Manufacturer Directory · Refractive
Refractive Laser Systems excimer, femtosecond and lenticule platforms.
Laser vision correction uses two families of lasers. Excimer lasers ablate corneal tissue in LASIK and PRK, and femtosecond lasers cut flaps or, in SMILE, a lenticule inside the cornea. FDA approves each laser for specific indications, published as patient information on its website.
Quick answer
Each laser has its own labeled range.
Which prescriptions a laser may treat depends on its FDA approval, so the surgeon's platform shapes who qualifies. Diagnostic and planning software, such as topography-guided or wavefront-guided planning, often comes with the laser.
Key takeaways
- Excimer lasers reshape the cornea in LASIK and PRK.
- Femtosecond lasers create LASIK flaps or SMILE lenticules.
- FDA lists approved lasers with patient information.
- Planning software can be topography- or wavefront-guided.
- No laser is FDA approved for LASIK in patients under 18.
Representative refractive platforms.
From manufacturer pages and press releases.
| Platform | Company | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaveLight EX500 | Alcon | Excimer | Part of the WaveLight Refractive Suite with Contoura Vision topography-guided LASIK. |
| WaveLight FS200 | Alcon | Femtosecond | Flap laser in the same suite. |
| STAR S4 IR | Johnson & Johnson Vision | Excimer | Used with the iDESIGN Refractive Studio for customized LASIK. |
| TECHNOLAS TENEO 317 Model 2 | Bausch + Lomb | Excimer | Refractive laser platform. |
| VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro | ZEISS | Femtosecond | FDA approval announced January 2024; lenticule created in under 10 seconds per ZEISS. |
References
- Alcon. Enhanced WaveLight Refractive Suite, October 2, 2018. Alcon
- Johnson & Johnson Vision. STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser. J&J Vision
- Johnson & Johnson Vision. iDESIGN Refractive Studio. J&J Vision
- Bausch + Lomb. Surgical products. Bausch + Lomb
- ZEISS. FDA approves VISUMAX 800 with SMILE pro, January 11, 2024. ZEISS
- FDA. FDA-approved lasers for LASIK: patient information. FDA
- Every source behind this guide is listed on the Vision Rescue sources page. All sources
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team from manufacturer, FDA, CMS and peer-reviewed sources. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
Information only; listings are not endorsements, and Vision Rescue is not a distributor of capital surgical equipment. Confirm U.S. availability, indications and specifications with each manufacturer. Vision Rescue is a licensed pharmaceutical wholesale distributor.
Match the patient to the platform.
Knowing what your partner surgeons use helps you set expectations before the consult.
All product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Check FDA patient information for each laser's approved indications.