Why Undergo iLASIK?

Since the mid-nineties, when the American Food and Drug Administration approved the excimer laser for use in correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, millions of people have been liberated from their reliance on glasses and contact lenses by LASIK surgery. When performed by skilled, experienced surgeons, such as those of the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute serving Williston, ND, laser eye surgery - and LASIK in particular - has proven to be remarkably safe and dependable. Nevertheless, many people who might benefit from LASIK have been hesitant to undergo the procedure because of the stage in which a handheld blade called a microkeratome is used to create a flap in the outermost layer of the cornea. While this blade is capable of great precision, many of the most notable and publicized risks associated with LASIK revolve around complications with the corneal flap - complications that can often be traced back to the microkeratome.

Fortunately, for our patients in and around Williston, ND, iLASIK offers an innovative, highly successful alternative to traditional LASIK. Also known as “bladeless” LASIK, iLASIK uses the revolutionary IntraLase® laser to create the corneal flap with extraordinary precision. Indeed, the results made possible through this all-laser variation on LASIK surgery have been so consistently impressive that, for the first time in history, all branches of the United States military and NASA have begun to allow their personnel to undergo LASIK with the IntraLase® laser.

At Black Hills Regional Eye Institute, we can help you say goodbye to your glasses or contacts while you rest easy knowing that only the most advanced and precise laser technology is being used to treat your eyes. 

The Advantages of Bladeless LASIK

All surgical procedures carry with them some degree of inherent risk, and LASIK is no exception. The risk of complications with the corneal flap is certainly far lower when traditional LASIK is performed by an experienced surgeon; however, that risk still exists. The microkeratome is simply less precise than a computer-guided laser, increasing the chances of minute irregularities in the shape or depth of the flap. These irregularities can result in the failure of the flap to heal correctly or completely smoothly, leading to distorted vision in the patient.

With iLASIK, however, the risk of flap irregularities is dramatically reduced. The IntraLase® laser is guided by a detailed computer analysis of your eye to ensure that the corneal flap is neither too deep nor too shallow and that the edges of the flap are as straight and smooth as possible. Numbing drops are used to eliminate any possible discomfort from the surgery; most patients experience no more than slight pressure on the eyes during the procedure.

The Advantages of Custom LASIK

Once the corneal flap has been created with the IntraLase® laser, we use custom wavefront LASIK technology to correct the lower and higher order aberrations that affect your vision. With custom LASIK, a three-dimensional wavefront may is created for each eye; this map is used to guide the excimer laser as it reshapes the cornea. With custom LASIK, our surgeons achieve more accurate vision correction results than ever before.

At our laser eye surgery center serving Williston, ND, LASIK has always been a safe, effective surgery. With iLASIK, however, the chances of achieving crystal-clear, 20/20 or better vision are greater than ever before.

Learn More about iLASIK Today

Have you considered undergoing LASIK in the past but were hesitant due to the use of the microkeratome to create the corneal flap? Or are you just now investigating the procedure because you want to bid farewell to your glasses or contacts? Whatever the case, the team of eye care professionals at Black Hills Regional Eye Institute would love to hear from you and explain how you could benefit from the all-laser iLASIK procedure. Contact our laser eye surgery center for further information today.