Laser Vision Correction is a type of Laser Eye Surgery that Leslie Doctor, M.D. has been performing to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism since 1994. LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most common type of Laser Vision Correction performed in the United States today and is a good choice for most patients. For some patients PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is the preferred type of Laser Eye Surgery for vision correction. During your consultation at Doctor & Associates we will be taking all the measurements necessary to help you determine which type of Laser Vision Correction is going to give you the best possible results. We will take the time necessary to review our examination results with you and answer your questions so that you can make informed decisions about Laser Vision Correction.
About LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK Surgery is a type of Laser Eye Surgery called “lamellar eye surgery” because it is performed between the layers of corneal tissue. This is accomplished by creating a very thin flap of corneal tissue that can be lifted.
Then the laser energy applied.
The laser energy application is then followed by returning of the flap to its original position without the need for sutures or stitches.
LASIK offers patients a Laser Vision Correction procedure with minimal discomfort and a quick visual recovery. As a Corneal Specialist, Dr. Leslie Doctor’s training, experience and expertise in performing Corneal Surgery such as LASIK offers our patients an added sense of confidence in the safety, efficacy and predictability of having LASIK in Connecticut at Doctor & Associates.
What to Expect During Your LASIK Procedure
To begin your LASIK procedure, Dr. Leslie Doctor will instruct the staff to place a few eye drops in your eyes to numb the surface of your eye. This will make you comfortable during your treatment. You will be seated in a relaxed waiting area while the drops have a chance to begin working.
Next, a technician will accompany you into the Excimer Laser suite and help you to position yourself comfortably on the moveable “bedlike” area that is actually part of the laser system. Dr. Doctor will gently place a small instrument between your eyelids to help you remember to keep them open during your LASIK surgery.
Dr. Doctor will then create a very thin layer, which is a “flap” of clear tissue in the center of the cornea. She will then carefully fold the flap over and allow the inner layer of the cornea to be visible so that the laser energy can be applied. The actual laser application can take from 2-15 seconds depending on the amount of correction that you require.
You will be asked to look at a small light and to try and hold you eyes steady. At Doctor & Associates we use the Wavelight Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Excimer Laser System so there is no need to be concerned about moving your eyes during your treatment as the laser will actually “scan” the position of your eyes to identify the exact position of your eye, and will then “track” and adjust its position in order to keep perfectly aligned with your eye movement.
Based on your examination, your prescription, other measurements and calculations collected at your LASIK consultation, Dr. Doctor will instruct the staff to program certain information into the laser workstation computer that will monitor and control the actual application of the laser energy. Upon completion of the laser application, Dr. Doctor will have changed the curvature of your cornea so that it will be the shape necessary to correct your vision.
Dr. Doctor will then gently replace the “flap” back into its original position. Since the cornea is able to “stick” to itself, there is no need to use sutures or “stitches” to hold it in place.
LASIK surgery is quite “patient friendly”. The nature of the LASIK procedure is that it permits the healing and visual recovery process to be quick and predictable for most patients. For a few days after your LASIK Eye Surgery, you will need to be careful not to rub or bump your eyes too much. It is expected that you will have a mild “sandy” or “gritty” sensation during the first day or so after your LASIK surgery. This is normal.
Dr. Doctor and her staff will give you complete instructions regarding eye drops and medications to use to help the healing and visual recovery process.
YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Dr. Doctor will require that you return for scheduled follow-up visits to check the healing process, regardless of how well you think you are doing. Most LASIK patients at Doctor & Associates are able to pass Connecticut Motor Vehicles Eye Test without eyeglasses or contacts within a day or so after their LASIK Surgery with Dr. Doctor.
About PRK
PRK has been performed in the United States since 1995 and as such has withstood the test of time in terms of safety, efficacy and predictability. The PRK procedure is somewhat similar to LASIK in that the laser is used to reshape the cornea in order to correct your vision. The key difference between PRK and LASIK is that no “flap” is created during PRK. Instead, the laser is used to produce your optical correction by reshaping the outermost surface of the cornea, rather than under a flap, as in LASIK. PRK requires the removal of a thin layer of the corneal epithelium, which may produce varying degrees of temporary discomfort for up to a few days after your treatment. In general PRK provides a slower visual recovery than LASIK.
With PRK, Dr. Doctor will often prescribe additional medications and a thin, soft bandage contact lens to make you more comfortable for a few days after your treatment. PRK has a distinct place for some patients. PRK is recommended for those patients: a) whose corneas are too thin to have LASIK safely, b) whose corneas display evidence of scarring from infection or trauma, or c) who are active or reserve military personnel.
About the Wavelight Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Excimer Laser System
Our commitment to the quality, safety and precision of the surgical results we achieve for patients is illustrated by the installation of the Wavelight Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Excimer Laser System in our office so that we can perform your laser eye surgery right in the comfort and convenience of our office at Doctor & Associates.
Some things you may wish to know about the Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q include the following:
- Smart Energy Control- You can have peace of mind that the amount of energy in the laser has been calibrated to exactly the right level. After the beam has been created, it passes through three checkpoints on its way to your eye. At each of these points, the energy level is checked and adjusted if necessary, ensuring that the beam is perfectly attuned at its destination.
- Eye Tracking Technology-Due to the remarkable speed of both the eye and the Allegretto Wave® procedure, the laser beam will be constantly and minutely adjusted to the position of your eye at any given time. Every four to six milliseconds, the eye’s location is measured and the internal mirrors of the laser are automatically aligned. Just before the pulse is released, a second check is made to confirm that your eye has not moved. If, at any time, your eye moves too quickly to be measured or moves out of range, the laser will stop and wait for your eye to move back into position.
- Speed- Currently, the Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Laser is the fastest vision correction lasers for LASIK available in the United States. For most patients, the actual laser application only takes 2-15 seconds, depending on the amount of correction necessary. Of course, spending less time under the laser means an easier and less stressful experience during your Laser Eye Surgery procedure.
- Wavefront Optimized Treatments-The Allegretto Wave® Eye Q Technology allows Dr. Doctor to deliver a treatment zone that can both correct and optimize your vision through a precise optical formula. This technology is called Wavefront Optimized and helps to provide better night vision and glare control for our patients by creating a more natural corneal shape after your correction.
You should feel free to discuss any fears, concerns, questions or thoughts about LASIK or any corneal laser eye surgery with Dr. Doctor or the staff. Our staff is available to answer any questions or to address any needs you may have regarding Laser Vision Correction at Doctor & Associates. We will be pleased to spend whatever time is necessary to review any information about the PRK or LASIK procedure, what to expect on PRK or LASIK surgery day, follow-up care, fees and affordable “no money down” easy monthly payment plans that will fit into your budget.
Patients considering LASIK Surgery in Fairfield County or southern Connecticut will find that Doctor & Associates offers the LASIK TLC necessary for each patient and is conveniently located for patients from Danbury, Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, Weston, Wilton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Cannondale, Aspetuck, Redding, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe, Darien, Glenbrook and Ridgefield Connecticut.
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