Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Vision Correction:
Whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, you wake up each morning to a blurry world. Laser Vision Correction with IntraLase can help make your world clear. At Angelo Laser Eye Center, our experienced physicians and committed laser team want to ensure you make an informed decision about your vision correction options.
Feel free to contact us at (325) 481-2020.
What is laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction is a simple procedure that uses the VISX Star laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During the treatment, the laser's cool beam of ultraviolet light removes a small amount of tissue, usually less than the thickness of a human hair. Short pulses of this cool beam laser light change the curvature of the cornea, allowing images to be more sharply focused on the retina.
What are nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?
Nearsightedness occurs when the curve at the front portion of the eye, known as the cornea, is too steep, resulting in blurred images in the distance. Farsightedness is when the cornea is too flat, resulting in blurred images close up. Astigmatism is the result of an irregular curvature of the cornea. In a normal eye, the cornea and the lens of the eye focus light to form an image on the back surface of the eye, known as the retina. With nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism the eye focuses light improperly, causing the images of objects to appear blurry.
Can I have laser vision correction?
Just as glasses and contacts help you to see clearly, so does laser vision correction. But there are some guidelines: you must be at least 18 years of age, with healthy eyes and stable vision. The professionals at Angelo Laser Eye Center can provide additional information and advice during a free, no-obligation laser vision consultation.
What are the real benefits of laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction is the modern alternative to glasses or contact lenses. The goal of laser vision correction is to reduce or eliminate your dependence on contact lenses and glasses.
Is laser vision correction safe?
Over 1 million laser vision correction procedures are performed in the United States each year. Data obtained during exhaustive clinical trials shows that all patients experienced a significant improvement in uncorrected vision (vision without glasses or contact lenses) after laser vision correction.
What is LASIK with IntraLase, and what does it mean?
LASIK with IntraLase is a surgical procedure that is capable of correcting a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. LASIK is the acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis, sometimes referred to as laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. The name refers to the use of a laser to reshape the cornea without invading the adjacent cell layers. IntraLase is an extremely fast and precise laser used to create the corneal flap during the first step of LASIK.
How long has LASIK been performed?
LASIK was first performed in clinical trials in the U.S. in 1991. It is important to note that the major components of the procedure have a long history. Ophthalmologists have been reshaping the cornea for over 35 years, and using the excimer laser since the 1980s. LASIK has been approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective. IntraLase has been successfully used in over 500,00 cases in the United States alone.
Who can LASIK with IntraLase benefit?
LASIK with IntaLase can benefit a great number of people with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Candidates should have a strong desire to be less dependent on corrective lenses and willing to accept the risks of surgery.
What results can I expect from LASIK with IntraLase?
LASIK with IntraLase improves the uncorrected vision - one's visual capacity while not wearing corrective lenses. Almost all patients can expect to drive without having to wear contacts or glasses, and many can expect to achieve 20/20 vision or better.
However, there are no guarantees that you will have perfect vision. People who are most satisfied with the results of laser correction clearly understand the potential risks and complications and possess realistic expectations of what their vision will be like after the procedure.
Are the results achieved from LASIK with IntraLase permanent?
The effects of LASIK with IntraLase are permanent. The effects of LASIK with IntraLase do not wear off. It is important to realize that a person's eye can still change internally. That is why many surgeons recommend having the procedure done after the major eye changes have occurred in one's life. For instance, LASIK with IntraLase is not recommended on children because their eyes change a great deal. If the procedure is performed after the age of 18, the chances of long-term stable correction are better.
Patients should also note that while results are usually stable, they sometimes need to be modified by enhancement procedures - procedures performed after the initial one.
How long will LASIK with IntraLase take?
The first step is creating the corneal flaps with IntraLase. The VISX laser is then used to reshape your corneas. The entire procedure takes 15-20 minutes for two eyes.
Can I drive immediately after having LASIK with IntraLase?
Patients may experience some discomfort and/or blurred vision for a few hours after LASIK with IntraLase is performed. Therefore, you are not able to drive home after the procedure, and should plan not to drive for at least 10 - 12 hours.
Does LASIK with IntraLase hurt?
Patients are given a topical anesthetic eye drop to numb the eye, so they experience no pain. When the physician applies the vacuum ring, the patient experiences a sensation of pressure just before his or her vision fades for a few seconds. The laser used to create the flap does not cause pain or discomfort. For several hours after the procedure, many patients describe a mild burning sensation, such as after opening the eyes while swimming in chlorinated water. After the first few hours, this uncomfortable feeling usually subsides.
Can I have LASIK with IntraLase performed on both eyes the same day?
The majority of patients have bilateral simultaneous LASIK with IntraLase (both eyes done at the same time), but the choice remains the patient's.
Can I play sports after LASIK with IntraLase?
You can resume most normal activities immediately after surgery. You should wear safety glasses while playing contact sports whether or not you have had surgery.
How long will it take before I can see well?
Fast visual recovery characterizes this operation. Most patients achieve good vision within 24 hours of the procedure and find that their eyes feel fairly normal. However, vision can continue to improve, and best vision can still take two to three months to occur. If necessary, adjustments to the surgery called enhancements can be done.
Will I need to wear glasses once my eyes have healed?
Most patients who have LASIK with IntraLase do not wear glasses for their daily activities. There may be a need to wear reading glasses if the patient is over the age of 40. This is caused by the normal aging of the eye known as presbyopia. This condition occurs with or without LASIK with IntraLase. Some patients may need a minimal prescription for some activities such as night driving.
I wear bifocals now; will I still need them after LASIK with IntraLase?
Most people in their 40s or older will need reading glasses if their eyes are corrected for distance because the eye's lens loses flexibility with age. This condition, called presbyopia, cannot currently be treated by surgical methods.
If I'm corrected for distance, will I lose my ability to see well up close?
If you have LASIK with IntraLase done to correct your distance vision, you can expect to have very clear overall vision. However, images close to you may not appear as clear after having LASIK with IntraLase if you are over 40.
Do I need an examination first?
Prior to treatment, you will have a thorough eye examination, called a laser vision consultation, conducted at Angelo Laser Eye Center to determine whether your eyes are healthy and suitable for laser vision correction. Contacts will need to be removed prior to this consultation. Hard contacts are required to be out 21 days and soft for 10 days. Once the consultation has taken place, contacts may be worn again until 48 hours before LASIK with IntraLase. The consultation will include things like a detailed video and computer image taken of your eye that will show the curvature, shape, overall smoothness and regularity of the cornea. There is no charge for this consultation which can usually be scheduled at a time convenient to you.
What can I expect on the day of my laser vision correction procedure?
Anesthetic drops will be used to numb your eyes. You will be seated in a reclining chair. A gentle suction cup will be applied to your right eye. This prevents eye movement while the IntraLase laser creates the corneal flap. The same procedure is followed for your left eye. You will then be asked to focus on a blinking red light while the laser removes microscopic amounts of tissue from each cornea. The laser will treat each eye for less than one minute. You will be in the laser room for a total of 15-20 minutes..
How much time will I need to get laser vision correction?
At Angelo Laser Eye Center we recommend you plan to have laser vision corrections when you can afford a day or two to relax and enjoy the benefits of your new vision. A post-operative visit is required the next day and your eyes will be light-sensitive for a while. Healing of the eye occurs during this period so we recommend you avoid any strenuous activity. Depending on your occupation you may require a few additional days off.
What kind of vision can I expect with laser vision correction?
Most people requiring moderate laser vision correction should obtain vision similar to that experienced with glasses or contact lenses. Vision is somewhat blurry in the first day or two after the laser vision correction. It is expected that most patients should be able to legally drive without correction after about 24 hours.
What do I do next?
The next step is to learn about your specific vision correction needs. Call us today to schedule a laser vision consultation. At Angelo Laser Eye Center we are committed to helping you make an informed decision about vision correction.
Why IntraLase?
Traditional LASIK is a very good procedure. While the risk of complications is very minimal, all surgery carries some degree of risk. Now, an advanced computer controlled laser technology is available that significantly reduces the risk complications. It is known as IntraLase.
The IntraLase laser is uniquely safe, uniquely precise and offers patients predictably better visual results. The advanced IntraLase technology has given many patients more confidence when considering laser vision correction. Surgeons frequently prescribe the IntraLase laser because it provides micron level accuracy and significantly reduces the possibility of risk and unpredictable outcomes.
How is IntraLase different from traditional LASIK?
LASIK is actually a 2 step process. First, a flap of corneal tissue must be created and then folded back. The cornea is the transparent dome-like structure the covers the iris and pupil of your eye. By creating a flap in the cornea, the surgeon is able to perform the laser vision correction treatment on the inner layer of the cornea, which practically eliminates any patient discomfort and allows for a rapid visual recovery.
Traditionally, the surgeon has created the corneal flap with a hand-held mechanical device which utilizes a surgical blade. This method has worked well over the years; however, the performance of these devices can be unpredictable. And although LASIK complications are rare, this mechanical device is the source for many of the reported complications.
With the IntraLase laser, the surgeon uses the precision of a laser to create the corneal flap. The accuracy of the laser (100 times more accurate than a blade) is unparalleled by any other technology in vision correction surgery. This advanced technology allows the surgeon more control during the procedure, and even allows customization of the corneal flap for every individual patient. Because of its consistent accuracy, IntraLase now makes it possible to treat many patients who were dismissed as candidates for laser vision correction due to thin corneas.
Is this the same as the customized procedure I have heard so much about?
It's the critical first step of the customized procedure. There has never been a combination of technologies that have allowed for this type of personalized vision correction. The most exciting part is that while offering the ability to get the best results, we are doing it all with unprecedented safety and precision.
Every patient's eyes are different and therefore need to be evaluated independently and uniquely treated. Now all steps of the laser vision correction procedure maybe customized to the individual: custom diagnosis (before the procedure), custom flap (to start the procedure), and custom treatment (to complete the procedure).
Is IntraLase safer?
Most surgeons acknowledge that the main safety issues in laser vision correction are related to the use of the mechanical device used to create the corneal flap. Multiple studies which compare the incidence of complications when using the IntraLase laser versus the microkeratome device have shown a significant decrease in the events the adversely impact safety.
The IntraLase laser provides a unique level of safety because of its micron level precision. Clinical studies establishing the precision and accuracy of the IntraLase laser have led researchers to proclaim IntraLase technology as 100 times more accurate in creating the flap (the first step of the LASIK procedure) than the traditional approach with a surgical blade. The statement is founded upon comparative studies that report the likelihood of inaccuracy with the mechanical device as compared to that of the IntraLase laser.
This precision was also documented in studies conducted for the FDA clearance of the laser, where the accuracy of flap thickness was demonstrated at +/-10 microns. Precise flap thickness is critical to a successful LASIK outcome, and this degree of accuracy is unprecedented in flap creation technology to date.
Finally, greater flap stability was also demonstrated with the IntraLase laser in studies for the laser's FDA submission. The assurance that the flap will be securely re-positioned without incident provides added peace of mind for many patients.
Is traditional LASIK unsafe?
No, but IntraLase reduces the risk of complications reported with traditional LASIK, and we feel that it is very important for all patients. The advanced IntraLase technology has given many patients more confidence when considering laser vision correction. Surgeons are recommending the IntraLase laser for their patients because it provides greater precision and significantly reduces risk.
Another provider told me their technology is used more often. Who do I believe?
Leading surgeons nationwide are now adopting the IntraLase laser, and over 500,000 eyes have now been treated with this advanced technology. IntraLase has become the standard of care in laser eye centers devoted to nothing but the best.
How would you compare the visual outcomes using IntraLase with those of traditional LASIK?
IntraLase is rapidly becoming known as the key ingredient to optimizing results in laser vision correction surgery. Comparative clinical studies confirm that patients see better following laser vision correction with IntraLase than with previous methods.
Surgeons may now offer a new level of predictability to each patient in all parts of the procedure: custom diagnosis (before the procedure), custom flap (to start the procedure), and custom treatment (to complete the procedure). We believe that IntraLase is the essential ingredient of this strategy to obtain your best vision while maintaining the highest standards for safety and patient care.
I have seen several advertisements for "All-Laser LASIK." Is this IntraLase?
Be sure to ask for IntraLase by name. Only the IntraLase laser can provide the computer controlled, laser precision required for maximum predictability. Your doctor can explain the difference between other procedures that may be advertised as "all laser", such as LASEK or PRK which are surface treatments that do not include the creation of a corneal flap. These procedures generally require longer healing time and frequently involve more discomfort.
Is IntraLase more expensive than traditional mechanical LASIK?
LASIK surgery may be elective but good vision is not. Advanced technologies are usually more expensive for the surgeon to employ in a practice. IntraLase surgeons are frequently key opinion leaders who continually evaluate all advances in technology. They have found that the IntraLase computer-guided laser for flap creation is the most sophisticated and accurate system available today.
IntraLase technology provides greater precision, safety and predictability. IntraLase surgeons believe that laser vision correction enriched with IntraLase is one of the most important advances in technology today. Because of its unique safety profile, these surgeons have invested in the technology in order to maintain their commitment to excellence in patient care.
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