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LASIK is a safe, reliable and painless way to improve vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK, which stands for laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis, is a form of refractive surgery that changes the way light is bent, or refracted, as it passes through the cornea so that images are focused properly on the retina in the back of the eye. The procedure is effective for many patients with a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
During the procedure, a laser is used to create a layer in the cornea. This is currently the most precise and safest way to perform LASIK. Patients are given topical anesthesia and a mild sedative so they are awake but calm and will not feel any discomfort. The corneal layer is lifted and an excimer laser beam adjusts corneal curvature so objects no longer appear blurry. The cornea is steepened for hyperopic patients, flattened for myopic patients, and made more spherical for patients with astigmatism. The flap is then replaced.
The entire LASIK procedure takes only about 20 minutes, and patients are often ready to leave the office within an hour or two. A common complaint after surgery is sensitivity to light, but this will subside. Antibiotic eye drops will be prescribed for a few days, along with any other post-operative instructions. Most patients are able to drive themselves to the office the morning after surgery, and are able to return to work within a day or two.
- People with low, moderate and high degrees of nearsightedness
- People with low and moderate degrees of farsightedness
- People with low, moderate and high degrees of astigmatism
- Effective for correcting a wide range of focusing problems
- Fast visual recovery with minimal temporary side effects
- Permanent tissue modification for lasting correction
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is another way to correct vision using the excimer laser. It is used mainly for patients whose corneas are too thin, who have a high correction or have special conditions that make traditional LASIK with a flap an unsafe choice. The main difference is the length of time for vision recovery. Instead of having good vision the next morning, as in LASIK, it takes 3-5 days for good vision. For this reason, only one eye is done at a time. It is very similar to LASEK. ; in both of these procedures, instead of making a flap as in LASIK, the laser is used directly on the surface of the eye.
The procedure is done while the eye is numb, and takes only 20-30 seconds. At the end of the surgery a contact lens is placed on the eye and is left in place until the epithelium heals. This usually takes 3 days. Drops are used to help alleviate the small amount of gritty sensation and tearing that usually occur during this healing phase.
Results with PRK are excellent and equal to LASIK with 98% of patients achieving an uncorrected vision of 20/20. The safety profile of PRK is equal to that of LASIK, without the dangers of a flap.
 Conductive Keratoplasty is an exciting new procedure to reduce or eliminate your need for reading glasses by using radio waves to reshape the cornea. This is an in office procedure, and will leave you able to read a business card by the time you leave the office, in most cases! Call or email our office to find out more.
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