a uniform plane.
- Next, the IntraLase laser stacks bubbles around your corneal diameter to create the edges of your flap. These bubbles are stacked at an angle that is determined by your doctor and is individualized to the way your eye is shaped.
- The process takes only about 30 seconds from start to finish, it’s quiet and it’s comfortable.
- Your doctor then gently lifts the flap to allow for the second step of your LASIK treatment. When treatment is complete, the flap easily “locks” back into position and rapidly begins to heal.
What are the Benefits of Light-Adjustable Lenses?
There are several reasons to consider replacing a cataract-affected natural lens with a light-adjustable IOL. The procedure is no more complicated than receiving a standard or other premium intraocular lens. The primary difference is that you’ll need additional office visits after your cataract removal procedure. For this minor extra step, what you receive is the most customized, accurate vision that can be achieved. This IOL is unlikely to be associated with glares and halos around light sources, which enables you to retain optimal night vision after your cataract removal procedure.
What Conditions Do Light-Adjustable Lenses Treat?
This intraocular lens, used during cataract surgery, restores crisp, clear vision with the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Who is a Candidate for Light Adjustable Lenses?
Having cataracts and wanting to address a pre-existing vision problem is not enough to be a good candidate for the light-adjustable lens. Dr. Sondheimer will carefully assess your vision and also talk with you about your needs and goals pertaining to your vision and reliance on (or elimination of) eyeglasses or contact lenses. The light-adjustable lens has been devised to correct more significant cases of astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or more. During your consultation, it is important to be candid about your health history, including a history of retina problems or herpes, as well as medications you take, specifically any that have a risk of causing damage to the retina.
Can Both Eyes Be Treated at the Same Time?
Yes! For most patients, it is Dr. Sondheimer’s goal to treat both the left and right eye at the same time using IntraLase. Because the IntraLase procedure is relatively quick – 10 to 15 minutes – it is often recommended that patients treat both eyes in order to make their recovery process easier. While allowing both the left and right eye to heal at the same time, patients can expect improved vision in both eyes without having to wait for one eye to adjust slower than the other.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Results from the IntraLase procedure are permanent. While laser eye surgery does not prevent the eye from progressing over time, patients will still be able to enjoy their improved vision for several decades before possibly needing glasses or contacts again as their vision changes with age. If a patient completes their IntraLase® procedure in their 20s or 30s, it is normal to expect that by their late 40s, they may need glasses or contact lenses to keep their vision perfect.
Is There An Age Restriction on IntraLase Treatment?
While there is no upper age restriction on IntraLase treatment, most eye doctors will not perform laser eye surgery on patients younger than 18 years old. The most common age for patients who undergo laser eye treatment is between 20 and 40 years old. However, adult seniors may be eligible for IntraLase if their eyes are healthy and do not suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, keratoconus, corneal disease, dry eye syndrome, and amblyopia.
How Can I Prepare for My IntraLase Treatment?
Preparing for your IntraLase treatment ahead of time can allow for a smooth procedure and recovery. Before the day of your laser eye surgery appointment, consider planning the following several weeks in advance:
- Request time off work. Most patients need one full week to fully adjust to their new vision.
- Find a loved one to drive you to and from your appointment.
- Ensure your bedroom is a comfortable place, as sleeping through the night after your surgery is essential for a complete recovery.
- Avoid wearing makeup to lower the chances of bacteria entering the eye before your surgery.
What Are the Contraindications of IntraLase Treatment?
Contraindications of IntraLase include autoimmune conditions, abnormal corneal anatomy, autoimmune conditions, corneal edema, glaucoma, and keratoconus. It is also not recommended to undergo laser treatments while pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Makes Light Adjustable Lenses Different?
The primary difference between light-adjustable lenses and standard IOLs, even premium IOLs, is that the light-adjustable lens is not “powered” until after it is implanted in the eye. Other intraocular lenses are customized ahead of time using the most precise measurements of your eye. As accurate as these measurements may be, there is still a chance that corrected eyewear will be necessary for certain tasks. This risk is much lower with the light-adjustable lens because it is customized using light and the real-time shape of your eye.
Are Light Adjustable Lenses Safe?
Yes. Light-adjustable lenses carry about the same degree of risk as any other intraocular lens. This is because the primary risks are associated with the cataract surgery itself, and those are minimal. Keep in mind, however, that you must wear special eyeglasses at all times until your light-adjustable lenses have been fully customized.
I Have a Special Event to Attend in-between Light Treatments, Do I Really Have to Wear the UV-Blocking Glasses?
You really do have to continue to wear your UV-blocking glasses until your final light-adjusting session in our office. The shape of the light-adjustable lens is modified by ultraviolet light. This is found in the sunshine as well as in several different indoor sources. If you expose your lenses to any form of ultraviolet light, even after you’ve begun receiving your treatments to customize your vision, the accuracy of these sessions could be degraded. Your vision improvement could stall or go backward. The glasses that are worn indoors are clear, so they may look just like regular eyeglasses. Dark UV-blocking sunglasses must be put on before you go outside. If you have questions about this part of your treatment program, please do not hesitate to ask!
Schedule a Consultation
If you would like more information on the IntraLase vision correction for LASIK eye surgery, contact one of our North Suburban Chicago offices today! Call 847-677-2794 to schedule a consultation with our LASIK surgeon.
