Vision Correction

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Vision Correction with Lasik

Until recently, if you were one of the millions of people with a refractive error, eyeglasses and contact lenses were the only options for correcting vision. But with the development of refractive surgery, some people with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism (a cornea with unequal curves), can have their vision improved surgically.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a refractive procedure that uses a laser to permanently reshape the cornea. The reshaped cornea helps focus light directly onto the retina to produce clearer vision.

LASIK is usually performed as an outpatient procedure using topical anesthesia with eyedrops. The procedure itself generally takes about 15 minutes. The surgeon creates a flap in the cornea with a special laser called a femtosecond laser. Tiny, quick pulses of laser light are applied to your cornea, creating microscopic bubbles at a specific depth and position within your cornea. Your ophthalmologist creates a flap in the cornea by gently separating the tissue where the bubbles have formed, and the flap is then folded back. The cool beam of a second laser, called an excimer laser, is used to remove a thin layer of corneal tissue. The flap is folded back to its normal position and sealed without sutures. The removal of corneal tissue permanently reshapes the cornea.

A clear shield protects the flap for the first day and night. Vision is usually slightly cloudy immediately after the procedure, but it clears rapidly, often within just a few hours. Your vision should be clear by the next day. Healing after surgery is often less painful than with other methods of refractive surgery, because the laser removes tissue from the inside of the cornea and not the surface. You will need to use antibiotic and steroid eyedrops several times a day for the first week, along with rewetting drops. After the first week, you will need to use only the rewetting eyedrops.

Some people experience poor night vision after LASIK. The surgery also may result in undercorrection or overcorrection, which can often be improved with a second surgery. More rare and serious complications include a dislocated flap, epithelial ingrowth, and inflammation or infection underneath the flap. Most complications can be managed without any loss of vision. Permanent vision loss is very rare.

The ideal candidate for LASIK has a stable refractive error, adequate corneal thickness and normal corneal shape, is free of eye disease, is at least 18 years old, and is willing to accept the potential risks, complications, and side effects of LASIK.

ICL

This exciting new technology offers options for those seeking to reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses. The Visian ICL provides an outstanding quality of vision for those who are nearsighted. Were you told that you are not a candidate for LASIK? Too much nearsightedness? Thin corneas? Dry eyes? Find out if the Visian ICL is the best choice for you.

The Visian ICL is a soft, thin lens that is gently implanted behind the iris and in front of the human lens. It is similar in appearance and feel to a contact lens but remains inside the eye. The Visian ICL is implanted by Dr. Wilmarth under topical anesthesia in 10 to 15 minutes. There is very little, if any, discomfort associated with this procedure. Remarkably, visual recovery is quick and most are back to normal activities the next day.

CRYSTALENS

Imagine being able to see your world as you did when you were younger without the help of glasses or contact lenses. Near, far and all distances in between.

The Crystalens changes shape in your eye to create seamless focusing from distance to near and everywhere in between. It is placed in your eye at the time of cataract removal or as part of a vision correction procedure.

A revolutionary design makes Crystalens implantation the state-of-the-art procedure to improve distance and near vision. This unique lens is"hinged" so that it changes shape inside the eye as you focus. Unlike old-style ridge lenses, Crystalens has the ability to move, thus focusing as your eye's natural lens.

LASIK

LASIK is a true revolution in eye care. It is one of the most commonly performed operations in the world. Some regard it as a modern"medical miracle" because the results are almost immediate with minimal discomfort. At the end of the procedure, patients can see across the room. By the next day, the vast majority of patients can legally drive to the first post operative visit free of glasses or contact lenses.

After complete topical anesthesia, a microkeratome is used to create a very thin flap of corneal tissue. The flap is gently laid back and the laser sculpts the desired correction onto the corneal bed. The flap is then placed back in position.

Patients are back to most normal activities the next day.