Refractive Surgery techniques are used to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These problems occur when the eye is not able to bring images to a proper focus inside the eye. LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) is the most common refractive surgery technique used today.
Lasik
LASIK is a safe, reliable and virtually painless way to improve vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK, which stands for laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis, is a form of refractive surgery that changes the way light is bent, or refracted, as it passes through the cornea so that it focuses properly on the retina in the back of the eye and objects can be seen clearly. The procedure is effective for many patients with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
During the procedure, a device called a microkeratome creates a flap in the outer layers of the cornea. Patients are given topical anesthesia and a mild sedative so they are awake but calm and cannot feel the instruments. The flap is lifted and an excimer laser beam adjusts corneal curvature so objects no longer appear blurry. The cornea is steepened for hyperopic patients, flattened for myopic patients, and made more spherical for patients with astigmatism. The flap is then closed.
The entire LASIK procedure usually takes only 10-15 minutes for both eyes, and patients are often ready to leave the laser center within an hour. A common complaint after surgery is sensitivity to light, but this will subside. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops will be prescribed for a week. Full recovery usually takes a couple of weeks. Dr. Foreman uses the ATLAS Corneal Topography with Pathfinder™ software to analyze your cornea and help ensure you don’t have corneal pathology that would disqualify you from LASIK surgery.
Wavefront Technology
Wavefont technology allows surgeons to perform customized LASIK, LASEK and other refractive surgeries using information gathered from the patient’s own eyes. During a pre-operative examination, light is projected onto the retina and a set of measurements called a wavefront is created. Data obtained from the wavefront exam is converted into a waveprint, a unique profile of the patient’s optical system that is as personal as a fingerprint. Using the results of the wavefront procedure, surgeons can correct the particular refractive errors that obscure the patient’s vision.
Customvue™
ISX™’s CustomVue procedure combines the technologies of the WaveFront and STAR S4 Excimer Laser systems for high-definition, high-accuracy LASIK vision correction. Benefits of the CustomVue process include faster treatment time, elimination of need for pharmacological pupil dilation, minimal heating of the cornea, capability of ignoring errors arising from torsional eye movements, variability of beam size and depth during spot scanning, and individualized treatment with images based on hundreds of data points gathered from each patient’s pupil.
For more information on VISX™’s CustomVue, click here.
