Laser Vision Correction Procedures
Laser vision correction is an exciting procedure that can reduce or even eliminate your dependence on corrective lenses. This Web site is designed to help you make that important decision with information about the actual surgery, what you can expect from the surgery and the various techniques and technologies available at Northern Eye Institute. We also encourage you to attend one of our free seminars or request more information.
There are several options available for laser vision correction at Northern Eye Institute. They are LASIK, Custom LASIK and PRK.
LASIK Procedure (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileuis)
LASIK corrects vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by changing the shape of the protective front window of the eye called the cornea. Changing the shape of the cornea allows light entering the eye to be properly focused so that you can see more clearly.
Myopia
In nearsighted patients, those who can't see clearly far away, the cornea is flattened by removing a thin layer of tissue from the center of the cornea.
Hyperopia
In farsighted patients, those who can't see clearly close up, the center is made steeper by removing tissue from the outer portion of the cornea.
Astigmatism
For those with astigmatism, the oval-shaped cornea is made more round by removing more tissue in one direction than the other to make the shape more spherical.Including prep time, you will spend only about an hour in our office the day of your LASIK eye surgery. We will give you a mild sedative medicine to help put you at ease. Your eye is then numbed with anesthetic eye drops, and a special device called a speculum is used to hold your eye open. A suction ring is then placed over your eye.
To begin the surgery, a special instrument known as a microkeratome is used to make a thin flap in your cornea. After the flap is made, the suction ring is taken off your eye and you are asked to stare at a target light while the laser works. The laser removes tissue from the now exposed cornea so that its shape is changed. Once the proper curvature is achieved, the flap is laid carefully back over your eye. It heals in place without stitches. We will give you an eye shield and allow you to go home. You will return for a checkup within 24 hours and at prescribed intervals thereafter for one year. Most patients drive themselves to the day-after-surgery check up.
Custom LASIK Procedure
Custom LASIK is the most advanced laser vision correction available, surpassing even traditional LASIK to fine tune your vision. Until recently, laser vision correction was only able to treat lower order "aberrations," much like the corrective capabilities of glasses or contacts. "Lower order aberrations" are responsible for distortions that cause nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The remaining flaws in your vision are a result of other unique imperfections called "higher order aberrations." They affect the overall clarity of your vision, especially in low-light situations.
With new wavefront technology, our surgeons are now able to generate a unique structural map of each patient's eye, and ultimately treat both the higher and lower order aberrations. Our surgeons use the Bausch & Lomb Zyoptix wavefront-guided system. The Zywave maps and analyses up to 9,600 data points for each eye. The wavefront device transmits invisible rays of light into the eye. When the light is reflected off the retina, it travels back to the pupil and is picked up again by the wavefront device, which uses the light to process all of the eye's irregularities and create a 3-D image, known as a wavefront map. This data is then passed directly to the laser, allowing for the customization of the LASIK procedure according to your carefully defined higher and lower aberrations.
Custom LASIK:
- Allows more people to achieve 20/20 or even 20/15 vision than ever before.
- May achieve a higher quality of vision.
- May improve low-contrast or night vision after surgery.
- Can correct irregular corneas from previous surgery or injury.
- Decreases the chances for complications such as night glare, haloes and loss of best-corrected vision.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
Like LASIK, PRK uses a cool pulsating excimer laser to reshape the cornea. Rather than touching the tissue underneath the cornea, however, it reshapes the surface of the cornea itself. Because all adjustments are made on the surface of the eye, the whole procedure is entirely bladeless, and does not require creating any flaps. This allows for increased accuracy and a reduced range of possible complications.
In comparing LASIK to PRK, LASIK patients, in general, have less discomfort and obtain good vision more quickly. With PRK, improvement is gradual and over a few days or even weeks; but often times, PRK is the better option over LASIK for patients with thin or irregular corneas.