Refractive Surgery

LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)

LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's need for correction (glasses or contact lenses).LASIK is a procedure which uses an excimer laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye). A flap is created on the surface of the cornea with a laser (intralase ) or knife (called a microkeratome). The computer-guided laser creates a corneal flap with exacting specification. The IntraLase laser utilizes femtosecond technology to pass through the cornea at 15,000 pulses per second. A hinge is created at one end of the flap. The flap is then folded back revealing the underlying stroma of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled excimer laser vaporize a portion of the stroma thereby reshaping the contour of the stroma and the flap is replaced. The contour of the stroma with the overlying flap corrects for any refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

PRK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's need for correction (glasses or contact lenses). PRK is a procedure which uses an excimer laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye). Unlike LASIK, no flap is created but the overlying epithelial tissue covering the cornea is gently removed. With the epithelial tissue removed, the underlying stroma of the cornea is revealed. Pulses from a computer-controlled excimer laser vaporize a portion of the stroma thereby reshaping the contour of the stroma. A patch is then placed over the eye and the epithelial tissue which was removed naturally grows back into place. The contour of the stroma with the overlying flap corrects for any refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.