 Eye Institute first in Australasia with
new corneal and refractive laser
The new 5th generation IntraLase femtosecond technology, the iFS Advanced Femtosecond Laser system from Abbott Medical Optics (AMO), has found a new home at Eye Institute, and is the first in New Zealand and Australia.
This new laser, combined with the iLASIK technology suite, provides the refractive surgeons, Drs Trevor Gray, Peter Ring, Tony Morris and Adam Watson, at Eye Institute with the most advanced technologies to give their patients the safest and best outcomes.
The iFS, which is part of AMO’s complete refractive solution,
is capable of creating a corneal flap during the LASIK procedure
in less than 10 seconds. It can produce a unique inverted bevelin
side cut angle designed to provide a virtually effortless flap
lift, increase post-operative flap adhesion and enhance the
biomechanical stability of the post-LASIK cornea – all of which
further add to patient safety.
With full customisation capabilities, it also produces an
elliptical flap to enhance surgical options and IntraLase-Enabled
Keratoplasty (IEK).
“The iFS Laser takes refractive surgery, and more specifically,
LASIK flap creation, to a whole new standard of safety, speed
and control,” explains Dr Adam Watson. “It's designed to deliver
biomechanically engineered flaps that can be customised for every
individual cornea, and includes comprehensive IEK and ringchannel
formation capabilities.”
A remarkable feature of the new iFS is the proprietary inverted
bevel-in side cut.
“With the 4th generation IntraLase the side cut was only
programmable from the ranges of 30°- 90°,” said Dr Watson. “Now
with the new iFS you have the option of programming the side
cut angle up to 150°. It has been shown that this new bevel-in
side cut provides LASIK flaps with greater resistance to traumatic
dislocation.”
The benefits to having a bevel-in side cut are better wound
healing for the best biomechanical stability of the post LASIK
cornea; increased flap adhesion post-operatively for optimal
wound healing; virtually effortless flap lift, replacement, and
positioning for optimal flap stability; and significantly reduced
flap gutter.
Additional features include a higher repetition rate, tighter spot
separation and therefore lower energy.
“The new advanced iFS is 2.5x faster than our 4th generation
laser and most impressively, it can create flaps at an
unprecedented speed of approximately 10 seconds,” said Dr Tony
Morris. “The higher repetition rate allows for lower energy which
provides a tighter spot separation, 2.0 - 8.0 microns with the new
iFS compared to the 4th generation 4.0 - 10.0 microns therefore
allowing for greater ease in flap lifting.
“Furthermore stromal bed smoothness with femtosecond lasers can also
be attributed to the pulse energy used. The lower the
amount of energy produced by the laser equates to a
smoother stromal bed and may provide less chance of
tissue inflammation.”
Also part of the iFS package is a high resolution digital video
microscope, new contemporary user interface, keyboard and touch
screen and an ergonomic design for maximum surgeon comfort.
"It's exciting to be able to bring this technology to New Zealand,”
enthuses Dr Peter Ring. “The benefits are many, not just in
improved safety and outcomes in LASIK but for new approaches to
corneal transplant surgery and the better visual outcomes that the
iFS laser may help us provide."
"The iFS laser builds upon an eight-year history of innovation
and more than two million IntraLase femtosecond procedures
performed worldwide," said AMO Chairman and CEO Jim Mazzo.
"This technology is an integral part of AMO's proprietary iLASIK
technology suite and a tangible example of our commitment
to not only maintain a substantial advantage over competing
systems, but also to provide technologies that advance the
standard of vision care medically."
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