For some people who are seeking an alternative to the traditional LASIK incision (with blades) or who may be afraid to have a blade cut their cornea, there is good news. In the first of its kind in South Asia, state of the art LASIK machine, Intralase, is now available for the laser vision correction of eyes.

This new blade-free LASIK cuts the corneal flap (instead of a blade) using a computerised laser light before reshaping the corneal surface for easy surgery and recovery. IntraLase uses femtosecond laser for the creation of a corneal flap which is uniform and smoother than the flap created by a microkeratome.

The IntraLase Lasik Eye surgery method involves correcting and reshaping the surface of the cornea by the use of pulsated rays of laser delivered at a quadrillionth of a second each to a pre-programmed depth and position within the cornea. This helps in the creation of distinctive beveled-edge watery bubble flap that allows for smooth surgery and precise repositioning, alignment and seating of the corneal flap after lasik is completed.

Touted as one of the world’s most advanced lasik technologies, these days many people in the West are turning to such Intralase Lasik in order to enjoy clear and sharp vision.

The IntraLase method takes about 20 seconds per eye to cut the corneal flap, with the entire Lasik procedure often completed in both eyes in approximately 30 minutes. Patients see better immediately.

Traditional Lasik surgery, where flaps are cut, has depended on the strength of the cornea. This blade-free technique is made for patients who have steep, flat or thin corneas and not suited for traditional lasik surgery

The first batch of our patients underwent surgery uneventfully and all had excellent post-operative vision. With IntraLase, the procedure is much safer as it avoids the hand-held mechanical instrument (micro-keratome) to create corneal flaps .

And what’s more, the procedure costs a fraction of what a similar surgery will in the US. We have a steadily increasing number of patients from overseas. This is because we are able to provide excellent patient-care facilities and surgical results at one-fifth of the cost when compared to the US. In fact, of the first batch of patients who underwent IntraLase blade-free LASIK, two patients were from overseas.

Various clinical studies in the West have shown that the IntraLase method results in foremost visual outcomes and gives the highest degree of surgical control in treating corneal disorders.

So, blade-less LASIK is a reality now and is available in India!

The writer is Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight, New Delhi. Email: msachdev@bol.net.in