The following text will provide you with the latest information on refractive therapy. Refractive therapy is the generic term for any and all procedures laser and non-laser for vision correction. I will try to keep this information up to date and current despite the that technology is changing so quickly.
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We now have the availability of the new Wave Front Guided Laser Technology that is programmed to work with the Visx Star S4 Excimer Laser, The Ladar Vision 4000 laser by Alcon and Baush & Lomb's Zyoptik laser. The additional diagnostic information we now can obtain with Wave Front analysis increases treatment options for a more personalized CUSTOMIZED LASIK. Laser eye tracking systems allow lasers to track the eye 4000 times per second tracking the fastest eye movements resulting in increased accuracy.

In addition to nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism there are imperfections in the eye called aberrations that affect the visual acuity. Before the introduction of WaveFront, traditional Lasik could not correct these immeasurable aberrations resulting in decreased night vision due to glare. Often times a patient post-operatively could read 20/20 on the eye chart yet complain that the quality of vision was not real good. Traditional eye chart tests can only detect 80% of lower order eye aberrations. Fortunately refractive methods using WaveFront guided Custom Lasik expand our capability to measuring 100% off all the aberrations of the eye inclusive of the higher order ones. The result is better quality vision than ever.
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This is a non-laser procedure using radio frequency waves to treat low to moderate amounts of farsightedness and Presbyopia. A controlled release of radio frequency energy applied gently to the middle of the cornea increases the temperature of the cornea resulting in a more curved cornea and an increase of focal power. CK does not require a surgical facility and takes a few minutes per eye. It is painless and you may experience some scratchiness in your eyes or watering for a few days after the procedure. Normal activities are generally resumed in a day or two.

CK may not entirely reduce your need for reading glasses. For some patients it works perfectly yet for others they become less dependant on reading glasses and can perform many near vision tasks without having to reach for reading glasses all the time. The outcome depends on the nature of your prescription and your expectations. In some patients, CK may have to be repeated at a future date. The procedure is also best for patients who have not had a significant change in their vision for one year.

CK is a safe and effective procedure, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. If you choose to visit us for a thorough eye health examination we will determine if you are a good candidate for CK and additional information will be given to you. We welcome questions and never make you feel rushed. Come visit us.
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IntraLasik is an All-laser version of the Lasik procedure. No blades, the computer controlled laser with its unique IntraLasik software permits the silent laser beam to pass harmlessly through the outer layers of the cornea making the flap with precision thinness resulting in the lowest surgical percentage of flap complications. In traditional Lasik the comeal flap is created with a surgical blade. Although this procedure does provide good results there is variability in the flap thickness. As a rule, this is not an issue with normal thickness corneas.

In the case of thin corneas a thinner flap leaves more comeal tissue to treat with the laser. Until the introduction of the IntraLasik software and the FDA approved INTRLASE FS Laser patients with thin corneas and very nearsighted people were disqualified from Lasik. The new INTRLASE FS Laser allows for a higher degree of accuracy in both the depth and size of the comeal flap. This new laser utilizes Femtosecond laser technology. The difference between a Femtosecond Laser and the Excimer Laser commonly used in vision correction is pulse duration of the laser as it impacts the cornea. The INTRALASE FS Laser uses a quick short pulse, enabling the laser to apply less energy to the corneal tissue than the Eximer Laser. Using femtosecond technology the laser passes through the cornea with absolutely no effect on the comeal tissue until it reaches with precision the pre-programmed target inside the cornea.

IntraLasik allows us to offer those patients safe and effective laser treatment. This is a tremendous break through in technology. Each procedure is customized according to the patient's vision disorder and corneal thickness.
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IntraLasik is not for everyone, for that matter, most patients will do just fine with the traditional Excimer Laser. IntraLasik is ideal for patients with thin corneas, very high refractive errors, deep-set eyes, and small, tight eyelids. The device placed on the cornea for IntraLasik is smaller than the traditional microkeratome.
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