Lasik method by Doci Innovations: correction of vision with minimal injury to the cornea
LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis) is the most common laser eye surgery treatment and is applied for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Therefore, so – called femtosecond lasers are used: a laser whose light duration lies in the femtosecond range.
In a conventional method of the laser surgery, the laser firstly cuts the cornea in a circular segment of approximately 270 °. The surgeon turns the emerging corneal flap down and performs the actual correction inside of the cornea. Subsequently, the corneal flap is folded back. However, this method of treatment bears a risk. It often leads to unpleasant side effects such as photosensitivity, parasitic reflection in bright light or conjunctival irritation.
So far, it has not been possible to modify the cornea without cutting it open. A specific ablation of tissue in a lower-lying area of the cornea is difficult to perform with a femtosecond laser. To make this possible and to carry out the correction of vision with only minimal injury to the cornea surface, Doci Innovations has developed a new process. Thereto, laser beams are used, which are divided by a rotating half-mirror.
The surgeon directs the laser beam to the area of the cornea, which is to be treated. He doses the laser in a way, so that only the area, where several beams meet, receives the amount of energy required for the treatment. By rotating and changing the angle of incidence of the laser, the corresponding area of the cornea is removed. The surrounding tissue remains undamaged.
Thus, the inner area of the cornea can be processed with a minimal incision at the temporal cornea end. The incision is only required for the rejection of the ablated tissue.
This method was applied as a patent in 2008, but was released for general use on several requests from colleagues