I am wondering what kind of safeguards there are within the laser if you move or your eye moves during surgery. My Dr. has both the B&L Tech 217 and the Visx 2. Do most lasers sense movement and automatically cut off and then tell the Dr. where to restart the procedure?

Greg -
You ask a very good question. There is a significant amount of "hype" about the B & L scanning laser. I believe a scanning laser is best only if it has a tracking system with it. At this time, the B & L does not have an FDA approved tracking system. It is up to the surgeon to try and keep the treatment centered with either the B & L or the Visx S2.

Interestingly, I am now using a Visx S3 which has an active tracking system in the x anbd y planes and passive tracking in the z plane. In this case, the laser locks onto the pupil which keeps the treatment centered. If the eye movement is too much such that the laser center, the laser shuts down to allow the surgeon to reinstruct the patient and recenter the treatment. I am VERY happy with this lastest improvement in the Visx platform.

Gary A. Varley, M.D.
Medical Director, Cincinnati Eye Institute Laser Center
Offices in Dayton and Cincinnati

Greg,

I use the Alcon LADARVision laser with an eyetracking system. It is one of the nicest refinements in LASIK surgery for both ophthalmologists and patients. The eye can literally quiver constantly and it makes no difference in the outcome for the patient.

Since performing LASIK with the eyetracking system in our LADARVision system, I would not do LASIK surgery without it.

Good luck,

Shannon Wong,MD
Austin Eye Clinic
Austin, TX