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called "Thin Flap LASIK," "TF-LASIK,"
or even "MICRO-LASIK." In some cases,
there seems to be an effort to make patients think
this is a new procedure they have invented, different
from traditional LASIK. Some centers have even
made bold claims that this is a "safer"
way to do LASIK.
In fact, Dr.
Kawesch published an article in the scientific
journal Ophthalmology a few years back,
based on work he started in 1996, using thin (130
micron) flaps to treat patients with higher levels
of correction. Many other doctors over the past
5-10 years have varied intended flap thickness
with LASIK depending on a number of factors.
This is controversial--there
are definite advantages AND disadvantages to making
thinner flaps. In our practice, we decide on a
case-by-case basis what flap thickness to create,
depending on the patient's prescription, corneal
thickness, corneal curvature, and pupil size.
Dr. Kawesch has been doing this for YEARS--even
so, he does not claim to have invented the concept.
If we do consider it advantageous to create a
thin flap in a particular patient, we now offer
IntraLASE, an all-laser no-blade technology that
can predictably and controllably create thinner
flaps. There is less risk of a flap complication
when making a thin flap with IntraLASE compared
with using a traditional blade-based microkeratome.
Beware of "hype" in the marketplace...
 Click
here to read an article from Cataract & Refractive
Surgery which discusses the differences in thin
and thick LASIK flaps
Three
surgeons outline what is known about thin flaps
in EyeWorld news magazine
 Read
an article by Dr. Kawesch discussing the results
of LASIK for high myopia with the VISX Star Laser
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