What Is Femto-LASIK?
Femto-LASIK is one of the procedures to correct near and far-sightedness and astigmatism. It is a form of LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) that doesn’t involve a blade to create an opening on the corneal surface, which is why Femto-LASIK is sometimes known as bladeless LASIK.
Instead of the blade, a femtosecond laser is used to create a small incision in the cornea to expose the eye, ready for the excimer laser to correct the refractive conditions of the eye. It does this by using very short pulses of energy in order to create the corneal flap, without causing any damage to the surrounding tissue. This clean cut also means that there is a reduced risk of complications during healing of the surgery.
Who Is Femto-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery For?
Femto-LASIK is best suited for adults aged 18 and over who find visual aids (glasses, varifocals or contact lenses) impractical. Patients must also have stable vision, which means there have been no changes in glasses or contact lens prescription in at least 12 months.
You may not be suitable for Femto-LASIK if you have previously undergone refractory surgeries or procedures.
The thickness of your cornea will be examined during your initial consultation to determine your suitability for the procedure.
LASIK Treatment Steps
Personal consultation
You’ll undergo a personal consultation, using wavefront analysis of the eye to create an individual image of the corneal surface. This allows us to decide if you’re suitable for Femto-LASIK and discuss your individual Femto-LASIK treatment.
Preliminary medical examination
The comprehensive preliminary examination and measurement of your eyes will take place before your treatment. You’ll receive a detailed explanation of the procedure by a specialist, and given aftercare instructions.
You should not wear soft contact lenses for at least one week, or hard contact lenses for at least two weeks before this appointment.
The Femto-LASIK treatment
You will receive anesthetic administered by eye drops.
The corneal flap is prepared with the femtosecond laser in a way that’s gentle on the tissue. The laser treats each eye individually, working with high precision and uniformity.
Based on the wavefront analysis, the excimer laser corrects your refractive error and models the cornea.
The flap is then folded back again. It is self-adhesive due to internal bonding forces, so there is no need for sutures.
On the day of your treatment, we recommend dressing comfortably and not driving yourself to the appointment. We suggest having someone drive for you, taking a cab or using public transport. You can eat and drink regularly, but you must avoid smoking.
It’s best to avoid wearing makeup and perfume and arriving to the appointment with a clean face.
After the treatment
You should avoid rubbing your eyes and continue to use the antibiotic eye drops as instructed by your surgeon. You may use lubricated eye drops, or ‘artificial tears’, as needed, depending on how comfortable your eyes feel.
We recommend avoiding any professional or sporting activities for three days following your procedure. You should also wait two weeks before using any pools or saunas. Avoid driving any cars or operating heavy machinery until your doctor confirms you’re ready to.
Femto-LASIK is an outpatient procedure. Recovery occurs over the following weeks, and you don’t need to wear an eye patch or bandages. You may feel like there’s something in your eyes immediately following the surgery, but this feeling will go down over the following hours, and eye drops will alleviate this feeling.
Immediately following the surgery, your vision may be blurry — but this is only temporary and will clear up over the following week while you use your antibiotic eyedrops.
Femto-LASIK surgery side effects
Common side effects of Femto-LASIK surgery include:
- Light sensitivity
- Halos and starbursts
- Dry eyes
- Sensations of a foreign body in the eye
- Infection
What Are The Other Risks of Femto-LASIK Surgery?
Like any eye surgery, there are some risks to Femto-LASIK surgery. However, these are minimal and can easily be treated by carefully following the aftercare procedures.
Femto-LASIK FAQs
Can myopia get worse after laser eye surgery?
In most cases, laser surgery provides correction, but myopia can continue to progress if surgery is performed too early (before vision stabilises). This is why we recommend waiting until your prescription has remained stable for at least two years before undergoing surgery.
Is there an age limit for laser eye surgery?
A minimum age of 18 years is required for laser eye treatment.
How long should my values be stable for laser treatment?
Your values should be stable for about one year before treatment. If in doubt, come to us and we will check your visual acuity conscientiously.