LASIK Surgery

in Nashville, Tennessee

Bladeless Lasik takes fear out of popular vision correction surgery
Carole Houser, RN


November 19, 2002
Flap Creation in LASIK Surgery
A Microkeratome Blade in Traditional Eye Surgery

For people with certain vision problems, Lasik surgery has become one of the most popular procedures available, and the latest technology might help even more people decide to take the dive and get Lasik.

Normally before a laser can correct your vision, a little blade has to do a little cutting first. That's called cutting the flap. If that doesn't sound nice, you'll like this latest development.

A little cutting device, much like a razor, is the first part of Lasik surgery. It's used to cut the flap. That part sometimes surprises and alarms patients. Dr. Ming Wang, who's used the knife for years says it is the touchiest part of Lasik.

"As you know, majority of vision threatening complications and majority of lawsuits in Lasik, come from this mechanical part the manual art of the procedure," said Dr. Wang.

Even Dr. Walter Buyanton, who knows success rates are extremely high, held off getting Lasik, because of the blade.

"Ah, a little bit reluctant to have that done I like the thought of the new bladeless surgery," said Dr. Buyanton.

Bladeless Lasik uses a new kind of laser to cut the flap. No knives involved. Buyanton says that amounts to less fear for him.

"Reduces basically the human error I believe and some of the thought of having the blade put to your eye, heh-heh," said Dr. Buyanton.

In Bladeless Lasik, the first laser beam passes through the top and vaporizes a tiny layer in the middle of the cornea -- spot, by spot, row by row. It all takes less than a minute and no risk of tearing, or infection. And, it's ten times more accurate than the blade. But how does it feel? We talked with Dr. Buyanton right after his 10 minute procedure.

"The first part of the procedure there was a little bit more pressure on each eye than I had anticipated, but that was less than a minute and the rest of it was a piece of cake," said Buyanton.



The Wang Vision Institute provides laser vision correction & LASIK eye surgery to patients in the Nashville, Tennessee area. This site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be medical advice. If you would like professional medical advice about any laser eye surgery procedure, schedule an appointment to join our next Free LASIK Seminar in Nashville, TN.