What is LASIK Surgery?
Definition of LASIK:
Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, is a refractive surgery procedure, which uses the excimer laser, applied to the cornea under a thin flap of corneal tissue, to help correct your vision to decrease or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
What is IntraLASIK?This is a breakthrough, computer-controlled, all-laser technology which uses unique IntraLASIK®* software to provide Dr. Wright with a minimally invasive approach to creating the corneal flap in laser vision correction surgery. IntraLASIK®* does not use a blade to create the corneal flap as in traditional LASIK. Instead, the IntraLase™ FS (femtosecond) Laser's energy passes through the outer layers of the cornea until reaching its exact focal point in the central layer. The laser then works in an "inside out" process, precisely defining a dissection plane and then leaving an uncut section of tissue on the surface to act as a hinge. The resulting corneal flap is folded back & the vision correction treatment is accomplished as usual. Then, the corneal flap is folded back onto the eye to complete the surgery.
The results are unparalleled safety for the patient and unprecedented control for the physician. Each corneal flap procedure is customized by the surgeon according to an individual's vision disorder and corneal anatomy. The patient may simply relax in comfort as the procedure is completed.
Precision re-defined. IntraLASIK®* provides remarkable accuracy, and may enable patients who have previously been dismissed as high risk to be re-evaluated for vision correction surgery. This level of precision reduces patient anxiety and significantly reduces or eliminates the possibility for complications that may occur with the traditional LASIK approach. This level of safety is a first in vision correction technology.
IntraLASIK®* can truly make vision correction surgery one of the most rewarding decisions of your life. A choice to be made with confidence.
A word from Dr. Paul Wright: One of the first surgeons in the world authorized to do IntraLASIK®, Dr. Paul Wright, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist and a recognized leader in advanced eye care practices. Dr. Wright has this to say about IntraLASIK® surgery: “This all-laser procedure is smoother and more precise. It significantly reduces the risk of complications and delivers outstanding results. Safer surgery. Better results. That’s why we use IntraLASIK®.”
How Does IntraLASIK Work?
LASIK surgery works by sculpting the cornea in a precise manner to correct your refractive error. By changing the corneal shape, light becomes focused on the retina, allowing clear vision. During LASIK surgery, Dr Wright forms a very thin flap on the front of the cornea by using the IntraLase Laser. The flap is then folded back, and the eximer laser is applied to the underlying corneal tissue in a precise manner that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. The flap is then replaced, protecting the reshaped cornea underneath. LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive surgical procedure today, with more than two million procedures performed worldwide each year.
IntraLASIK vs. Standard LASIK with MicroKeratome
Safer
—No risk of button-holes, thin flaps, or partial flaps
—Less risk of epithelial defects, epithelial ingrowth or
displaced flaps
—Less risk of decreased corneal sensation and dry eyes
More accurate
—More predictable thickness
—More predictable diameter
—Improved centration
—Decreased need for enhancements
Improved quality vision
—Less induced aberration
—More consistent ablation
In general, candidates for LASIK should:
· Be 21 years of age or older: younger people may still have eyes that are
growing. In certain cases, individuals younger than 21 may have
LASIK surgery.
· There is no upper age limit for LASIK.
· Be dissatisfied with wearing glasses or contact lenses.
· Have had no change in glasses or contact lens prescription for at least a
year.
· Have otherwise healthy eyes.
· Be willing to accept a small amount of risk associated with surgery.
· Understand that glasses and/or contacts are occasionally still needed
for some activities after surgery.
· Not have excessively thin corneas or extremely high levels of refractive
error. Dr. Wright will test for these conditions on your evaluation exam.
The following conditions may prevent you from undergoing LASIK. You should alert your eye surgeon if you have one or more of these conditions so that he or she can help you make the best choice about undergoing refractive surgery:
Condition: Reason for caution:
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Condition:
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Reason for caution:
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Autoimmune diseases (ex: Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogrens syndrome, Lupus, scleroderma)
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May result in poor or inadequate healing after LASIK. LASIK may cause activation of these diseases in the eye.
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Diabetes
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May result in poor or Inadequate healing after LASIK. Poorly controlled diabetes can cause unstable refractive error.
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Immune deficiencies (ex : HIV/AIDS, history of an organ transplant, undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, taking oral corticosteroids
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May increase chance of a severe eye infection after the surgery.
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Personal or family history of corneal diseases, such as Keratoconus
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May result in unstable corneal shape and irregular warpage of the cornea after surgery.
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History of Herpes Simplex or Zoster eye infections.
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May cause reactivation of the infection.
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History of other eye diseases (Glaucoma, Fuchs Dystrophy, Macular degeneration, Cataract, Ambylopia or lazy eye)
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May decrease the chance of success of LASIK.
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Pregnancy or Nursing
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Can cause temporary changes in the shape of the cornea.
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Certain medications: Accutane® (isotretinoin), Cordarone ® (amiodarone)
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May interfere with corneal healing after LASIK.
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Dry Eyes
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May worsen after LASIK.
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Examination prior to LASIK:
Before you arrive at the doctors office:
If you are a contact lens wearer, you should stop wearing your lens for at least 1 week if you wear soft contacts or 3 weeks if you wear hard or toric contact lenses. Contact lenses can cause mild warping of the corneal shape, which can interfere with the preoperative measurements of the eye and calculations for LASIK surgery.
Tests you may have at the doctor’s office:
The evaluation for LASIK surgery typically includes a complete eye exam of the front and back of the eye, plus several additional tests. Your vision with and without glasses will be tested, as well as a refraction to determine if your current vision differs markedly from the vision corrected in your current glasses. If they do differ markedly, you may need to return for another visit several weeks later for a repeat refraction to insure that your prescription is not changing. The thickness of your corneas will also be tested. Since LASIK surgery removes some corneal tissue during the reshaping process of vision correction, a minimum amount of corneal thickness is required. Your pupil size will also be examined. People with large pupils may be at increased risk for night vision symptoms, such as glare and halos, after refractive surgery. Lastly, several machines may be used to assess the shape of your cornea, including a topographer and a wavescan abberometer. Your doctor will review the information from these machines in order to determine if your corneas are regularly shaped. Individuals with abnormally shaped corneas may not be ideal candidates for LASIK.
What will I experience during the LASIK procedure?
1. On the morning of your procedure, your surgeon will ask you not to wear any makeup or perfume/cologne. You are welcome to bring your iPod or similar musical device to help you to relax.
2. You will meet with Dr. Wright before your surgery to do one final check and answer any further questions.
3. You will be taken to the preoperative area where you will usually be given a Valium pill to help you feel calm during the procedure. Also, you will be given several eye drops to prepare your eyes for surgery.
4. After about 20 minutes (time needed for the Valium to take affect) you will be taking to the laser suite where you will lie on a special bed under the lasers. A blinking red light serves as your target to look at during the procedure. A lid holder will be placed to help hold your eyelids open. Numbing drops will be placed on the eye. Then, the LASIK flap will be made, during which you will feel some squeezing and pressure on the eye. Your vision will dim out during the flap making process, and may even go completely away for a few seconds, which is normal.
5. After both flaps have been formed you will be taken back to the preoperative area to sit for a short period of time.
6. You will then be taken back to the laser suite where the flap is lifted back, at which the vision will return but be blurry. The laser typically takes less than a minute to change the shape of the cornea. The laser tracks the eye, so if small eye movements occur, it will follow and still apply the laser in just the right position. Large eye movements will cause the laser to stop its treatment, helping to ensure that only the correct treatment is performed. The flap is then put back into place and allowed to dry for a few minutes. Last, eye drops are placed in the eye. The eye is closed with paper tape, then the same steps are performed on the second eye.
7. After the procedure is done, you will be given several eye drops in the preoperative area. Dr. Wright will examine your eyes to ensure that everything is exactly the way he wants the flap to be positioned correctly. Dr. Wright will want you to stay awake for at least 3 hours after surgery to ensure that the flap is well hydrated after the surgery. The eyes will start to burn and feel irritated about half an hour after the surgery as the numbing medicine wears off. This minor irritation should last for several hours and varying in degree depending on the patient.
8. Dr. Wright will see you the next day, at which point your eyes are usually feeling pretty comfortable. You will continue using eye drops for several weeks after the surgery. Your regular optometrist will follow you through the remainder of your post-operative care. During the first few months after the surgery, artificial tears should be used regularly to help limit dryness of the eyes while they heal. If all is well, as it typically is, your optometrist will usually see you once a year to ensure that eyes stay in good general health.