Lasik is a surgical procedure to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. This procedure reshapes the cornea (surface of the eye), helping to more clearly focus what you see. Advanced laser technology makes Lasik fast and often painless. Vision begins to improve soon after surgery, and will become more stable within weeks.
Eye Consultants PC has a board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Joseph Townley that has been performing Lasik procedures since 1998 using the latest techniques. Dr. Townley invites you to come in for a complimentary consultation to see if you are a candidate for the Lasik procedure.
Are you a good candidate for Lasik
Lasik is not for everyone. Be sure to discuss your medical history with your eye doctor. You are a good candidate if you have;
Evaluating your vision for Lasik
To find out whether you’re a good candidate for Lasik, you’ll need to have a thorough eye exam. This exam may include:
- Tests of refraction (your corrective lens prescription)
- Measurement of you pupil
- A thorough exam of your cornea
- Mapping or scanning of the corneal surface to reveal its exact shape
- Ultrasound (images made using sound waves) to measure corneal thickness
- Dilation (enlargement) of your pupil to allow your eye doctor to examine the inside of your eye
- Questions about your general health, eye health, and medical history
Risks and complications:
You may experience temporary or permanent:
- Burning
- Halos
- Dryness
- Glare / Starbursts
- Blurriness
Other types of refractive surgery
Radial Keratotomy or RK and Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK are other refractive surgeries used to reshape the cornea. In RK, an instrument is used to cut slits in the cornea changing its shape. PRK was the first surgical procedure developed to reshape the cornea, by sculpting, using a laser. Later, LASIK was developed. The same type of laser is used for LASIK and PRK. Often the exact same laser is used for the two types of surgery. The major difference between the two surgeries is the way that the stroma, the middle layer of the cornea, is exposed before it is vaporized with the laser. In PRK, the top layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is scraped away to expose the stromal layer underneath. In LASIK, a flap is cut in the stromal layer and the flap is folded back.
Another type of refractive surgery is thermokeratoplasty in which heat is used to reshape the cornea. The source of the heat can be a laser, but it is a different kind of laser than is used for LASIK and PRK. Other refractive devices include corneal ring segments that are inserted into the stroma and special contact lenses that temporarily reshape the cornea (orthokeratology).