LASER VISION CORRECTION

Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) uses a laser to make the visual correction. LASIK has allowed many patients to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses or contacts. The LASIK procedure changes the shape of the cornea (the clear dome over the front of the eye) to reduce or eliminate the patient's prescription.

About the Procedure

The first part of the LASIK procedure involves cutting a flap on the center of the cornea. The flap is drawn back and the laser is then positioned so that it removes a small area of the cornea. This reshapes the cornea and creates the person's vision correction.

In the vast majority of cases, the patient comes out of the procedure without needing contacts or glasses. In addition, LASIK has the advantage of being less complicated than previous procedures, with less fluctuation in vision, and a very short recover time. A temporary side effect may be a small amount of "fogging" of the vision, particularly at night.

Is LASIK Permanent?

Once past the childhood growth years, the majority of changes to one's prescription are due to natural changes inside of the eye. So, while one may achieve 20/20 vision through any of the surgical procedure, with changes that occur normally with age, there is a chance that the patient will need a small prescription in the future. However, this prescription would be a fraction of the power of their previous prescription.

Is PRK or LASIK for you?

Dr. Glasser is certified to perform the pre-operative and post-operative care for patients undergoing these procedures. We can evaluate you to let you know if you are a candidate for the procedures and make the referral to a qualified surgeon.

Again, if you have any questions regarding these, or any other procedures, please don’t hesitate to ask us.

There are several other surgical procedures to improve vision. Two are Intacs and corneaplasty.

Intacs

Intacs are plastic rings that look very much like the outer portion of a hard contact lens. Intacs are inserted around the edges of the patients cornea to reduce or eliminate their prescription. Different sized and shaped rings are used for different prescriptions. The biggest advantage that the Intacs has over laser surgery is that it is reversible. The ring can be removed or changed to correspond with the patient's changing prescription. While only just approved by the FDA, this technique shows great promise in visual correction and will probably tremendously gain in popularity as more and more surgeons learn and use the device.

Corneaplasty

The second new procedure is called corneaplasty, which has not yet been approved by the FDA. This procedure, to eliminate one’s prescription involves the use of special eye drops and gas-permeable contact lenses. As it is planned, the patient is fit with conventional gas-permeable contact lenses that are manufactured to the desired shape of the cornea. The patient uses specially formulated eye drops in conjunction with the contact lenses. These drops "soften" the cornea, similar to wetting cardboard with water.

Over several weeks, the cornea begins to conform to the shape of the contact lens. As the frequency of the drops is reduced, the cornea returns to its "hardened" state. The contact lens is then discontinued and the cornea, having retained the shape of the contact lens, no longer needs further correction. The patient sees clearly without a contact lens, without surgery, and without scarring of the cornea. Further, if the patient’s prescription changes in the future, the procedure can be repeated.