The Z LASIK procedure in detail

Below you find a more detailed description of the Z LASIK procedure. Ask your doctor for further information and if Z LASIK is right for you.

Creation of a bladeless Z LASIK flap

Creation of a bladeless Z LASIK flap

The human cornea which is responsible for the biggest part of your visual focus (or optical power), and consists of different layers of cells. Irregularities in these layers may cause a change in the focal point on the back of the retina which negatively impacts your ability to see clearly at all distances.  Usually, this problem can be solved by reshaping the corneal in the stroma, or the second and most thick layer of cells. Because the corneal stroma is the second layer of cells, the surgeon must have a way to access it which is typically done through the creation of a highly precise, very thin tissue flap on the most superficial layer of the cornea.

In Z LASIK, an ultra-thin flap is made on the surface of the cornea by applying millions of tiny laser spots (one hundredth of a millimeter wide) in a row which separate the tissue. The procedure is blade-free and the laser treatment itself is painless. The laser creates the thin tissue flap with a hinge on one side so it can be securely replaced after the LASIK procedure is completed. 

Reshaping the cornea

Reshaping the cornea

Once the flap is created, it is opened and the curvature of the cornea can be reshaped to create your unique vision solution. This step is performed by an excimer laser by removing layers of individual cells in the corneal stroma within seconds.

When the re-shaping is completed, the tissue flap is gently placed back over the area, leaving the most external layer of the cornea untouched. The tissue that makes up the flap, called the epithelium, is regenerative and will heal over time, whereas the tissue in the deeper part of the corneal stroma cannot regenerate which allows the re-shaping to be permanent.

For more information about the procedure and possible risks and side-effects, read the patient information and consult with your doctor. 

Important patient information
Ziemer FEMTO LDV lasers are prescription medical devices that can only be used by accredited eye care professionals for LASIK and other approved surgical procedures. Only a trained eye care professional can determine if a FEMTO LDV laser procedure is appropriate for your condition. Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of keratoconus, glaucoma, other eye-related diseases, diabetes, a history of herpes simplex or herpes zoster keratitis, significant dry eye, severe allergies or have had changes in your vision over the past year.

The LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) procedure causes permanent changes to the cornea as a therapy for myopia, hyperopia or other diseases where the cornea is not an optimal shape. You should not have LASIK if you have autoimmune or an immunodeficiency disease, if you are pregnant or nursing, show signs of corneal thinning, or take medications with eye-related side effects, such as Isotretinoin (Accutane®) for acne treatment or Amiodarone hydrochloride (Cordarone®) for cardiac arrhythmia. LASIK is for adults whose vision has stabilized.

Risks associated with the LASIK procedure include: dry eye syndrome, the possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery, visual symptoms including halos, glare, starbursts, double vision, other visual irregularities or possible loss of vision. Results may vary for each individual patient.