Posted by: Clear Advantage in LASIK on December 5, 2025

Today’s LASIK procedures utilize advanced laser technology and computer-guided precision, making them safer, faster, and more effective than ever. With features such as bladeless flap creation, real-time eye tracking, and ultra-fast lasers, modern LASIK can provide personalized vision correction while significantly reducing the risk of complications.

Keep reading to learn about the specific innovations that make modern LASIK at Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center a fundamentally different experience from earlier versions of the procedure.

What Has Changed Since Early LASIK?

LASIK essentially works by creating a small flap in the surface layer of your cornea, called the epithelium, then folding it back to access and reshape the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser. This process corrects refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and allows the flap to act as a natural bandage for the eye as it heals.

Traditional LASIK used a mechanical device called a microkeratome, which featured a precise blade to create the corneal flap. While this approach produced good results for many patients, the mechanical nature of the device meant there was a higher possibility of flap-related complications.

The introduction of femtosecond laser technology changed everything. Instead of using a blade, modern LASIK uses a laser that creates millions of microscopic air bubbles in precise layers within the cornea.

These overlapping bubbles form a uniform flap that your eye surgeon can gently lift to reshape your cornea and correct your refractive errors. The laser-created flap is more predictable in thickness and produces a smoother surface for the excimer laser to work on.

Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center was the first practice in Northern New England to offer bladeless LASIK. The safety advantages were so significant that the practice now exclusively performs bladeless procedures. This commitment to the most advanced technology reflects a broader shift in the field, where bladeless techniques have become the standard of care at leading practices.

How Bladeless LASIK Works

Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center offers bladeless LASIK with the DaVinci femtosecond laser and the ZEISS MEL 80 excimer laser:

DaVinci Femtosecond Laser

This laser operates at incredibly high speeds, measured in femtoseconds (that’s a quadrillionth of a second). During treatment, the laser moves back and forth over your eye, creating about two million tiny bubbles arranged in rows. These bubbles link together to form the corneal flap, which your surgeon then gently lifts using a specialized instrument.

This process gives your surgeon significantly more control over the flap’s dimensions and shape compared to mechanical methods, allowing for customization tailored to your specific eye anatomy. The enhanced safety record and efficiency of femtosecond lasers have earned modern LASIK an incredible reputation over recent years.

For example, NASA has approved bladeless LASIK for astronauts, who work under physically demanding conditions in space. Similarly, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps all strongly recommend LASIK with femtosecond laser technology for their personnel.

ZEISS MEL 80 Excimer Laser

After the DaVinci femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap, your LASIK surgeon will use the ZEISS MEL 80 excimer laser to reshape your cornea and correct your refractive errors. What sets this laser apart from its predecessors is its incredible speed, precision, and safety.

It includes an ultra-fast infrared eye tracker that monitors your eye position continuously throughout the procedure, automatically adjusting to maintain perfect alignment with the treatment area. If movement exceeds safe parameters, the laser instantly pauses, allowing your surgeon to make any necessary adjustments.

This technology was not available in early LASIK systems, where surgeons had to rely more heavily on patient cooperation and their own manual adjustments. Instead, real-time tracking adds an essential layer of safety and precision to your treatment.

Speed also plays a crucial role in laser vision correction. The faster the treatment, the less time your eye is exposed to the laser, which can contribute to faster healing and recovery. The ZEISS MEL 80 is one of the world’s fastest excimer lasers. Most treatments take less than one minute per eye, significantly shorter than the time required by older laser systems.

Additionally, this laser also features the smallest spot size of any laser approved for use in the United States, measuring just 0.7 millimeters. Think of this like comparing screen resolution on a television. More pixels create a sharper, clearer image. Similarly, smaller laser spots allow for finer corrections and smoother treatment surfaces on your cornea.

What This Means for Your Modern LASIK Experience

When you choose modern LASIK at Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center, you’re also choosing:

Faster Recovery

The combination of bladeless flap creation and ultra-fast laser treatment contributes to quicker visual recovery. Many patients notice improved vision within hours of their procedure. The smoother flap created by the femtosecond laser heals more predictably, and the shortened laser exposure time means less disruption to the corneal tissue.

Increased Comfort

Modern LASIK takes advantage of multiple comfort features. Advanced numbing drops make the procedure virtually pain-free. The speed of treatment means you spend less time in the laser suite. The precision of bladeless flap creation reduces the sensation of pressure compared to mechanical methods. Most patients describe the experience as much easier than they anticipated.

Better Visual Outcomes

The technologies used in modern LASIK work together to improve your chances of achieving excellent vision.

Eye tracking compensates for involuntary movement. The small spot size of the MEL 80 creates smooth treatment surfaces. Bladeless flap creation provides a uniform foundation for correction. The combination of these advances has made vision correction more predictable and accurate than ever before.

Are you ready to experience the benefits of modern LASIK technology? Find out if you’re a good candidate for this life-changing procedure when you schedule a LASIK consultation at Clear Advantage Vision Correction Center in Portsmouth, NH, today!