LASIK
Undoubtedly, the ability to surgically correct refractive errors is one of the most exciting advances in all of medicine in the past decade. From the incisional techniques of Dr. Fyodorov, to the cryolathe techniques of Barraquer, to excimer photorefractive surgery (PRK), to today’s ultimate combination technique, LASIK, refractive surgery has provided happiness and freedom to millions of patients.
Refractive surgery works by either reshaping the cornea, the clear window of the eye, or by implanting a prosthetic lens within the cornea. The cornea can be reshaped by incisional techniques, surface laser ablation, or LASIK. LASIK, an eponym for Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis, has been so successful over the past several years that the previously developed techniques are rarely used.
LASIK is the most popular laser refractive procedure in the world. LASIK is the preferred procedure by patients interested in reducing their dependency on contact lenses and glasses. In fact, it is not uncommon for individuals who have the LASIK procedure to eliminate the need for glasses and/or contact lenses altogether. The refractive error corrected by LASIK includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
During the LASIK procedure, a small flap of corneal tissue about the thickness of a contact lens is created and folded back in order to expose the underlying tissue, or stroma, of the cornea. By creating the flap and keeping the overlying tissue undisturbed, the corneal immune system is essentially “fooled”, thus resulting in a minimal amount of inflammation and discomfort for the patient. The exposed corneal tissue is then ablated with the excimer laser in order to alter its shape. After the ablation is completed, the flap is repositioned onto the corneal surface where it seals without the need for sutures.
LASIK procedures take approximately 10 minutes per eye and the only discomfort has been described as “moderate pressure on the eye.” Following your surgery, we ask that you protect your eyes with shields and keep them closed for the first several hours after the procedure. You will be prescribed antibiotic drops for the first 5 days after surgery. Typically patients are seen at one day, one week, one, three, and six months, and one year post-operatively. Many patients are stable at 1 week and sometimes do not feel the need to return for their remaining evaluations. However, each of these post-operative exams are important in tracking the healing process. This helps ensure you achieve your visual expectations, as well as, underlines Commonwealth Eye Surgery’s commitment to excellent refractive surgery outcomes.
LASIK is truly a state-of-the-art procedure and Commonwealth Eye Surgery utilizes the best technology available. Commonwealth Eye Surgery, selected by Bausch and Lomb as the Kentucky flagship for the introduction of their Technolas® 217z Excimer Laser, was the first practice in the Commonwealth to offer flying spot technology. By our standards, the Technolas® 217z is, quite simply, the best laser for LASIK available today. With FDA clinical study data of 99.7% 20/40 and 87.3% 20/20 (<-7 sphere) , it is by outcome percentages the best laser available. The data meets and exceeds all other laser platforms.
