How Does iLASIK Work?

Our iLASIK procedure combines the technology of IntraLase (a 100% blade-free LASIK Flap Creation) and VISX Advanced CustomVue treatment, to give you the ultimate Individualized Laser Vision Correction. We call it 100% blade-free LASIK or all laser LASIK.

You are awake during the iLASIK procedure, but you are given medication to relax.
Your eyes will be numbed with drops, and aside from a little pressure, it is most likely you won't feel a thing during the iLASIK procedure.
Both eyes are treated during the same surgery and it generally takes about 10 minutes per eye.

iLASIK In 3 Simple Steps

Step 1:
Comprehensive Eye Assessment

We'll carry out a series of standard tests when you come in for the full eye examination to determine your suitability.

Before surgery, your eyes will be mapped using the WaveScan WaveFront System. Our WaveScan WaveFront System captures unique imperfections in your eyes while the Iris Registration reads the specific characteristics of the iris. Your visual irregularities are then displayed as a 3-D map, referred to as a wavefront map. Information contained in the map guides the excimer laser in customizing the treatment to reshape your eye's corneal surface so that these irregularities can be corrected.

Step 2:
Using Laser To Create Corneal Flaps

In iLASIK, we use the IntraLase FS (Femtosecond) Laser to create your corneal flaps. Other service providers will use the handheld microkeratome blade at this step. (You now have a choice to go blade-less because you have iLASIK).

The computer-guided, ultrafast laser virtually eliminates almost all of the most severe, sight-threatening LASIK complications related to microkeratomes (according to Daniel Durrie in "Randomized Prospective Clinical Study of LASIK: IntraLase Laser versus Mechanical Keratome" in the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, May 4, 2004).

The FS Laser also creates an optimal surface below the flap, allowing better visual outcomes. You'll be given numbing drops so you won't feel pain.

Step 3:
Using Laser for Wavefront-Guided Vision Correction

Once your corneal flaps are created, laser vision correction surgery can begin. The surgeon folds aside the flap and the computer-driven excimer laser begins to re-shape your cornea. The Advanced CustomVue procedure we use provides the most precise, accurate form of laser vision correction available today as it is completely computer-driven. Remember the WaveScan measurements which created the 3D map of your eyes before surgery? The data from the scanning is fed into the computer-guided excimer laser for custom-corrected vision treatment.

This highly advanced combination of LASIK technologies has been proven in extensive clinical trials to provide both excellent safety and outstanding visual outcomes - beyond 20/20 in many cases (based on Tanzer DJ & Schalhorn SC "Comparison of visual outcomes with femtosecond and mechanical microkeratomes for wavefront guided LASIK" presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, November 13, 2006, Las Vegas).

Wavefront technology has the potential to improve not only how much you can see, visual acuity measured by the standard 20/20 eye chart, but also how well you can see, in terms of contrast sensitivity and fine detail. This translates into a reduced risk of post-LASIK complications, such as glare, halos, and difficulty with night vision.