LASIK News
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Study: Method of flap creation doesn't affect LASIK visual outcomes
Aug 8, 2007
Everyone wants to see well after LASIK surgery. LASIK candidates and surgeons alike are interested in determining which surgical tools and techniques provide the best visual outcomes.
There's been much discussion regarding whether patients see better after an "all-laser" LASIK experience, where the corneal flap is created with an IntraLase femtosecond (FS) laser, or when they have a traditional LASIK procedure where the flap is created with a bladed, or "mechanical," microkeratome.
According to a recent Mayo Clinic College of Medicine study, there's no significant difference.
Study design
Twenty-one (21) patients received LASIK for myopia or myopic astigmatism, with one eye having the corneal flap created with an IntraLase FS laser (IntraLase Corp.) and the other eye having the flap created with a mechanical microkeratome (model: Bausch & Lomb Hansatome).
The patients were examined at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Key measurements included: corneal haze (backscattered light), visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. At the 3-month visit, patients were also asked which eye was seeing better (compared to the other).
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Results
There were no significant differences in visual acuity or contrast sensitivity between laser-flap eyes and the microkeratome-flap eyes at any of the post-operative exams.
Corneal haze was 6% greater in the laser-flap eyes at one month after surgery, but it did not produce a perceptible change in vision. There was no difference in corneal haze between the laser-flap eyes and the microkeratome-flap eyes at 3 months or 6 months after surgery.
When asked which eye was seeing better at 3 months after surgery:
5 patients preferred the laser-flap eye.
7 patients preferred the microkeratome-flap eye.
9 patients had no preference.
Conclusions
The researchers concluded that the method of flap creation during LASIK surgery did not affect visual outcomes during the first 6 months after surgery.
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Alcon to purchase laser vision correction rival WaveLight
Lasik University
Alcon, owner of the LADAR6000 laser platform for LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures, intends to acquire Germany-based rival WaveLight AG through a friendly takeover for about $90 million in cash, plus the assumption of about $30 million in WaveLight debt, according to Alcon.
The sale will enhance Alcon's position in the laser vision correction market and create the second-largest laser refractive surgery franchise in the world.
WaveLight's flagship product, the Allegretto Wave excimer laser operates at 400 Hz, or about four times faster than Alcon's competing LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. (Faster lasers make the LASIK experience shorter and thereby more comfortable for patients, and may improve outcomes.)
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At 400 Hz, WaveLight's Allegretto excimer laser offers the fastest ablation speed on the market today, according to a June 2007 report from Wachovia Capital Markets. Allegretto Wave has also been the fastest-growing excimer laser platform over the past two years, according to the report.
There are currently more than 800 Allegretto Wave lasers installed globally. The company also recently unveiled a new laser — not yet approved in the United States — that will operate 25% faster, at 500 Hz (500 laser pulses per second).
The acquisition of WaveLight may help Alcon recover LASIK and laser vision correction market share that it lost earlier this year when it was forced to recall a key feature of its LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. In May, Alcon deactivated two algorithms (computerized treatment programs) used on over 100 LADAR6000 excimer lasers because of errors in the ablation software that could produce corneal abnormalities known as central islands.
Alcon says it will continue to support its LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. Currently there are approximately 350 Alcon LADAR excimer lasers installed worldwide.
In 2006, Alcon reported total sales of $4.9 billion and net earnings of $1.3 billion.
Lasik University
Alcon, owner of the LADAR6000 laser platform for LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures, intends to acquire Germany-based rival WaveLight AG through a friendly takeover for about $90 million in cash, plus the assumption of about $30 million in WaveLight debt, according to Alcon.
The sale will enhance Alcon's position in the laser vision correction market and create the second-largest laser refractive surgery franchise in the world.
WaveLight's flagship product, the Allegretto Wave excimer laser operates at 400 Hz, or about four times faster than Alcon's competing LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. (Faster lasers make the LASIK experience shorter and thereby more comfortable for patients, and may improve outcomes.)
Lasik University
At 400 Hz, WaveLight's Allegretto excimer laser offers the fastest ablation speed on the market today, according to a June 2007 report from Wachovia Capital Markets. Allegretto Wave has also been the fastest-growing excimer laser platform over the past two years, according to the report.
There are currently more than 800 Allegretto Wave lasers installed globally. The company also recently unveiled a new laser — not yet approved in the United States — that will operate 25% faster, at 500 Hz (500 laser pulses per second).
The acquisition of WaveLight may help Alcon recover LASIK and laser vision correction market share that it lost earlier this year when it was forced to recall a key feature of its LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. In May, Alcon deactivated two algorithms (computerized treatment programs) used on over 100 LADAR6000 excimer lasers because of errors in the ablation software that could produce corneal abnormalities known as central islands.
Alcon says it will continue to support its LADAR6000 excimer laser platform. Currently there are approximately 350 Alcon LADAR excimer lasers installed worldwide.
In 2006, Alcon reported total sales of $4.9 billion and net earnings of $1.3 billion.
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