If you're like most people, you've undoubtedly found your eyeglasses or contact lenses to be rather limiting in everyday life. They can restrict your activity at work and play. And unless you're wearing them from the moment you get up, even simple things like checking your alarm clock or reading the morning paper can be difficult.
Surgical procedures to correct vision by changing the shape of the cornea have been around for quite a while. But early methods, while offering the promise of life without glasses or contacts, were effective only on certain conditions. And, because they involved deep incisions in the cornea, they were also somewhat risky.
With the advent of the excimer laser, eye surgeons are now able to gently sculpt the cornea to modify its shape. This less invasive technology means more accurate vision correction, quicker healing, and less discomfort. The risks of infection and side effects are also substantially reduced.
The excimer laser is a "cool light" device that enables eye surgeons to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Two common procedures employ excimer technology:
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) sculpts a small area on the surface of the cornea instead of making incisions. PRK reliably corrects myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The major benefit of PRK is that it preserves the integrity of the cornea.
Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a newer procedure and considered the best solution in most cases. With LASIK, no corneal surface tissue is removed and patients generally report being more comfortable after the procedure.
Both LASIK and PRK are computer-controlled, accurate, and very fast. They are performed on an outpatient basis and take less than one minute per eye. More than 95 percent of all patients who undergo excimer laser surgery have vision of 20/40 or better after the healing process is complete. Many patients report improvement in their vision within one hour.
Are you a candidate for laser refractive surgery? The answer is only an eye exam away. To schedule your appointment or learn more above laser vision correction, please contact us or complete the information request form on our home page.
For patients who are good candidates for laser vision correction, 1Optometrist.com has partnered with one of New England's leading eye surgeons.
Dr. George Frangieh, M.D., is at the forefront of advances in laser
refractive surgery. For ten years, he has been an active
participant in PRK and LASIK development, participating in early
trailblazing studies and performing countless procedures.
Dr.Frangieh completed his residency in ophthalmology at the
University of Southern California. He was awarded an Eye Pathology Fellowship at
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and a Corneal Fellowship at
Harvard Medical School.
