The Wright Eye Center is the first facility in Southern Colorado using the bladeless flapmaker. Bladeless Lasik is the latest technological breakthrough in LASIK. For the first time in LASIK history we can perform an all laser, LASIK procedure. Laser Vision Correction is often associated solely with the Excimer laser, but there are actually two very important steps in correcting your vision:

1. Creating a very thin flap of tissue that is folded back during treatment.

2. Reshaping the exposed surface with the Excimer laser and replacing the flap.

Until now, the flap has been created with a mechanical, bladed device called a microkeratome. With the bladed style microkeratome there was an increased risk of complications such as corneal abrasions, irregular flaps, as well as button-hole flaps. The Bladeless Lasik procedure offers added safety for patients by eliminating the blade.

Some practices are not able to afford the IntraLase laser. Not only does the laser cost several hundred thousand dollars, but it requires a maintenance contract of $40,000 per year and the cost per usage is $125/eye compared to $50/eye for blade style technology (with no maintenance contract.) These represent strong financial disincentives to LASIK surgeons - keeping many from adopting the bladeless technology.

The Wright Eye Center has made this commitment because we believe that it puts us in a better position to give our patients the best possible vision.

Advantages of Bladeless Lasik

1. Increased Safety:

   Because there is no variability in blade quality with the Bladeless Lasik procedure, there is little or no risk of flap irregularities. The all laser approach allows Dr. Wright to design the flap specifically to your eyes and visual needs.

2. Increased Precision:
Bladeless Lasik offers the ability to create a flap of uniform thickness at a pre-programmed depth. The traditional style microkeratomes did not account for the curvature of the cornea and created a meniscus style flap, with the edges somewhat thicker than the center. Any variation in flap thickness will result in a variation of your visual outcome. Because we know exactly what depth the flap is being created, we are able to preserve the most corneal tissue following the procedure, leaving each patient with a stronger, more stable eye.

3. Less Post-Operative Pain
Bladeless Lasik is a less invasive procedure than traditional LASIK so patients are less likely to experience post-operative pain. With traditional LASIK, the flap is created with a device that was fashioned after a carpenter's plane. As it glided across the cornea it was possible to create an abrasion on the front of the eye. Patients experienced quite a bit of pain as this abrasion healed. With Bladeless Lasik, the laser passes through the cornea and creates small bubbles at a preprogrammed depth without applying friction to the front layer of the eye, a much more comfortable approach.

4. Better Visualization
With the IntraLase laser flap-making device, the cornea can be seen throughout the flap-making procedure, unlike microkeratomes, which block visualization while in use. With the blade-style microkeratome, the surgeon won't know a problem has occurred until the microkeratome is backed up - allowing visualization of the cornea. With the IntraLase laser, the cornea can be visualized throughout the procedure.

5. Better Centration
With IntraLase, the flap can be centered exactly on your line of sight. With mechanical microkeratomes this cannot be verified before the flap is made. In some cases the eye can rotate in the suction ring resulting in a de-centered flap. With the IntraLase, centration can be verified before the flap is made.

6. Less Chance of Possible Rescheduling Inconvenience
With both the IntraLase and blade style microkeratomes a suction ring is used to keep the eye perfectly still while the flap is being created. The suction ring is attached to the white part of the eye - called the sclera. If suction loss occurs, flap creation will be interrupted with both technologies.

The Bladeless Lasik Procedure

For more detailed information on IntraLASIK, please visit their website at www.intralase.com.