WHAT IS LASIK
What is LASIK Vision Correction?
LASIK surgery uses the power and accuracy of a laser to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism by shaping the outer surface of the eye — the cornea. It is generally done using a local anesthetic; it's fast and nearly pain free; you stay awake and have a short recovery time.
A suction ring is used to hold the eye in place while a shallow incision is made to create a flap in the outer layer of the cornea. Then the shape of cornea is changed by laser pulses that vaporize precise areas. To correct farsightedness, the cornea is made into a more curved lens. To correct nearsightedness, the cornea is flattened. For astigmatism, the cornea is made more symmetrical.
After only a few minutes, the outer corneal flap is put back in place, and the healing begins.
What Can LASIK Do?
20/20 or better vision is always our goal. Although LASIK surgery cannot give every patient 20/20 vision, it can often significantly improve some aspects of vision. LASIK surgery is very specific in the way it reshapes the corneal lens. It can help correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness or even astigmatisms (vision defects caused by asymmetrical corneal lenses, often referred as "football shaped corneas.")
Is LASIK Right For Me?
The best way to find out if LASIK is right for you is to take advantage of one of Corneal Associates' free screenings. If glasses or contact lenses make your vision significantly better, you are likely to be a good candidate for LASIK surgery. If your problem is caused by something other than the shape of the corneal lens, such as a cataract or a detached retina, LASIK surgery is not appropriate. If you are not a LASIK candidate, our doctors will be happy to review other vision correction procedures that could be potentially better.
LASIK TechnologyDr. Theodore Perl, utilizes wavefront scanning, a state-of-the-art software and hardware upgrade to the VISX S-4 laser with Advanced CustomVue Technology, which allows for more precise and more predictable results for LASIK patients.
Millions of people have had laser vision correction over the past few years. Many more want to reduce their need for corrective lenses but have been on the fence about it, seemingly waiting for the next technological upgrade. With Custom IR technology, we can now quickly identify or eliminate candidates while we individualize the procedure with more predictable results. With this technique, side effects such as halo, starburst, and glare, now are greatly reduced, and night vision is greatly enhanced.
CustomVue Advantage
Clinical Study Results
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration *(FDA) has approved the VISX CustomVue procedure for correcting nearsightedness and astigmatism.
The following are some of the FDA clinical study results. One year after the VISX CustomVue procedure*:
- 100% could pass a driving test without glasses or contact lenses
- 98% could see 20/20 or better without glasses or contact lenses
- 70% could see better than 20/20 without glasses or contact lenses
Four times as many participants were very satisfied with their night vision after CustomVue, compared to their night vision with their glasses or contact lenses.
Overall, many participants were more satisfied with their quality of vision after the VISX CustomVue procedure than before the procedure with use of glasses or contacts.
Uncorrected visual acuity is the measurement of how well you see without the aid of glasses or contact lenses. Quality of vision refers to not only what you see, but also how well you see under a variety of conditions, such as driving at night.
FDA clinical results for Low to Moderate Myopia, Up to -6.0 D MRSE with or without astigmatism up to -3.0 DC
Financing & Insurance
Most insurance companies do not cover the costs of refractive surgery; however some do provide coverage, so you should always check.
As a service to our patients, we are pleased to offer the CareCredit card, the nation's leading patient payment program. CareCredit lets you begin your procedure immediately, and then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that are easy to fit into your monthly budget. You can begin your vision care today and conveniently pay with low monthly payments. CareCredit offers a comprehensive range of Interest-Free and Extended Payment Plans for procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000. With CareCredit, you pay no up-front costs, no pre-payment penalties and no fees. Plus, CareCredit is a revolving credit line for additional treatment or add-on charges, without the need to re-apply. It only takes a few minutes to apply for CareCredit and you may receive an online decision in seconds! Apply now, or see our staff for more details.
Your Family Eye Doctor & LASIK
Corneal Associates believes in working closely with the eye doctors whom you know best and are most comfortable with. We will share our records and concerns with your doctor, at your request, and will incorporate your doctor into your post surgical management program.
Patients speak about LASIK
“My LASIK surgery seemed to take less than ten minutes for both eyes. There was no pain or even discomfort.”
Irene Edelstein - North Caldwell, NJ
“Five minutes per eye, and no pain. Dr. Perl talked me through the process. If he hadn't told me that was about to happen, I would have been concerned.”
Karen Gorzynski - Kendall Park, NJ
The laser vision correction process begins with a consultation with your doctor where a patient can learn about the technology and the procedure. An evaluation follows to assess a patient’s overall health and to measure and create a detailed and unique map of their eyes. Once it’s confirmed that an individual is a good candidate for laser vision correction, the procedure can be scheduled.
On the day of the procedure, anesthetic drops are placed into the patient’s eyes. The patient’s unique correction information is transferred from the WaveScan® to the laser. Laser vision correction works by gently reshaping the cornea with the cool beam from the laser to remove microscopic amounts of tissue – less than the thickness of a human hair in most cases – to create a new curvature. The procedure typically takes several seconds and the majority of individuals feel no discomfort. Many patients notice immediate results after CustomVue™ and vision continues to improve over several days. Routine follow-up visits complete the process.
Been told you're not a candidate for LASIK? Click here.
