LASIK and Other Refractive Surgery
Refractive eye surgery refers to a group of procedures designed to reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. There are many types of refractive eye surgery, the most popular of which is LASIK. For many people, wearing glasses and contacts is a hassle and can interfere with an active lifestyle. Patients who have undergone LASIK enjoy the sense of freedom that comes from not having to worry about wearing glasses or contacts. In many cases, patients have better than 20/20 vision after the procedure. Please read the information below to learn more about our refractive surgery procedures:
LASIK
LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by gently reshaping corneal tissue beneath the surface of the cornea. It is by far the most commonly performed refractive surgery in the United States. Please click on the following links for more information about LASIK:
Are You a Candidate?
Before you schedule your procedure, you will have a consultation with Dr. Wexler, during which he will determine whether you are a good candidate for LASIK. To be considered a candidate, you must:
- Have completely healthy eyes
- Have stable vision for at least a year prior to your procedure
- Not have too extreme of a prescription
- Be over 18 years of age
Procedure
Following your pre-operative examination, Dr. Wexler will create a treatment plan uniquely suited to your vision needs. Prior to surgery, he will use a computer to adjust the laser for your particular prescription.
LASIK is a quick and relatively pain-free procedure; it typically lasts less than five minutes per eye. Most patients require only anesthetic eye drops beforehand.
The actual LASIK procedure involves two main steps. First, Dr. Wexler will create a thin flap in the cornea, using either a hand-held surgical instrument called a microkeratome or the IntraLase® laser, which is detailed below. The method used to create this flap will depend on your specific case. Next, Dr. Wexler will use the excimer laser to reshape the cornea in a way that will focus light more directly on the retina, thereby improving your vision. He will ask you to look at a target light for a short while as the laser sends pulses of light to your cornea. During this time, the cornea will be painlessly reshaped. Dr. Wexler will then replace the corneal flap, which will heal on its own, without stitches.
Most patients notice an improvement in their vision the day after surgery. Some patients notice an improvement immediately following their surgery.
IntraLase®
IntraLase®, sometimes referred to as "all-laser LASIK" or "bladeless LASIK," is a revolutionary method for creating the corneal flap during the first step of the LASIK procedure. The IntraLase® system utilizes laser energy, rather than an actual cutting tool, to create a thin flap in the cornea. The use of the IntraLase® laser allows for greater control and accuracy than ever before. Using a computer software program to guide the laser, Dr. Wexler can control the exact dimensions of the corneal flap, including size, shape, and depth. The ability to customize and precisely carry out the creation of the flap means there are fewer flap complications than LASIK performed with the microkeratome.
Patients who would not typically be considered good candidates for LASIK, including those with thinner corneas, may benefit from the IntraLase® system.
PRK
PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy. PRK is a type of refractive surgery in which the excimer laser is used to re-sculpt the cornea, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses. With PRK, a pulsed beam of ultraviolet light removes an exact amount of corneal tissue, flattening or steepening its center and changing the way light is focused on the retina. This results in clearer vision.
PRK has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for a wide range of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. To promote comfort and healing following the procedure, a "bandage contact lens" is placed on the eye for three to four days. Patients notice a gradual improvement in vision over the first week to ten days following PRK, and it may take several months to achieve final results.
Epi-LASIK
Epi-LASIK is another option for patients who are eager to have refractive surgery, but who are not good candidates for LASIK surgery due to having thin or unusually shaped corneas. Epi-LASIK is similar to PRK; however, the epi-LASIK procedure preserves the top layer of the cornea (called the epithelium) by removing it as a flap-like sheet before re-sculpting the cornea with the laser. This epithelial sheet is then placed on the surface of the eye and a "bandage contact lens" is inserted for a few days. Preserving the epithelium in this way helps to reduce corneal haze and promotes comfort following the procedure.
Phakic IOL
"Phakic" means that the natural lens of the eye is still intact. The phakic IOL, or intraocular lens, is another alternative for patients with higher degrees of myopia or who are not well suited for LASIK. This intraocular lens is placed inside the eye, in front of the eye’s natural lens. An advantage of this type of refractive surgery is that the intraocular lens can be removed later if desired.
To schedule a consultation for any of these refractive surgeries, contact Eye Care Associates of St. Louis.
Please contact us via our instant contact form for all questions and if you would like to set up a consultation with one of our doctors.
Eye Care Associates
of St. Louis
211 North Meramec Ave.
Suite #202
Clayton, Missouri 63105
Tel: (866) 572-9992
Fax: (314) 863-3570