LASIK
Background:
Refractive eye surgery is a series of methods to reduce or eliminate the prescription of the eye. Some techniques that were used historically, such as radial keratotomy (RK), are no longer utilized due to the accuracy of newer technology. One type of non-laser refractive surgery is the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL). Characteristics of ICL: A surgical technique requiring full-thickness incision through the cornea for the surgeon to insert a contact lens-like optical lens that has a pre-determined strength to reduce the prescription. FDA approved, primarily indicated in patients who are not LASIK or PRK candidates due to extremely high prescriptions or thin corneas. May result in significantly reduced prescription lenses but not elimination of glasses or contact lenses; additional refractive surgery correction of the cornea may be needed for refined vision without glasses.
Laser Vision Correction(LVC) is recommended to properly educated and informed patients who have been determined to have the proper eye and vision status for the procedure of choice.
LVC Options include:
PTK: A thermal laser treatment of the cornea that results in a small number of pinpoint scars in the cornea which contract to cause a flat cornea to become more steep, or domed. Used limitedly to reduce near vision blur in farsighted (hyperopic) eyes. Can reduce in effectiveness over time.
PRK: An excimer laser treatment of the cornea that directs the laser energy directly through the outer "skin" of the cornea prior to sculpting the corneal tissue to achieve prescription elimination. Requires two to three days of healing, with a clear "bandage" contact lens worn on the cornea until your Isthmus Eye Care optometrist deems the corneal skin healed. A procedure of choice for corneas with marginally thin tissue thickness or slight corneal shape irregularity.
LASIK: An excimer laser treatment of the cornea that is preceded by a surgical step in which the outer "skin" of the cornea is lifted as an entire layer, exposing the deeper corneal tissue for sculpting to achieve prescription elimination. Requires a day of healing. The procedure of choice for most laser vision correction candidates.
Isthmus Eye Care optometrists provide surgical co-management of LASIK patients. They provide the extended pre-operative examination necessary for collection all of the critical data for the surgeon to utilize for the procedure, including:
1) Analysis of vision prescription status under the "relaxing" effects of specific eye dilation drops
2) Careful review of informed consent documents
3) Assistance in the determination of dominant eye status, and assistance in the election of monovision effect
LASIK candidates will be referred to TLC Laser Eye Center for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to undergo three critical pre-operative analyses:
1) Pupil size in darkened environment
2) Specialized testing of the corneal thickness
3) Wavefront analysis of the corneal optical quality
Isthmus Eye Care optometrists provide the medical post-operative care of LASIK patients:
1) Day one analysis of initial post-procedure status of the vision and the corneal flap
2) Week one, Month one, Month three, and Month six analysis of vision status and corneal health
Isthmus Eye Care optometrists work with Dr. Lou Probst (www.lasikwithprobst.com) at the TLC Laser Eye Center. Dr. Probst and the TLC staff are committed to the highest level of patient education prior to scheduling a procedure.
Informational Videos
Additional videos are available below to give you more information on laser vision correction. These videos are best viewed if you have a broadband connection and may take some time to download. They will open in a new window, which will allow you to continue to navigate our site while it is downloading. Additional plug ins may be required to view these videos.
Click HERE for a video education about LASIK (15MB Quicktime Video)
Click HERE for a video segment about theBlade-Free LASIK technique called Intralase (9MB Flash Video)
