Clinical studies that have randomised patients to one eye with IntraLase LASIK and the fellow eye to microkeratome LASIK are the only scientifically valid way to compare the two techniques. These studies show that:
- More patients achieve 20/20 or better vision with IntraLase-initiated LASIK.
- Patients stating a preference preferred the post-operative vision of their IntraLase-treated eye 3-to-1 over their blade-treated eye.
- IntraLase creates fewer high- and low-order aberrations, associated with night glare and halos.
- IntraLase patients have a reduced incidence of post-operative dry eye symptoms.
- IntraLase patients required fewer enhancement procedures following LASIK.
- The precision of the IntraLase flap significantly reduces the incidence of post-operative induced astigmatism as compared to a microkeratome-created flap.