Laser Vision Correction

Our doctors are pleased to provide to our patients pre-and post-operative care in association with the Midwest Eye Center and Cincinnati Eye Institute. By providing the pre-operative exam to our patients we are able to let them know if they are a good candidate for laser surgery and which procedure may be best for them. After the procedure we monitor our patients to insure they have a smooth post-operative course. Some of the more common laser procedures are as follows:

LASIK: This is one of the most common laser procedures. A corneal flap is created with a device called a micro-keratome. The experience of the surgeon is of the utmost importance in creating this flap. After the flap is created, it is gently folded over to expose the underlying cornea, which is then treated with a laser to reshape it to the proper prescription. The flap is then put back to its original position, and the healing process can begin. Within a few hours after the procedure, most patients notice a significant improvement in their vision. This continues to rapidly improve within the next few days.

PRK: This stands for photo-refractive keratectomy. In this procedure, the laser is applied directly to the cornea without creating a flap. A bandage soft contact lens is then placed on the eye for up to several days to allow the cornea to heal. Vision is improving over the next couple of weeks. This procedure takes longer for the vision to improve, however, by not creating a corneal flap, it may be better suited for certain individuals that may not be good candidates for Lasik, such as those patients with thin corneas.

INTRALASE: This procedure is similar to Lasik, however, instead of using a surgical blade (micro-keratome) to create the corneal flap, it is done with a laser. This gives the surgeon more control as to the exact depth of the flap that they want to create. This is also important if a person has too thin of cornea for conventional Lasik.

Implantable Contact Lens: This relatively new procedure is designed for higher amounts of nearsightedness that is not suitable for one of the other refractive procedures. In this procedure, an artificial lens is implanted behind the patients iris and in front of their natural occurring lens. Excellent visual outcomes have been the standard with this procedure.

For more information on these or any other refractive procedures, please feel free to call our office.