What is Femto 3D Balance?
Femto Lasik Balance is a technological improvement of the widely known Femto Lasik (or Femto Lasik Lite) procedure, which, during corneal smoothing, allows the laser to follow the distribution of the individual corneal shape and thickness in different regions of the cornea. According to the properties of the patient’s cornea, the thickness of the corneal flap is reduced. The corneal flap is formed during the first phase of the operation with the help of a laser without a knife, and then the surface under the flap is smoothed, taking into account topological characteristics. Exact corneal mapping occurs immediately before the operation, it includes the creation of a topological map and also the real light reaching the fundus of the eye is measured with the aberrometer. On the basis of investigations, the surgeon draws up an individual ablation profile. As a result, the surgeons can reduce irregular astigmatism and correct the post-operative vision more exactly.
What does the procedure look like?
Before the surgery, fresh topological investigations are performed and the results are entered into the laser. The femtosecond laser with 1020-1060 nm wavelength and ultra-short pulse duration (200-350 fs), which is controlled by a computer, is focused under the external surface of the cornea. Each laser pulse forms a bubble at a predetermined depth (90 or 100 micrometres). When a network of overlapping bubbles has been formed, it is possible to remove the upper corneal flap without trauma to surrounding tissues. Further corneal shaping with a laser to ensure the best visual acuity will follow the individual abrasion profile drawn up by the surgeon for the patient.
What is the advantage of the Femto Lasik Balance technology?
The Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems femtosecond solution used by us has been in global use since 2012. The advantage of this solution over others is the formation of overlapping bubbles. This excludes the possibility of connections between the corneal flap and the cornea itself. Other methods include the possibility of connections or “tissue bridges”, which lead to difficulties in drawing away the flap and more severe stress to the eye. The formation of the corneal flap is less traumatic due to the laser.
The new Balance technology allows the surgeon to reduce the vacuum time twice, which is required to hold the patient’s eye in place during the whole operation. Shorter vacuum time also keeps eye pressure more stable during the operation.
What are the advantages of Femto Lasik Balance over Femto Lasik Lite and LASIK methods?
Femtosecond LASIK Balance follows the individual topological corneal shape of each patient. The thickness of the formed flap is individual, also the thickness is as thin as possible in the entirety of the flap. The in-turned angle of the edge cut by Femto LASIK ensures a stronger flap compared to the ordinary Lasik procedure, it is also possible to change the attachment site of the flap - superior, nasal, temporal or inferior. Femto LASIK makes it possible to achieve better post-operative vision results in hyperopic or farsighted patients.
The operations are performed by surgeon Dr Kai Noor and Dr Inger Heleen Viikna.