Bladeless Custom LASIK vs. LASEK
Published on 2012-11-09 06:40:00There are basically two techniques currently available in the United States for refractive laser vision correction: LASIK and surface ablation procedures (such as PRK or LASEK).
There are basically two techniques currently available in the United States for refractive laser vision correction: LASIK and surface ablation procedures (such as PRK or LASEK).
The first step of LASIK is to create a thin flap in the superficial layers of the cornea. This flap can be made with a metal microkeratome that has an oscillating blade or with Intralase, a bladeless laser.
When a cataract is removed, surgeons replace the defective lens with an intraocular implant or IOL.
If a patient comes out slightly nearsighted or farsighted after cataract surgery, surgeons can correct that residual prescription with LASIK surgery.
Many patients ask if their cataract surgery will be performed with laser. They think that a laser is the best way to perform any type of eye surgery.
Laser vision correction has helped many patients see better; there are two popular forms of laser vision correction, LASIK and advanced surface ablation.
Cataract surgery has traditionally been performed using small instruments and computer-controlled ultrasound called phacoemulsfication. However, there is a new laser that is currently under investigation that could potentially revolutionize cataract surgery as we know it.
With all of the improvements in LASIK surgery over the last few years, surgeons still sometimes need to do enhancements or touch-ups.
A cataract is a natural clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye. This is a natural process that tends to happen as we age. There are several types of cataracts, including nuclear cataracts, cortical cataracts, and posterior subcapsular cataracts.
The significance of iris registration is important to understand. When we change positions from sitting to lying down, the eye can rotate up to ten degrees. In a custom ablation, ten degrees can make a difference in the final result.
In cataract surgery, the cloudy crystalline lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant. In some patients, the capsule that held the defective lens and now holds the new lens can cloud over.
LASIK is a popular procedure and many patients have benefited from this amazing technology. Still, Dr. Jeffrey Martin finds that there are two main barriers that hold patients back from having their vision corrected due to fear.
In Dr. Martin's Long Island eye care practice he finds that the baby boomer generation is less likely to tolerate the symptoms of cataracts compared to past generations.
There have been many changes to the LASIK eye surgery procedure, but it may be difficult for consumers to understand how laser eye surgery has progressed in the past few years.
During cataract surgery on older patients, Dr. Martin uses a cataract removal technique that is very gentle on the eye. This is important because many of these patients have more fragile tissue.
With the advancements in LASIK, patients are having better visual results than ever before. When patients are under 40, they have not become presbyopic and therefore are able to see far and near after LASIK surgery.
When the pupil does not dilate for cataract surgery, it is necessary to dilate the pupil in order to get access to the defective or cloudy lens.
Generally, LASIK is appropriate for patients that are under 60 years of age. Cataracts do not present a big problem at that point, and LASIK eye surgery should correct vision for a substantial number of years.
There are several companies now developing lasers that will be able to make incisions that are perfect and reproducible. If laser development continues in this fashion, cataract surgery will become even safer and more precise in the future.
Laser vision correction has been a very popular elective procedure for the last 15 years. However, it has been linked to the development of dry eye. How does LASIK cause dry eye?
It is important that patients choose a cataract surgeon that is proficient in all of the best technology and techniques, and one who is knowledgeable about all of the intraocular lens choices that are available today.
Many of our patients want to know when is the right time to have cataract surgery. When the symptoms from the cataract become severe enough to affect quality of life, the patient should undergo cataract surgery.
What is the difference between LASIK and iLASIK? Dr. Jeffrey Martin, of Smithtown, New York in Long Island, describes the LASIK technique that he finds to be the best: iLASIK.
Some patients are curious about the minimum age requirements for LASIK. Patients are able to have LASIK at 18 years of age, but many patients are still changing quite a bit as far as their prescription goes.
There are some clinical situations that require more attention when it comes to cataract surgery. For example, takes medication such as Flomax, it is important to disclose this information to your cataract surgeon.
LASIK is the most popular of the laser vision correction procedures. Some patients with dry eye have been told that they cannot have LASIK and this is sometimes true.
Today, cataract surgery is much safer with more gentle techniques including no injections, no stitches, and smaller incisions. Patients can continue use of blood thinners before and after cataract surgery if their primary care physician thinks it is safer.
Many patients ask if different types of LASIK are truly different and why they may be asked to pay varying prices for these unique technological differences in laser vision correction.
Today, cataract surgery is much safer with more gentle techniques including no injections, no stitches, and smaller incisions. Patients can continue use of blood thinners before and after cataract surgery if their primary care physician thinks it is safer.
Laser vision correction is one of the most popular elective surgical procedures in the United States. LASIK is the most well known laser eye surgery procedure, but there are other types of laser vision correction that are performed today.
Choosing a cataract surgeon can be a difficult decision. As a patient, it is hard to get the information necessary to make a truly informed decision on who your surgeon will be.
Laser vision correction has been popular for years and the technology has continually improved over that time.
Today, cataract surgeons are able to complete cataract surgery in about 10 minutes on average, without the need or stitches or needles in the eye.
In the past, LASIK surgeons used blade machines called microkeratomes to make a flap in the superficial layers of the cornea as the first step of the LASIK procedure. Today, blade-free and customized LASIK technology allows surgeons to achieve even better results.
Laser vision correction has come a long way and many patients that would not have been good candidates in the past can safely have LASIK today.
Many of our Long island cataract patients assume that cataract surgery is performed with laser. However, the most advanced way to perform cataract surgery is with gentle computer controlled ultrasound called phacoemulsification.
There is a choice in implants these days and it is important that you discuss your options with your cataract surgeon. Patients that desire near and far vision without glasses or contact lenses have three FDA approved implant lens options.
Cataract surgery is a successful outpatient procedure that helps over one million patients improve the quality of their life each year.
As patients become older, the natural lens of the eye begins to cloud. This natural clouding of the lens of the eye is called a cataract.
A cataract is a natural clouding of the lens of the eye that occurs as we age. Most patients develop visually significant cataracts at a later age, but some develop cataracts earlier in life.
New developments in the laser vision correction field make LASIK and surface ablation procedures safer and more effective than ever before.
Cataract surgery has been one of the most successful outpatient procedures for many years. However, patients may still experience blurry vision after cataract surgery.
Wavefront LASIK describes the most modern way to perform LASIK and is integral in iLASIK or bladeless custom LASIK.
Premium implants that are designed to give near and far vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses greatly improves patients' vision after cataract surgery.
Laser vision correction has come a long way in the last 10 years. Today's state-of-the-art LASIK laser vision correction procedure allows for more customized vision correction.
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