During the Lasik Procedure: Information about the actual lasik procedure and after sugery

Custom Lasik
Custom LASIK is a procedure that enables your surgeon to further customize the conventional LASIK procedure to your individual eyes. This customized procedure may result in patients seeing clearer and sharper than ever before. FDA studies show that Custom LASIK may produce better vision than is possible with contact lenses or glasses. In both conventional LASIK and Custom LASIK the procedure is performed in the same way.

Understanding How Custom LASIK Works
In Custom LASIK an aberrometer is used to measure the way light travels through your eye. The aberrometer measures more than 250 points through your optical system and creates a customized 3-D map. This map provides information about the unique visual characteristics of your eye which adds an additional level of data about your vision, enabling Dr. Emara to further customize your vision correction.

Higher Order Aberrations
Several types of visual imperfections, referred to as lower- and higher-order aberrations, exist within the eye and may affect your vision. In conventional LASIK only lower-order aberrations (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) could be measured and treated. Higher-order aberrations may also have a significant impact on the quality of your vision and have been linked to glare and halos. Now Custom LASIK may help to further customize your treatment of these higher-order aberrations that could not be treated with glasses, contacts or conventional LASIK treatments.

In clinical studies, Custom LASIK has been able to provide patients with:

• A greater chance of having 20/20 vision
• The potential for better vision than is possible with contacts or glasses
• Less incidence of glare and halos
• Potentially better overall vision, even at night.

Bladeless Lasik (Intralase)
The first step in the LASIK procedure is to create a flap of corneal tissue. The flap is then folded back. The surgeon is then able to perform the laser vision correction treatment with the excimer laser on the inner layers of the cornea. When the flap is replaced it adheres with 6-8 hours and allows for a rapid visual recovery.                     
Since the inception of the traditional LASIK procedure the corneal flap has been created with an automated machine called a microkeratome. In Bladeless LASIK, the surgeon uses a laser to create the corneal flap instead of a blade. The Intralase laser enables the surgeon the ability to customize the corneal flap for every individual patient. The Intralase laser allows us to treat those who were previously not candidates due to thin corneas.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)                      In PRK, Dr. Emara will first remove the top protective layer (epithelium) of the cornea instead of creating a corneal flap as in LASIK.

The second step of the PRK procedure is to reshape the cornea with the excimer laser. After the procedure is complete a bandage contact lens is placed in the eye.

The epithelium will regenerate in about 3-5 days and the doctor sees you daily at Lasik Centers of America until the epithelium is healed. While the epithelium is healing patients typically experience irritation, tearing and discomfort. Visual recovery is slower in PRK and that is why only one eye is done at a time. PRK was mainly performed prior to development of LASIK. However, it is still used in select cases for example, where the cornea is too thin for LASIK or if there is a pre-existing scar that can be eliminated through the procedure.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK)                                                         AK is used to correct astigmatism. A diamond blade is used to create two small accurate incisions in the periphery of the cornea. It causes the warped cornea to relax to make it round. This proven procedure is still used in selected cases.

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)

Implantable Contact Lens (Collamer ICL)              Is an option for patients with high degrees of myopia or hyperopia, who cannot be corrected with LASIK or patients who for other reasons are not good candidates for laser refractive surgery.                                                                                                   
The Implantable Contact Lens produces highly accurate vision correction with the insertion of a tiny, soft lens. Similar to a contact lens, it is placed inside the eye in front of the natural lens and behind the iris, (coloured part of the eye), rather than on the corneal surface. The brief outpatient procedure takes only minutes.

The ICL is injected through a tiny incision and then unfolds into position in front of the natural lens, working with it to give you clear unaided vision. No sutures are required because the incision is so small and the post operative discomfort is minimal. Following surgery eye drops are used and there several post operative exams.

Lensectomy                                                    Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) or Clear Lens Lensectomy is essentially the same procedure as a cataract removal. The eye's natural lens (crystalline lens) is removed and replaced with an implant lens called an Intraocular Lens (IOL) thus reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. This procedure is for patients who are not eligible for LASIK because of high degrees of myopia or hyperopia and who are already presbyopic.