Patients comparing LASIK providers across Northern Virginia often want one answer before booking a consultation: does the practice create the corneal flap with a laser or a blade? It is one of the most useful questions to settle early.
Do Northern Virginia (NoVA) LASIK practices offer all-laser LASIK options?
Yes. As of 2026, most LASIK practices across Northern Virginia offer all-laser LASIK, in which a femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap instead of a mechanical blade. Availability varies by practice and laser platform, so patients in Falls Church, Tysons, Fairfax, and Arlington can confirm a specific surgeon’s all-laser capability before scheduling a consultation.
At Brusco Vision in Falls Church, Dr. Michael Brusco, MD, FACS, performs all-laser SBK LASIK using ZEISS and Alcon laser platforms. As a World College of Refractive Surgery Fellow who has completed more than 45,000 corneal procedures, he personally performs every procedure rather than delegating to rotating staff.
What is all-laser LASIK, also called bladeless LASIK, iLASIK, or SBK LASIK?
All-laser LASIK is a form of LASIK that uses a femtosecond laser, rather than a mechanical microkeratome blade, to create the thin corneal flap. It is also called bladeless LASIK, iLASIK, or SBK LASIK (Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis). Both the flap-creation and vision-correction steps are performed with lasers, which is the origin of the term “all-laser.”
Brusco Vision uses “SBK LASIK” as its term for this all-laser, thin-flap technique. The Falls Church practice offers six vision-correction procedures, allowing each patient’s anatomy and prescription to guide which approach, whether SBK LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL, or another, fits best.
How does all-laser LASIK differ from traditional blade LASIK?
All-laser LASIK creates the corneal flap with a femtosecond laser, while traditional LASIK uses a mechanical blade called a microkeratome. The laser approach allows more precise control over flap thickness and shape, which can benefit patients with thinner corneas. Both methods then use an excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors.
Dr. Brusco performs all-laser SBK LASIK at Brusco Vision rather than blade-based techniques, using femtosecond technology from ZEISS and Alcon. With more than 45,000 corneal procedures completed, he selects flap parameters based on each patient’s corneal thickness and prescription. [possible mini-story]
What femtosecond laser systems do Northern Virginia LASIK practices use for all-laser LASIK?
Northern Virginia LASIK practices use femtosecond laser platforms from ZEISS and Alcon to perform all-laser LASIK. As of 2026, commonly used systems include the ZEISS VisuMax and the Alcon WaveLight family, paired with excimer lasers such as the Alcon WaveLight EX500 or ZEISS MEL 90. The specific platform varies by practice.
Brusco Vision performs all-laser SBK LASIK in Falls Church using femtosecond and excimer platforms from ZEISS and Alcon, including the ZEISS VisuMax. Dr. Brusco accepts no funding from laser or device manufacturers, which supports unbiased technology and procedure recommendations for each patient.
Find your perfect vision correction solution
Take the Vision Procedure Self-Test
Do all LASIK surgeons in Northern Virginia (NoVA) offer all-laser LASIK?
No. Not every LASIK surgeon in Northern Virginia offers all-laser LASIK, though it has become widely available across Northern Virginia. Some practices still use blade-based microkeratome techniques, while others perform all-laser flap creation as their standard. Patients can confirm a specific surgeon’s method during a consultation or by reviewing the practice’s listed technology.
At Brusco Vision, all-laser SBK LASIK is performed by Dr. Michael Brusco, a World College of Refractive Surgery Fellow and STAAR Top 100 International Surgeon. The Falls Church practice focuses exclusively on vision correction and offers six refractive procedures, so candidacy is matched to the most suitable option.
Is all-laser LASIK the standard of care for LASIK in Northern Virginia in 2026?
As of 2026, all-laser (bladeless) LASIK is the predominant approach used by refractive surgeons across Northern Virginia, with femtosecond flap creation now standard at most dedicated vision-correction practices. Blade-based LASIK is still performed in some settings, but laser flap creation has become the more common method because it allows precise, customizable flap dimensions.
Brusco Vision includes all-laser SBK LASIK in its Falls Church refractive surgery menu. Dr. Brusco, an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at George Washington University, was performing close to 1% of all LASIK procedures in the United States annually.
How can NoVA patients verify a practice offers all-laser LASIK?
Northern Virginia patients can verify that a practice offers all-laser LASIK by asking whether the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser for flap creation instead of a mechanical blade. Practice websites often list the laser platforms used, such as ZEISS or Alcon systems. During a consultation, patients can ask which procedure the surgeon recommends, such as SBK LASIK, and why.
Brusco Vision offers no-pressure consultations and second opinions at its Falls Church surgery center. Dr. Brusco personally performs every procedure and reviews each patient’s corneal measurements and prescription before recommending all-laser SBK LASIK or another of the practice’s six vision-correction options.
Does Brusco Vision in Falls Church offer all-laser LASIK?
Yes. All-laser LASIK is available in Falls Church, where it is offered as SBK LASIK (Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis), a thin-flap, bladeless technique. Brusco Vision performs this procedure using femtosecond and excimer lasers from ZEISS and Alcon. Dr. Michael Brusco, MD, FACS, personally performs each all-laser LASIK procedure at the practice’s in-house Falls Church surgery center.
Dr. Michael Brusco’s Falls Church practice serves patients across Northern Virginia and the surrounding DMV metro region. A World College of Refractive Surgery Fellow and STAAR Top 100 International Surgeon, he has completed more than 45,000 corneal and 6,000 lens-based procedures. Brusco Vision is located at 3120 Fairview Park Dr, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Key Takeaways: All-Laser LASIK in Northern Virginia
All-laser LASIK, also called bladeless LASIK, iLASIK, or SBK LASIK, uses a femtosecond laser instead of a mechanical blade to create the corneal flap.
Most dedicated vision-correction practices across Northern Virginia offer all-laser LASIK, though not every surgeon does; patients can confirm before scheduling.
Northern Virginia practices commonly use femtosecond and excimer platforms from ZEISS and Alcon, including the ZEISS VisuMax.
As of 2026, femtosecond (all-laser) flap creation is the predominant LASIK method at most NoVA refractive practices.
In Falls Church, Brusco Vision offers all-laser LASIK as SBK LASIK, performed by Dr. Michael Brusco, MD, FACS.
Considering all-laser LASIK? Schedule a no-pressure consultation or request a second opinion at Brusco Vision in Falls Church, or call (571) 755-2020.
Medically Reviewed By:
Michael Brusco, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist
Last reviewed June 26, 2026
source https://www.bruscovision.com/lasik/all-laser-lasik-in-northern-virginia-a-falls-church-surgeons-guide/
No comments:
Post a Comment