LASIK first received FDA approval in the 1990s and quickly grew in popularity. In 2002, it became the world’s most common elective procedure. Since then, LASIK has undergone many advancements. Today LASIK is so safe and accurate, it has been approved by the U.S. military for use on their pilots and by NASA for its astronauts.
Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction has given millions of people amazing visual results, with many of our patients calling it “life-changing.”
It can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This advanced procedure has the ability to reduce, or often eliminate, dependence on glasses or contacts. Not only will it provide clearer, sharper vision, but our state-of-the-art technology has the ability to provide visual quality even better than that of glasses or contacts, which contributes to an improved lifestyle and peace of mind.
There are several types of laser vision correction on the market today, with the main ones being LASIK and PRK. Medical Vision Institute offers these options and more to our Lexington patients!
LASIK Treatment
LASIK is the world’s most common elective procedure. Medical Vision Institute offers LASIK and other laser vision correction options to give our Central Kentucky patients the best visual results possible.
LASIK Surgery
LASIK is performed using an excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct vision. It is a fast, virtually painless procedure that takes place in our Lexington office and offers quick, often life-changing results.
Before your procedure, you will have numbing drops applied to your eyes and you will be given an oral medication to help you relax.
The surgeon first creates a thin flap in the outer layer of the cornea using a microkeratome device. Dr. Dudee then carefully folds back the flap and uses the excimer laser to reshape the corneal tissue underneath. The flap is then carefully set back into place and serves as a natural bandage. Each eye takes only about 5 minutes.
Immediately following your LASIK procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort and blurry vision. You will need to arrange transportation to go home. You will be advised to rest and keep your eyes closed as much as possible the day of the procedure. Your eyesight should improve and stabilize within a few days. Most patients are amazed when they wake up the next morning and can read their alarm clock without having to reach for their glasses. Almost all patients can drive the following day.
PRK
Photo-Refractive Keratectomy, better known as PRK, can treat nearsightedness, mild to moderate farsightedness, and astigmatism.
It was the first popular type of laser vision correction and laid the groundwork for the creation of LASIK. Like LASIK, PRK uses an Excimer Laser to reshape the cornea to the desired shape, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. Unlike LASIK, PRK does not involve the creation of a corneal flap. It begins by removing the epithelial cells on the outermost layer of the cornea. Dr. Dudee then uses the Excimer Laser to reshape your cornea to correct your vision. The epithelium should quickly grow back on its own in 5-7 days. Until it heals completely, you may experience a scratchy sensation and blurry vision.
While PRK offers results that are just as amazing as those achieved with LASIK, it has a longer healing time and the results are not as immediate, which is why LASIK grew more in popularity. For some patients, however, PRK may be a better option. This includes patients who are not good LASIK candidates because their cornea is too thin or too irregular.
Some patients may also be a better candidate for Dr. Dudee’s patented procedure, HDSA or High Definition Surface Ablation.
HDSA
At Medical Vision Institute, we have developed a patented technique known as High Definition Surface Ablation (HDSA) that combines the safety of PRK with some enhancements to promote an accelerated recovery.
HDSA uses an Excimer Laser to reshape the cornea just like PRK. The difference is our specially developed technique, which uses medicated contact lenses and eye drops to help the patient recover faster in order to start enjoying their results.
The Benefits of HDSA
HDSA offers the people of central Kentucky and beyond the same results you can achieve with LASIK, but without the need to create a flap in the cornea. This provides several benefits, including:
- A lower chance of surgical complications. LASIK is extremely safe, with a very low complication rate. When complications do occur, however, they are often related to the flap that is created in the beginning of the LASIK procedure. HDSA eliminates the flap and its associated risks.
- Increased safety. The flap created during LASIK often heals quickly, but injuries or trauma can dislodge it months or even years later. If your job or lifestyle puts you at high risk for eye injury, HDSA would be a safer option.
- A higher range of prescriptions can be treated. Since HDSA eliminates the creation of the flap and treats the surface of the cornea, there is a greater thickness of tissue available to treat. This means that higher prescriptions can be treated without the risk of thinning the cornea too much.
