Laser Vision Correction

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LASIK after Cataract Surgery

Some patients who undergo cataract surgery continue to experience refractive errors afterwards such as astigmatism, nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or presbyopia. These errors are typically not due to a problem with the new implanted lens, but are instead caused by irregularities in the cornea. We are pleased to offer post-cataract surgery patients the option of LASIK or PRK so they no longer need to wear distance glasses. LASIK reshapes the cornea with a laser so the eye focuses light more sharply, and will not affect the results of patients' previous cataract surgery.

Conductive Keratoplasty

Did you have excellent vision until you needed distance glasses at 30? Did you turn 40 and find that you needed bifocals? If so, you may be among the millions of Americans who have presbyopia or hyperopia (farsightedness). Presbyopia is a natural change in our eyes' ability to focus. It occurs when the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility, causing objects to appear blurry.

Conductive Keratoplasty or CK is a safe, non-laser, non-cutting technique approved by the FDA to reduce or eliminate presbyopia or hyperopia for patients over 40. Instead of a scalpel or a laser, CK releases radiofrequency (RF) energy through a probe as thin as a strand of human hair, treating your vision condition without cutting or removing tissue. The controlled release of RF energy in a circular pattern shrinks connective tissue in the cornea to reshape it, improving the way the eye focuses light.

CK was the first FDA-approved method for treating hyperopia. It is safer and less invasive than the LASIK procedure, takes less than five minutes per eye and uses only a topical anesthetic.

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange, also called clear lens extraction, replaces the natural lens with a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) in patients wishing to correct high farsightedness, high nearsightedness or presbyopia without undergoing a corneal modification procedure such as LASIK. Patients can choose from a wide range of IOLs in order to achieve the best possible vision for their individual eyes.

The refractive lens exchange procedure is the same as that used in cataract surgery; the only difference is that refractive lens exchange is performed to achieve refractive correction rather than cataract removal. Refractive lens exchange involves a rapid recovery and offers patients dramatic improvement in vision quality.

After surgery, patients enjoy clearer vision and greater focusing power almost immediately. Many eliminate or significantly reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, and vision remains stable over time. This procedure also prevents the patient from developing cataracts in the future.

You may be a candidate for clear lens extraction if you:

Although refractive lens exchange is considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks associated with any kind of procedure. You can discuss these risks, along with the benefits of this procedure, before deciding whether or not it is right for you.

Visian ICL™

The Visian ICL™ by STAAR Surgical is an insertable contact lens used to correct myopia (nearsightedness) in adults aged 21-45 without altering the cornea. Visian ICL offers High Definition Visian, a higher quality of vision than LASIK. It is the only minimally-invasive foldable lens available in the U.S. Made of a patented collagen-containing material called collamer, the Visian ICL is highly biocompatible, meaning it can be implanted in the eye with minimal risk of rejection.

Under topical anesthesia, the ICL and a gel-like substance are placed behind the iris through a tiny incision in the cornea. The gel is then removed. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes and no stitches are required.

The ICL's location allows it to provide excellent quality of vision and also ensures that it is invisible to the patient and others. The ICL can be removed or replaced at any time, and patients can wear glasses or contact lenses or choose to have other procedures done with the ICL in place.