Conventionally, LASIK was done using a blade, but these days, bladeless LASIK is gaining more popularity. How do the two differ? And which one will be an ideal choice for you?
Well! The major difference between the two types of LASIK eye surgeries is in the way the surgeon creates a flap in your eye.
If we leave flap creation aside, both the LASIK surgeries work the same way. Whether you choose traditional blade LASIK or modern blade-free LASIK, the procedure is quite similar.
The minor differences that exist are in safety and risk aspects. While one surgery may be suitable for a particular individual, the other surgery may be better for someone else.
The most significant factor is probably that both types of LASIK can deliver ideal results, although the recently introduced advanced LASIK technologies which typically do not use a blade are believed to give better outcomes.
LASIK Eye Surgery: The Basics
LASIK is a type of laser eye surgery. It is used to treat farsightedness (myopia), nearsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism (blurred distance and close vision).
The surgery reshapes your cornea so that light entering your eye properly focuses on the retina, allowing you to see clearly.
If you get LASIK of both eyes, it will likely take about 15 minutes. And guess what? Most patients report clear vision without spectacles or contacts within as little as 24 hours after the surgery. This is especially true for the newer blade-free LASIK surgery options.
How Does LASIK Procedure Work?
The procedure for both – blade LASIK and blade-free LASIK, is largely similar.
Here’s how it goes. Your surgeon puts numbing eye drops in your eyes to ensure you do not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Some patients may also be given medication for relaxation.
Next, the surgeon creates a flap in your cornea. For blade LASIK, they use a microkeratome. For the bladeless LASIK, a femtosecond laser is utilised. Either way, the corneal flap is very thin.
Following flap creation, your eye doctor moves the hinged flap back to gain access to the cornea. They remove some part of the corneal tissue with the help of an excimer laser – a highly specialised laser capable of removing tissue in microscopic amounts by utilising a cool UV light beam.This enables your surgeon to reshape your cornea with high precision.
- To treat myopia (nearsightedness), the cornea is flattened.
- For hyperopia (farsightedness), the cornea is made steeper.
- In case of astigmatism (blurred distance and close vision), the aim is to give the cornea a more normal shape – by smoothing corneal irregularities.
You can rest for some time after your LASIK. There may be some itching or burning, but it is temporary. Your doctor conducts a short post-operative eye check-up, following which you can go home.
Types of Bladed and Blade-Free LASIK Surgeries
LASIK with Blade
There is only one option, which is standard LASIK surgery. It is safe and effective. Outcomes may be as good as those with standard blade-free LASIK.
LASIK without Blade
Bladeless LASIK has a range of options – SMILE Pro, Contoura Vision, Contoura Gold, Wavelight Plus InnovEyes, Femto LASIK, PRK. All of these advanced LASIK eye surgeries are available at Sohana Eye Hospital, North India’s largest and most trusted specs removal centre. Depending on the outcomes of your eye tests and personal preferences, you can get one of them.
The Difference Between Blade and Bladeless LASIK
The difference between the two kinds of LASIK eye surgeries lies in the way the corneal flap is created.
Blade LASIK: It uses a microkeratome – a surgical tool with an oscillating blade. The oscillating blade helps the surgeon cut a thin hinged flap in the cornea.
Bladeless LASIK: It uses a femtosecond laser – a high-energy laser for creation of a corneal flap.
Similarities Between Blade and Bladeless LASIK
Once the flap is created, the rest of the LASIK surgery is the same in both the types.
- An excimer laser reshapes the cornea.
- Preparation for both is the same.
- Aftercare instructions are also the same.
It is just that standard bladed LASIK has been around for many years, while blade-free LASIK is a new advanced entrant in the field of vision correction surgeries.
Characteristics of Bladed LASIK:
- Low risk of complications, such as flap getting detached
- Carries risk of variation in thickness of flap
- Better for correcting errors from a previous LASIK surgery
- Needs less suction, so some people may find it more comfortable
- Better for glaucoma patients
Characteristics of Bladeless LASIK:
- Edema risk may be higher
- No variation in thickness of flap
- Better visual outcomes
- Lower risk of flap complications
- There may be temporary sensitivity to light
- Eliminates need for a touch-up surgery
Which LASIK Do Eye Specialists Prefer?
Both types of LASIK surgeries are believed to be safe and effective, but do ophthalmologists prefer one over the other? Well, the answer is – yes.
Many eye doctors advocate bladeless surgery because it offers several benefits for patients that are missing in bladed surgery:
- More predictable flap dimensions or flap may not be created at all
- Patients get better ability to see dark and light clearly (contrast sensitivity is better)
- Lower risk of post-op dryness in eyes
- Lower risk of problems like glare, halo issues, or diminished night vision
However, another factor on which the outcomes of any surgery hugely depend is – the surgeon’s experience and expertise with the modern techniques. A surgeon who has no or little experience with the bladeless eye technologies may not be able to deliver the desired results.
Since blade LASIK has been in use for quite a long time, more surgeons are familiar with it. It means they may be more confident of delivering better results with the conventional LASIK than the newer bladeless LASIK techniques.
If you aren’t clear about which LASIK to choose – bladed or bladeless, talk to your surgeon to know which one they would advise and the reasons behind the same. This will help you make your final decision.
Effectiveness: Blade vs. Bladeless LASIK
Both types of LASIK eye surgeries are known to effectively improve vision. The blade-free variant (done using femtosecond laser) is considered more precise, and gives better vision quality with fewer complications. Yet, the ideal choice for a patient depends on other factors too, such as their eye and overall health.
Studies reveal that the modern advanced blade-free LASIK may be a better choice for most people. Given that advanced LASIK vision correction surgeries, like SMILE Pro, offer lucrative benefits like 24-hour recovery along with being no blade, no injection, and no blade alternatives to traditional LASIK, bladeless LASIK eye techniques have become the popular choice of individuals who want to get freedom from their glasses.
Considering LASIK? Do consult a trusted eye specialist in Chandigarh, to know and understand your best option. The doctor will assess different factors to suggest which LASIK eye surgery you should opt for.
