Lasik Eye Correction

Which is safer? "Traditional" Lasik or All-Laser Lasik?

I have been researching Lasik eye correction, and some sites say that all-Laser Lasik isn't good because it creates "cavitation" bubbles in the corneal flap to expose the cornea. Which is safer - the traditional method that removes the corneal flap with a blade, or the laser method? What (if any) are the long-term ramifications of all-laser? Are there any "starlight" or reduced night-vision issues with all-laser, over and above the normal Lasik issues?

Public Comments

1. The all-laser LASIK (called INTRALASIK - INTRALASE is the name of the laser that creates the corneal flap) is more precise and safer than the blade. There are less flap complications with the INTRALASE - your surgeon should be able to tell you the risks between going with each depending on your corneal tissue thickness, shape of the cornea (flat, steep, normal), and the amount of correction. It is true that with the INTRALASE, it creates bubbles under the cornea. However, there should be at least a 10 minute break between cutting the flap with the INTRALASE and the laser treatment - which allows all the air bubbles to be eliminated. The blade is less painful surprisingly and is usually lower in costs. The pain you feel with the INTRALASE is minor - a little tearing/burning like when cutting onions. The blade - most patients say have little or no pain There are no long term effects of going with the INTRALASE. Starbursts/Halos are reduced by going with the Wavefront or Custom-Cornea treatment as opposed to the Traditional LASIK.