Ophthalmic Surgery

LASIK is the most commonly-performed interventional procedure to correct myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), and astigmatism. It relies on optimizing the refractive properties of the cornea by removing corneal tissue through photoablation using UV ns pulses from an excimer laser. LASIK involves the creation of a thin corneal flap to give the excimer laser pulses access to deeper corneal layers. The flap is closed back to its original position after photoablation, as the preservation of the surface epithelial layer accelerates recovery. Traditionally the flap has been created mechanically using specialized mechanical cutting tools called microkeratomes. However, in recent years, these microkeratomes have been widely replaced by clinically-approved "blade-less" devices, which utilize NIR fs laser pulses for the creation of the flap.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye causing vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or corneal refractive surgery like LASIK. Most cataracts are associated with the aging process. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers over time lead to the development of an opacification in the lens and loss of transparency, causing impairment of vision.

Recently, a number of fs lasers, similar to the lasers used to create the corneal flap in LASIK, has been approved by the FDA for use in cataract surgery performed in the United States. The main advantages are standardized corneal incisions, perfectly centered, round openings of the lens capsule (capsulorhexis), and lens nucleus fragmentation even in eyes with hard cataracts. Laser cataract surgery is relatively new and significantly increases cataract surgery cost, in part, due to the cost of the laser.

Please see our Ophthalmic Surgery application note for additional information.