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 What
is LASIK? |
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LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ
Keratomileusis and is a surgical vision correction procedure that uses an
excimer laser to reshape the clear front surface of the eye, called the cornea.
For over 25 years doctors placed incisions in the cornea to treat
nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. In the early 1980's they
began looking at lasers to improve the precision and predictability of altering
the shape of the cornea. Now, in its second decade of use, the excimer laser
has added a tremedous amount of precision, control and safety to the surgical
correction of vision errors. Using this remarkabable technology, the LADAR
Vision laser gently reshapes the cornea to your glasses or contact lens
prescription, thereby reducing or even eliminating a lfetime of dependence on
corrective lenses for over a million people every year. LASIK has been the most
widely performed and accepted form of eye surgery since its completed U.S.
clinical trials in 1991.
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| Our
LADARVision Laser |
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The importance of laser technology in
correcting vision problems can't be underestimated. Different laser systems
with different capabilities are available, and which laser technology you
choose for your eye surgery can impact the accuracy with which your cornea is
reshaped and the results you can expect from the procedure. Not every laser can
treat every type of vision problem, and your doctor can discuss with you the
options available for your existing vision problems. AtCollom & Carney Eye
Institute, our experienced LASIK surgeon, Dr. Wanda Northam, uses the
LADARVision excimer laser system, the first approved tracker-
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guided, small spot laser system. Precision shaping of the cornea
depends upon accurate placement of the laser beam. Even when you are unware
your eyes are constantly making fine movements. many of which are beyond your
control. The LADARVision excimer laser system is a highly sophisticated system
that locks the laser beam onto your eye and tracks eye movement using a
ladartracker. This LADARVision ladartracker uses laser and radar technology
developed for NASA, to track the position of the eye 4,000 times per seccond.
It maintains accurate placement of the beam taking the worry out of LASIK
because patients aren't concerned that involuntary eye movement will disrupt
their procedure. LADARVision's cool, small spot laser beam, less than 1
millimeter in diameter (about 1/144 the size of prior generations of excimer
lasers) allows micron size reshaping of the cornea, offering precision to laser
vision patients.
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| What
is CustomCornea Wavefront LASIK?
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Laser Vision Correction
Over six million people have had their
vision successfully corrected with conventional laser vision correction
procedures, such as PRK and LASIK. However, in spite of its overwhelming
success in eliminating one's dependence on glasses and contact lenses, the risk
for glare, halos and night vision problems has kept many people from having
this life changing procedure. Today, the potential for these unwanted side
effects has been significantly reduced withthe advent of wave fron technology.
The LADARVision System uses wavefront technology to perfrom the CustonCornea
procedure. Wavefront-guided treatments customized to each patient's unique
visual needs, makes visual outcomes considerably better than conventional laser
vision problems.
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| Not All 20/20 Is The Same |
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Since the mid-1800s, doctors have been measuring
vision by recording how well a patient could read letters on a standard Snellen
Eye Chart. Doctors consider yyour vision "normal" if you can identify the
letters on the 20/20 line from a distance of 20 feet. But, scoring 20/20
on your vision exam doesn't necessarily mean you have good quality of vision,
if the letters are not crisp and clear.
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| Until now, conventional
laser vision correction, like glasses and contacts, could only correct the
visual distortions caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
However, there are other imperfections in your eye's optical system that may
affect the quality or clarity of your vision at night or in low light.
Doctors call these visual distortions "higher order aberration," and they can
cause glarem shadows, halos and other annoying visual effects. Unless the
distortions are addressed along with nearsightedness, farsightedness and
astigmatism, the quality of your vision after laservision correction may not be
ideal, even if you have measurable 20/20 vision. |
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LADARVision
Wavefront Technology
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Now, thanks to advanced
wavefront technology it's possible to measure and address these higher order
aberrations. The LADARVision System can actually deliver better results
than a convetional laser vision correction. For many patients, this means
they can see ever better afeter laser vision correction than they could with
their glasses or contact lenses before their procedure. |
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| How The LADARVision Wavefront System Works |
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| First, flat waves of light are
passed through your eye. As the light waves travel through your eye's
optical system, all the distortions in your vision are measured. These
irregularities are then displayed as a three-dimensional wavefront map.
This information is then electronically transferred tot he laser, enabling Dr.
Northam to customize the procedure to address each patient's unique visual
requirements. |
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| The CustomCornea Wavefront LASIK Procedure |
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| On the day of the procedure,
your wavefront map will be perfectly registered and alighned to the position of
your eye. Then, the LADARVision laser radar eye tracker will track your
eye movement at 4,000 times per second to place the small-sport laser beam
precisely where needed to accurately reshape your cornea. The LADARVision
system is the only one that can maintain precise registration and alignment of
the eye thoughout your procedure. |
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| The Next Step |
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| All eyes have some level of
higher order aberrations so every patient has the potential to see better with
CustomCornea Wavefront LASIK. Calling Collom & Carney Eye Institute
for a free LASIK screening and finding out the unique details about your eyes
is your first step towards visual freedom. |
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