Femtosecond-only laser vision correction available outside U.S.

Dublin, CA

-The first femtosecond-only method of laser vision correction is now able to be performed outside the United States after several years of clinical research and development, according to the manufacturer of the laser with which it is performed (VisuMax, Carl Zeiss Meditec).

“Because the entire procedure can be performed on one advanced system, we are able to deliver unprecedented workflow benefits to the practice,” said Ludwin Monz, chief executive officer of Carl Zeiss Meditec. “We believe that providing refractive surgeons with a range of flexible treatment approaches allows them to select the most appropriate set of technologies for their surgical settings.”

Collectively, the company refers to two procedures (Femtosecond Lamellar Extraction, or FLEx, and Small Incision Lamellar Extraction, or SMILE) by a brand name (ReLEx). The methods use laser cutting, as opposed to tissue ablation, and allow for flap sizes 0.5 to 1 mm larger in diameter than the optical zone. To date, the procedures have been performed on more than 1,000 eyes at a variety of locations outside of the United States.

The femtosecond laser used to perform these procedures is available for sale in the United States for the creation of a corneal flap in patients undergoing LASIK surgery or other treatment requiring lamellar resection of the cornea.