Custom “all-laser” LASIK (i-LASIK)

Adopted from Dr. Soroudi’s Book: Advanced Refractive Surgery

Conceptually, LASIK is a very simple surgical procedure that involves two steps: cutting and lifting a small “contact lens-like” flap from a thin superficial layer of the cornea (about 100-120um in thickness), followed by reshaping of the underlying corneal tissue to correct the refractive error (near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism). It is here where a computer generated “wavefront” map of your eye is programmed into the laser to provide a “custom” treatment of all of your eyes visual imperfections. This “custom” treatment is intended to provide you with the best, most clear vision, without haloes, glare, or any other “higher order aberrations” that can cause imperfections in your vision. Needless to say, glasses and contacts do NOT correct such imperfections, so utilizing this technology, your vision will potentially be better than what you currently see with your glasses or contact lenses!

Higher Order Aberrations” that “Custom” LASIK surgery can eliminate

The LASIK “flap” can either be created with a mechanical device (called a microkeratome) or with another machine (called a femtosecond laser) that, instead of cutting the cornea, creates thousands of tiny bubbles inside the cornea, which separate the tissue and create a flap. In essence, BOTH machines “CUT” the Cornea, its just that one cuts with a blade, and the other cuts with tiny air-bubbles.

This technology allows Dr. Soroudi to customize his LASIK flaps’ shape, size, thickness and location, and provides his patients with a slightly higher level of security and predictability. Although heavily advertised and marketed, there have been over 100 studies that have shown no difference in visual outcomes between these two great technologies.

The intralase laser creates tiny bubbles within the Corneal Stroma at a pre-designated depth at a rate of 60,000 beats per second, and the edges of the formed (hinged) flap are carved using the same laser.

The LASIK Flap is gently lifted, which provides the laser access to the corneal tissue that needs to be reshaped to provide your eye with a perfect optical system. From this point on, there is no difference between LASIK surgery performed with a microkeratome or with a femptosecond laser.

A computer controlled excimer laser delivers overlapping pulses of cool ultraviolet light to the exposed corneal tissue, ablating or “evaporating” microscopic layers of the cornea.

Although Dr. Soroudi is certified and experienced to also utilize some of the other advanced excimer laser technologies around (e.g., the wavelight allegretto and the autonomous lasers), Dr. Soroudi posesses and utilizes the newest version of the VISX S4 “flying spot” laser with “iris registration” technology, which has the widest range of treatment options compared to any other laser platform around. This incredibly accurate machine performs CUSTOM treatment for Myopia, Hyperopia, as well as high Astigmatism. The VISX S4 even treats superficial corneal scars by “ablating” scars/opacities that may affect vision (this procedure is called Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK). Of note, this is the same laser used to perform LASIK on Dr. Soroudi’s own eyes.

Dr. Soroudi uses the intralase technology on the surface of the eye (cornea) to create a thin flap (like a small contact lens).

Dr. Soroudi then uses the excimer laser’s energy to reshape your cornea to allow it to focus perfectly.

Once the cornea is adequately reshaped, the flap is replaced and the body seals it shut.

Once the reshaping is done, the flap is folded back on the eye where it self-seals within seconds. The entire procedure takes approximately a minute per eye, and although your vision will improve immediately, it’ll be just about 20/20 (if not better) in a few days!