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Background
on LASIK Surgery
LASIK
(short for Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis) eye
surgery is a procedure that corrects
nearsightedness, farsightedness, and
astigmatism. LASIK eliminates the need for
distance glasses and contact lenses for most
people. LASIK has been performed since the
1980s and is proven to be very effective, with
few minor short or long-term side effects, and
requiring very little recovery time. LASIK is
currently the most popular elective surgery in
the country - nearly 1 million Americans are
expected to undergo LASIK surgery this year
alone.
What
to Expect During the LASIK Procedure
LASIK
is likely to help virtually anyone who
currently wears eyeglasses or contact lenses,
and both eyes can be treated together. The
LASIK procedure can also relieve chronic
allergies, irritation, and/or recurrent
infections from contact lenses. The only
requirements for LASIK are: 1) you must have
had stable vision for at least one year (this
means your prescription has not changed
significantly during the previous year); 2)
you are not pregnant, nursing, or taking
certain medications; 3) you meet basic medical
and visual health criteria; 4) you must be at
least 18 years old; otherwise, age is usually
not a factor when considering LASIK.
The LASIK
procedure starts with an anesthetic drop being
applied to your eye. After your eye has been
completely numbed, an eyelid holder will be
placed between your eyelids to prevent you
from blinking. Next, a protective flap is made
in the cornea either by using a laser
(All-Laser LASIK) or with an instrument known
as a microkeratome. During this process, you
may feel a little pressure, but usually no
discomfort or pain. After the flap is lifted,
you will be asked to look directly at a target
light while the laser reshapes the cornea,
which usually takes less than a minute. Then,
the protective flap is folded back in place
where it bonds securely to itself - without
the need for stitches.
At
Starr
Vision, we will only treat you if we believe that
we can obtain an excellent result. Approximately
30% of the patients that come to us for LASIK are
advised not to have the procedure, because we
believe they are not ideal candidates.
Starr Vision offers the
most advanced, FDA-approved, state of the
art laser to perform LASIK: the LADARVISION
4000 Laser. This laser uses the new wavefront-guided
custom cornea technology to achieve markedly
superior daytime and nighttime vision.
Dr. Starr performs The
All-Laser LASIK with IntraLASE which allows for precise, predictable,
customized flaps to be created
safely without the use of a blade or knife.
Instead, the flap
is created by thousands of tiny laser pulses applied
over the course of a minute.
A commitment to the highest quality goes far beyond
using the most advanced equipment. Our laser room is
dust-free and is strictly temperature and humidity controlled to a degree
unmatched by other centers. Attention to detail
(such as calibration, maintenance, and technician
quality), use of the finest equipment, and Dr.
Starr's extensive knowledge and experience combine
to produce our highly accurate results.
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