Thinking about Lasik? Kremer Eye Center is celebrating their 30th Anniversary by offering the opportunity for six people to win Free Lasik. All you have to do is submit a creative, 30 second video describing why you want Lasik and how it would impact your life……For More information, visit:
http://www.kremereyecenter.com/ThanksFor30
Vision Correction/Refractive Surgery Updates
One of the most common questions we hear concerns patient interest in “permanently”correcting vision. While we caution patients that surgical correction may not be forever, there are many options now available that can be offered patients to eliminate or reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Most patients are inquiring about Lasik, probably the most well know and most popular procedure. However many other procedures exist which may be a better option for some individuals.
The original Lasik procedure, a two step procedure using a device know as a microkeratome to make the initial corneal flap, and a laser to shape the cornea, has evolved significantly since being introduced into the United States in the 1990’s. Wavefront Custom Lasik is a much more advanced procedure using wavefront technology to create a precise map of the cornea which guides the laser procedure, leading to much greater accuracy. This greatly reduces the chance of side effects like glare or haloes, and may lead to better than 20/20 uncorrected vision in some individuals, according to FDA studies. The introduction of IntraLase®, a different type of laser which creates the initial corneal flap has yielded even greater results. This laser replaces the microkeratome, and is bladeless, and has made Lasik an option for patients who were previously regarded as poor candidates for the procedure.
PRK, LASeK, and Epi-Lasik may be options for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism who, for various reasons are not candidates for Lasik. No corneal flap is made, but the recovery time is longer. These are good options for patients who have corneal disease, dry eye or thin corneas.
A new and exciting option for nearsighted patients is a phakic intraocular lens implant, called the Visian ICL. Especially good for very nearsighted individuals and individuals who are not candidates for Lasik; the Visian ICL provides consistently good results. The lens is implanted in the eye behind the pupil, but does not replace the natural crystalline lens of the eye. (See video below)
Other options that are available include INTACS® Corneal Ring Segments, which are made from a biocompatible plastic that are implanted into the cornea, and work for individuals with mild degrees of nearsightedness, and for individuals with keratoconus, a degenerative disease of the cornea. CK, or Conductive Keratoplasty®, is for farsighted and presbyopic patients, and uses radiofrequency energy (RF) to alter the shape of the cornea.
Finally, Clear Lens Extraction is an option for patients that are not candidates for other refractive surgery procedures. It is essentially cataract surgery without the presence of a cataract. The natural lens of the eye is removed, and is replaced with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). Individuals that have this procedure will not require cataract surgery later in life.
For more information, and to see if refractive surgical correction is an option for you, schedule an appointment in one of our four locations. We co-manage all of these procedures with several surgeons in the central and southern New Jersey Region.
Posted in EYES and VISION
Tagged EYE DOCTORS SOUTHERN NJ, eye exams, Refractive Surgery, VISION
The majority of patients do very well with Lasik surgery. But the bottom line is that it is surgery, and not without risk. Click on the link below for an “eye opening” interview:
LASIK Eye Surgery Side Effects Not Taken Seriously, Says Former FDA Regulator – ABC News.
