What is LASIK? LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery. Now in its second decade of use, it's a highly effective outpatient procedure suitable for many types of vision problems. LASIK corrects vision by using a cool beam of light from the Excimer laser to reshape the corneal tissue beneath the surface of the cornea.
The LASIK Procedure LASIK is a proven safe, quick, and painless procedure.
First, anesthetic drops are applied to the eye to completely numb the area. An eyelid holder is placed between the lids to prevent blinking. Next, a protective flap is made in the cornea. You may feel a little pressure during this process, but no discomfort. You will then be asked to look directly at a target light while the laser reshapes the cornea.
To treat nearsightedness, the cornea must be made flatter. This is accomplished by removing tissue from the center of the cornea.
To treat farsightedness, the central cornea must be made steeper. This is accomplished by reshaping the peripheral cornea.
To treat astigmatism, the cornea must be made more spherical. By changing the pattern of the beam, more tissue is removed in one meridian versus the other.
Finally, the protective flap is folded back in place, where it bonds without the need for stitches.
Because LASIK is performed under a protective layer of tissue, there is less surface area to heal, less risk of corneal haze, little postoperative discomfort, and little need for postoperative medication. Most patients find their vision returns rapidly.
LASIK Results
The goal of LASIK is to reduce your dependence on glasses or contacts. It can produce 20/20 vision in some patients, but not all. LASIK does not stop the natural aging of your eye, which usually begins around age 40 and may require reading glasses.
Dr. Wise can provide you with realistic expectations if LASIK is right for you.
What is Customized laser vision correction? At The Wise Vision Group, we take the traditional LASIK procedure one step further with the state of the art VISX Wavefront Custom Laser Vision Correction procedure. Just like a fingerprint, your vision is 100 percent unique to your eyes. Using traditional LASIK procedures, doctors were only able to use standard measurements to correct vision. Using the VISX CustomVue, we can measure and correct the unique imperfections of your vision up to 25 times more precisely than with standard methods used for glasses and contact lenses. Treating the eye this way can produce a better outcome and crisper night vision.
We never charge more to customize your laser vision correction.
Not all patients are candidates for the VISX Wavefront treatment. If you are not a candidate for custom laser vision correction, you will likely fall into the parameters for traditional LASIK treatment.
The VISX Wavefront Customer Laser Vision Correction procedure Customized laser vision correction uses WaveScanT-based digital technology, originally developed for use in high-powered telescopes to reduce distortions when viewing distant objects in space. When applied to your eye, the Wavefront analyzer creates a customized 3-D map of your eye to detect and measure the optical distortions unique to your optical system.
First, anesthetic drops are applied to the eye to completely numb the area. An eyelid holder is placed between the lids to prevent blinking.
The unique vision correction information is transferred from the WaveScan to the laser.
Laser vision correction works by gently reshaping the cornea with the cool beam from the laser to remove microscopic amounts of tissue - less than the thickness of a human hair in most cases - to create a new curvature.
The procedure typically takes several seconds and the majority of individuals feel no discomfort.
Customized results In clinical studies, 98% of VISX CustomVue patients could see 20/20 or better one year after the procedure, and report crisp, clear night vision with less incidence of glare and halos.
We can't guarantee these exact results, but these studies show the extraordinary effectiveness of this exciting technology. Dr. Wise can provide you with realistic expectations if this procedure is right for you.
What is the IntraLase™ Method? With the IntraLase Method, you can have a LASIK procedure that's 100% blade-free.
Traditionally, doctors have used an instrument called a microkeratome for the creation of the thin flap of tissue, the corneal flap, that the doctor fold back in order to perform LASIK surgery. The microkeratome is a hand-held blade that moved across the eye, cutting the corneal flap as it goes. While LASIK is extremely safe, if complications do occur, the microkeratome is most often the cause.
The IntraLase™ method enables your doctor to create your corneal flap without a blade ever touching your eye.
The IntraLase™ procedure With the IntraLase™ Method, you can have a LASIK procedure that's 100% blade-free.
Tiny pulses of laser light pass harmlessly through the outer portion of your cornea, forming a uniform layer of microscopic bubbles just underneath the surface of your eye. Your doctor then easily separates the tissue and folds it back, thus creating the corneal flap.
When the LASIK procedure is complete, the flap is uniquely able to "lock" back into place, and your eye begins to rapidly heal.
The procedure typically takes 15 to 30 seconds and the majority of individuals feel no discomfort.
IntraLase™ results IntraLase technology offers a high degree of surgical control, allowing surgeons to treat a wider variety of patients, including patients with thin corneas. The blade-free treatment virtually eliminates the most severe complications associated with LASIK.
Dr. Wise can provide you with realistic expectations if this procedure is right for you.
What is PRK? PRK or Photo-Refractive Keratectomy treats refractive errors by using a laser to remove tissue from the surface of the cornea, allowing the eye to focus more directly on the retina. PRK is highly effective in treating lower order aberrations such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It's a good alternative for patients who have thin, steep or flat corneas, and are not candidates for LASIK surgery.
We offer customized PRK by creating a 3-D map of your eye with the advanced Wavefront technology. Custom PRK has the potential to improve higher order aberrations such as coma, spherical aberration, and large pupils).
The PRK procedure First, your eye is completely numbed using eye drop anesthesia. An instrument is placed between the eyelids to prevent blinking.
Next, the surgeon removes the epithelium, a thin layer of protective skin that covers the cornea. The patient is told to look directly at a target light during the procedure. In less than a minute, the laser removes the proper amount of tissue while it reshapes the surface of the cornea. The laser is used to make the cornea flatter to treat nearsightedness, steeper to treat farsightedness, and/or more spherical to treat astigmatism.
After PRK, the eye is patched until the following morning. Because the epithelium was removed, patients may experience blurry or hazy vision for a few days, and discomfort until the epithelium heals.
PRK results Good vision is achieved in 5 to 7 days, with a slightly longer healing period than LASIK. PRK offers reduced chance of night vision disturbances such as glare and halos.
Dr. Wise can provide you with realistic expectations if this procedure is right for you.
