Before having LASIK, most of our patients couldn't imagine waking up in the morning and seeing the alarm clock without glasses. They never dreamed they'd be able to drive a car, watch a movie or enjoy sports such as swimming and skiing without contact lenses. Since they were children, this dependence on glasses and contacts has shaped their lives, memories and the way they felt about themselves.
The doctors at South County Eye Care are part of a team approach to give you a critical advantage in achieving the best outcome. We have been throughly trained and educated in all aspects of laser vision correction which include the latest advancements in treatment and technology.
LASIK
LASIK (Laser-Assisted-In-Situ Keratomileusis) is currently one of the most frequently performed elective procedures in North America. It is a highly effective outpatient procedure that is suitable for most low, moderate and higher prescriptions. LASIK uses a cool beam of light from the excimer laser to gently reshape the front surface (cornea) of your eye.
The LASIK Procedure
Anesthetic drops are applied to the eye.
A protective flap is created and gently lifted by the surgeon, revealing the inner corneal tissue.
Computer-controlled pulses of cool laser light are applied to the inner layers of your cornea. As the laser pulses, it makes a ticking sound. The inner corneal layer is reshaped with the laser to mimic your contact lens or glasses prescription.
The surgeon gently replaces the flap and aligns it to its original position. It heals naturally and securely.
Some patients may feel slight irritation for a few hours, but most are quite comfortable after a nap and rest.
Custom LASIK
While conventional LASIK has been a complete revolution in vision correction, TLC also offers the latest in laser vision correction technology: Custom LASIK. Custom LASIK is a procedure that enables your surgeon to further customize the conventional LASIK procedure to your individual eyes. This customized procedure may result in patients seeing clearer and sharper than ever before. FDA studies show that Custom LASIK may produce better vision than is possible with contact lenses or glasses.
In clinical studies, Custom LASIK has been able to provide patients with:
A greater chance of having 20/20 vision
The potential for better vision than is possible with contacts or glasses
Less incidence of glare and halos
Potentially better overall vision, even at night.
Better Quality Vision Clinical studies have shown that Custom LASIK may improve not only what you see but also how well you see it. In the past, all vision was measured using a standard vision chart. If you could see the letters, the doctor would use that measurement for how well you could see. But now, with Custom LASIK, doctors are able to focus on the quantity as well as the quality of your vision. Many patients who have had Custom LASIK are reporting the ability to see clearer than ever before.
Higher Order Aberrations Several types of visual imperfections, referred to as lower- and higher-order aberrations, exist within the eye and may affect your vision (the amount of these aberrations vary from person to person). Previously, only lower-order aberrations (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) could be measured and treated. Higher-order aberrations may also have a significant impact on vision and have been linked to glare and halos. Now Custom LASIK may help to further customize your treatment of these higher-order aberrations that, in the past, could not be adequately treated with glasses, contacts or conventional LASIK treatments. Your doctor will recommend the best procedure for you based on your personal aberrations.
The Technology of Custom LASIK Custom LASIK uses a wavefront analyzer to measure the way light travels through your eye. The wavefront analyzer creates a customized 3-D map of your eye that looks at your entire optical system. This map provides information about the unique visual characteristics of your eye which adds an additional level of data about your vision, enabling your TLC surgeon to further customize your vision correction.