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Opinions >
Is Monovision a better option than Multifocal lens implants?
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Am I a candidate for LASIK Surgery? |
Questions to ask during your LASIK Consultation: | |||
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Since its inception in the 1990's and
approval by the FDA in the U.S. the excimer laser has allowed
ophthalmologists to correct vision with predictable and repeatable
results. While not everyone is a candidate for laser vision correction,
everyone can find out what their options are for LASIK.
You may be a LASIK candidate if you have
refractive error and wish to decrease your dependence on glasses. Myopia,
hyperopia and astigmatism all cause errors in the visual system of the eye
causing blurry vision without some form of correction. Options for
correcting refractive errors include glasses, contact lenses, LASIK and
surface laser treatments, such as PRK or LASEK. A consultation with our
surgical staff and physicians will give you a detailed analysis of your
candidacy for LASIK or surface treatment.
When wavefront technology allowed custom
cornea treatments for vision correction, doctors readily adapted the
technology to treat each patients individual prescription with precision
and accuracy.
Doctors are pleased to use the custom
corneal treatment with eye-tracking technology. The eye-tracker allows
the laser system to delivery precise and accurate results without worry of
decentration. Software upgrades have recently been added laser, as FDA
trials have shown the custom laser treatment to be safe and effective.
The excimer laser was initially used in
laser vision correction in the 1990's. The first procedure with the
excimer laser was PRK. PRK (Photorefractive keratectomy) utilized the
excimer laser to reshape the surface of the cornea without the need of
creating a corneal flap, as is used now more commonly in LASIK. PRK is
referred to as 'surface treatment' because after removing the superficial
epithelial cells on the cornea, the ophthalmologist treats the cornea
directly with the excimer laser. PRK is advantageous that it is a very
stable procedure. Healing after PRK may require a few days and vision
stabilizes generally after a few weeks.
LASIK varies from PRK in that a thin
corneal flap is created by the corneal surgeon using a suction ring and
keratome device. The advent of the microkeratome and flap creation
improved recovery for patients, who were generally pleased with the faster
visual recovery and comfort. The excimer laser reshapes the corneal
surface beneath the LASIK flap and the flap is replaced.
Many patients in their late 40's or
beyond have found that monovision with contact lenses is a functional way
to see both distance and near. Monovision means that one eye is corrected
for distance, but the other eye is focussed for near activities. For
example, a contact lens wearer would see clearly with the right eye for
driving and distance, but the patients nondominant eye, the prescription
in the contact lens might be set for computer or reading activities. Many
patients adapt very well to monovision, and the benefit is a decreased use
of glasses for only rare occasions.
LASIK with monovision is an excellent
choice for any patient who already uses monovision in their contact lenses
and likes it. By doing LASIK, the contacts are usually no longer
necessary.
On the day of your LASIK consultation you
will be guided through a thorough process of evaluating your candidacy for
LASIK. The refractive team ask you to give us as much information as
possible about your routine and life activities to better determine what
are your visual needs. Your consultation will include topographic
scanning of the cornea, a ladar wave analysis of your visual system, and
time with our physicians to verify the health of your eye, a stable
prescription, and answer your questions.
Experienced clinicians help in clinical
eye care and help coordinate LASIK refractive surgery
On the day of your surgery, you will have
a team guiding you through the process to help make this day a successful
experience for you. The surgery itself usually takes only a few minutes.
You will go home with eye goggles and rest until being seen again the next
morning. Eye drops including an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops,
plus frequent artificial tears are used after surgery to reduce chances of
infection or inflammation after surgery. 90% of patients are legal to
drive to their first appointment the day after surgery.
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1) IS MY CORNEA THICK ENOUGH FOR THE AMOUNT OF TREATMENT THAT I NEED?
2) ARE THERE ANY CORNEAL SURFACE ABNORMALITIES THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH HAVING A LASIK FLAP MADE?
3) IS MY CORNEAL MAP REGULAR AND PREDICTIVE OF A STABLE OUTCOME?
4) ARE MY PUPILS LARGER THAN AVERAGE AND INCREASE MY RISK OF NIGHT GLARE?
5) ARE THERE ANY POINTS IN MY MEDICAL HISTORY THAT MIGHT INDICATE RISK OF POOR HEALING?
6) HAS MY GLASSES REFRACTION BEEN STABLE ENOUGH TO PREDICT A GOOD OUTCOME?
7) WHAT ARE MY RISKS OF NEEDING A TOUCH-UP/MORE TREATMENT IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
8) DOES THE LASER HAVE AN EYETRACKER AND WAVEFRONT TECHNOLOGY? |
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Laser Eye Surgery |
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