If you are interested in the best vision without glasses, please make an appointment for a short check or with Dr. Breyer in person and receive individual advice. By phone, e-mail or online via doctolib.de. We will also be happy to call you back. We look forward to hearing from you.
Laser eye surgery using femto-LASIK and the fastes lasers in the world
Femto-LASIK, also called “bladeless” LASIK, has been used since 2004. In 2007, the NASA approved this painless and even safer variation of LASIK for astronauts. The term Femto-LASIK is slightly misleading since the actual correction of the cornea is performed using the excimer laser with this laser eye surgery method as well. The femtosecond laser merely prepares the flap, i. e. the corneal lid. We use only the latest technology for your eyes: the new VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser (Zeiss) and the fastest excimer laser Schwind Amaris 1050RS.
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Femto-LASIK: safer than LASIK but still requiring a flap
As a first step during laser eye surgery using femto-LASIK or LASIK, the top layer of the cornea is opened circularly like a small lid and folded aside. This cornea lid is called flap. Whereas conventional LASIK uses a blade, a so-called microkeratoma, for forming the flap, femto-LASIK uses a femtosecond laser for doing so. This is achieved by the laser beam discharging its energy at an exactly defined depth of the cornea and many tiny bubbles being created within a determined area.
It is in this area only that, subsequently, the surgeon can detach a thin corneal lamella by gently cutting the tissue bridges between the gas bubbles. This technique does not only enable the surgeon to form a thinner flap, this bladeless cutting method also is safer. The complications of a mis-cut as they occur for LASIK are virtually neglectable. If the first “cut” using the femto laser is not perfect, it can be performed again immediately. The patient’s cornea is not damaged since the tiny bladders, caused by the femtosecond laser are absorbed by the cornea and the tissue grows together again.
Using Femto-LASIK, vision impairments can be corrected more accurately than with LASIK. Wavefront-guided methods are mainly suitable for the correction of an unfavorable laser result. Wavefront-optimized methods, however, are also suitable for the first surgery.
Area of application:
- Myopia up to -10.00 dpt
- Hyperopia up to +4 dpt
- Corneal curvature up to 5 dpt
Limit area:
- Myopia up to -10.00 dpt
- Hyperopia up to +4 dpt
- Corneal curvature up to 6 dpt
Painless: Femto-LASIK using VISUMAX 800 femtosecond laser
We only use the VISUMAX 800 device, the latest state-of-the-art femtosecond laser by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG for femto-LASIK, since this device offers most advantages. The facts that eye laser surgery using VisuMax is completely painless and no so-called “blackout” is caused as it is in the case of conventional LASIK count among the main arguments for many patients. While the corneal flap is prepared using VISUMAX 800, you will see a bright light. The blood flow through the retina is not interrupted. The shaped contact glass (see photo on the right) is considerably more comfortable than a suction ring and does not cause any bleeding into the conjunctiva.
The correction of ametropia using the excimer laser
LASIK is an abbreviation for “laser in situ keratomileusis”. This means a change in form inside the cornea made by the laser. In both methods, LASIK and femto-LASIK, this is performed in the same way, that is by light pulses of a computer-controlled excimer laser that vaporize individual areas of the exposed corneal surface. Modern scanning spot lasers such as Schwind Amaris 1050RS allow to give any desired shape to the corneal surface in a matter of seconds and with the accuracy of a micrometer. This is how ametropia can be corrected for myopia - depending on corneal thickness - up to -10 dpt, for hyperopia up to +4 dpt and for astigmatism up to 5 dpt. The only yet important difference between both methods is how the flap is created – manually with a blade (LASIK) or using a femtosecond laser (Femto-LASIK).
After the ametropia was corrected using the method of LASIK or femto-LASIK, the corneal lamella is replaced to its initial position. It closes up and does not require stitching.
Advantages of SMILE pro using VISUMAX 800 – Shortcomings of LASIK
SMILE pro
- Only a femtosecond laser is used
- Formed contact glass: no flattening of the cornea, no pressure increase
- No pain during and after the laser treatment
- The top corneal layer remains almost intact
- No flap, only a 2–4 mm cut
- Safer than (Femto-)LASIK
- Reduced risk of keratectasia compared to methods requiring a flap
- No risk of injuries due to external impact (e. g. accidents)
- Dry eyes rarely occur after the treatment
- Ideal for contact lens intolerance
- Vision result comparable to (Femto-)LASIK
- Barely any precautionary measures; sports and showering on the same day
- Putting on and taking off make-up is already allowed on the day of the surgery
Femto-LASIK
- Dry eyes up to 6 months after the procedure
- Bad for contact lens intolerance
- Light and glare effects
- Flap-related risks: shifting, detachment of the flap, flap creases, risk of injury due to external impact
- Risk of weakening of the cornea (keratectasia)
- Not suitable if the patient engages in contact sports
- Important: Please do not put on or remove make-up for two weeks after the surgery
