What
is nearsightedness?
Myopia or nearsighted vision results
when your eyeball is too long, or if the front, center surface of the
eye (the cornea) is curved too much. Light will focus in front of the
retina, causing blurry vision. This is not a disease but a normal variation
in the shape of the eye.
How can laser vision
treatment correct my problem?
A laser emits cool pulses of ultraviolet
light which cleanly, precisely and smoothly removes a very small amount
of tissue at the front of the eye. This corrects the problem curve of
the cornea and allows light to focus properly on the retina, resulting
in clearer vision.
What result can I expect?
Improved, clearer vision. Ninety-seven
out of 100 of our patients achieve 20/40 vision or better, which means
they can drive, work or play sports without glasses or contact lenses.
How long will the result last?
Doctors performed the first procedure
in 1987. Studies to date report excellent vision stability for more
than 10 years after treatment.
Can anything go wrong?
No cases of blindness have occurred
in the close to one million procedures performed worldwide, to date.
There is a very small risk of infection 2 out of 1,000 individuals.
When it arises it is handled by antibiotics. The risk is extremely low
because the soft contact lens applied acts as a bandage to protect the
eye from dust or other particles. Should your eye drift off focus during
the procedure, the doctor can stop the laser instantly and restart treatment
when your eye is once again focused.
You might experience night glare. Night glare appears
as "halos" around lights. This usually subsides in the first
few months following laser correction.
What is farsightedness?
Hyperopia occurs when an eye is too
short for the cornea's curvature. Light rays entering the eye focus
behind the retina and, as a result, a blurred image is produced.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism can exist alone or in combination
with nearsightedness or farsightedness. With this condition your eye
becomes oval-shaped like a football instead of round, causing distortion
when the eye tries to focus.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is commonly known as "old
age vision". It is a condition where there is a diminished power
of the eye in accommodating near-to-far distances. This arises from
loss of elasticity of the lens, as is typical with aging over 40. Laser
surgery does not treat this condition.
What takes place at the screening?
Generally, to determine if you are a candidate, the technician
or doctor will read your glasses and refract your eyes to determine
your prescription. If it permits, a topography of your eyes will be
taken, which reads the surface of the eye. We will discuss the surgery
procedure and inform you about our financing program.
What kind of laser does the
doctor use?
The doctor uses an FDA approved laser (VISX brand). It is
an excimer laser, which is a cool beam laser that ablates cells from
the cornea, reshaping the surface.
Does it hurt?
No, the actual Excimer laser surgery
procedure does not hurt. Before surgery, you are given medicated drops
to numb your eyes. Some patients do experience discomfort during the
first 12-24 hours after surgery, and medication is available if you
are uneasy about this possibility.
How long will I be off work?
You can have the procedure and be back
to your normal day-to-day activities very quickly. Most people return
to work within two days. Generally, one day for Refractive Surgery and two to three
days for PRK.
Is it covered by insurance?
Generally, it is not covered by insurance
because they consider it an elective procedure. You should, however,
check with your individual insurance company to verify their coverage.
What is laser vision treatment
like?
During treatment you sit in a chair
which is very much like a recliner-type chair. Your head is secured
in the chair to prevent movement. You are fully conscious and only numbing
anesthetic eye drops are used. You will be instructed to stare at a
light while the laser pulsing occurs. A special device will be used
to prevent blinking during the procedure.
Steps of Refractive Surgery Procedure
As the flap on the cornea is made (about the thickness of a contact
lens) you may hear mechanical noise. It is important that you do not
squeeze your eye and continue breathing normally during this part of
the procedure.
After the flap is made and the microkeratome (below
is a picture of microkeratome) is removed, your vision will return but
it will be very hazy.
The surgeon programs a computer which controls the laser
pulses with a precision that a surgeon alone could never duplicate.
The computer calibrates and maps the exact measurements of your eye.
The laser pulses occur for about 20 to 60 seconds.
Laser vision treatment itself is painless. There may
be some discomfort in the days following the treatment. It is important
that you keep your eyes closed as much as possible after surgery and
do not rub the eyes.
Protective shields are placed on the eyes at night so
that you don't accidentally rub the eyes in your sleep.
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