Refractive Surgery Blog

In a recent report, the U.S. Navy has mandated that all pilots undergoing laser corrective surgery have it done with Wavefront-guided Technology and with the use of the IntraLase to create the corneal flap. This approach is also known as sub-Bowman's keratomileusis (SBK). I have been an advocate of exactly this surgical approach for the past year and have used it on 99% of all LASIK patients. In fact, I use identical equipment to that used on Navy pilots. The reasons for my recommending this approach is that I believe the risks of this procedure are greatly reduced and that the visual results are as good or better than those seen after traditional LASIK.

Navy Physicians found that Wavefront-guided LASIK with the IntraLase Method provided improved contrast sensitivity. They also found that femtosecond (IntraLase FS laser) flaps led to faster visual recovery and better contrast sensitivity compared with mechanical microkeratomes. In an evaluation of night driving vision, naval aviators who were treated with IntraLase plus wavefront-guided LASIK showed an above average improvement in performance.

The U.S. Navy now performs LASIK with a flap created by a femtosecond laser (IntraLase FS laser) and corrects the refractive error with a wavefront-guided ablation (VISX STAR S4 laser). IntraLase was awarded a contract from the Defense Logistics Agency for IntraLase FS lasers, procedures, maintenance and support for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal civilian agencies.



Stuart Lewis, MD

Labels: Intralasik