Has your nearsightedness or farsightedness been bothering you for far too long? Has dealing with your current eyeglasses or contacts become tiresome? Whether you are suffering from myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, LASIK can help your vision.
Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) uses a state-of-the-art excimer laser to reshape or change the curvature of the cornea, thereby eliminating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Pannu Laser Institute has invested in the latest LASIK technology available today: LADAR Vision WaveFront Guided Laser Technology.
Within the last few years LASIK technology has evolved into a successful technique for correcting refractive errors. The current procedure, done on an outpatient basis, involves laser surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. LASIK can correct a much higher degree of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism than any other refractive procedure, with excellent results (95% of patients achieve 20/40 vision or better).
In performing LASIK, an eye drop anesthetic is used to numb the eye. The surgeon then uses a special instrument to create a corneal flap and expose the inner portions of corneal tissue. There are two different LASIK procedures that the Pannu Laser Institute offers to its patients. One involves a small instrument called a microkeratome that is used to create the corneal flap while the other procedure is completely bladeless and uses a special laser to create the corneal flap. The eye is then positioned under the excimer laser which has been computer programmed to remove microscopic amounts of the internal corneal tissue.
Removal of the tissue changes the curvature of the cornea. If the patient is nearsighted, tissue closer to the central part of the cornea is removed to decrease the curvature or flatten the cornea. If a patient is farsighted, tissue in the peripheral part of the cornea is removed to increase the curvature of the cornea. To correct for astigmatism, selected tissue at certain angles is removed to insure that the cornea curves equally in all directions. After the laser has been used, the flap is returned to its original position. The corneal tissue has extraordinary natural bonding qualities that allow effective healing without the use of stitches.
Since only eye drop anesthetic is used, patients remain awake during the procedure. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes. Improved vision is often possible on the day of surgery.
Advantages of LASIK include:
Faster healing time
Rapid visual recovery
Less risk of scarring
Less risk of corneal haze
Less post-op discomfort
Treatment of a wider range of nearsightedness
First, a thin layer (about 3 hair strands thick) of the cornea is lifted up as the microkeratome glides across the cornea.
Then, in less than 30 seconds, ultraviolet light and high laser energy pulses from the excimer laser reshape the internal corneal tissue by removing about 1-2 hair strands thick of cornea. Everyone has a unique cornea and our state-of-the-art WaveFront technology allows our physicians to accurately measure your eye's unique map of the light beams traveling through your eye. The physician custom shapes your cornea (CustomCornea) based on this 3-D map.
Click here to learn more about LADAR Vision Technology. The corneal flap is replaced in its original position. The healing is rapid and does not require stitches. The entire procedure takes less than 2 minutes. This procedure also works on the surface of the eye and never enters inside the eye.
Our physicians specialize in LASIK and are experts in this field. Read more about our physicians' qualifications and experience.
Custom LASIK by the Pannu Laser Institute allows our patients to have the latest technology utilized during their LASIK procedure. Each patient's procedure is unique to themselves since no two peoples' eyes are the same. During the LASIK procedure, a special device called the LADARWave(TM) WaveFront imaging device is used to precisely map the individual characteristics of a person's eye. It's this map that should guide the laser later on in the LASIK procedure. Before the advent of this technology, a LASIK procedure was directed by what your eye prescription was. So, instead of treating basic hyperopia, byopia, or astigmatism, Custom Lasik actually helps fix an individual's eye irregularities.
Take you vision beyond glasses, beyond contacts, possibly beyond 20/20 with Custom LASIK at the Pannu Laser Institute.
A revolutionary form of LASIK is available at the Pannu Laser Institute. Bladeless LASIK is a procedure that involves only lasers in the creation of the corneal flap and in the actual LASIK procedure. With normal LASIK, a special instrument called a microkeratome is used to create the corneal flap that is pulled back so that the actual LASIK procedure can take place. In bladeless LASIK, a special type of instrument called the femtosecond laser is used in the creation of the corneal flap. There are two main reasons why someone would choose to have bladeless LASIK instead of regular LASIK.
1. Increased Safety Since there are no blades used in this process, there is no need to worry about the variability of blade quality. Everything is computer-controlled and the quality is analyzed by the physician. There is little to no risk of flap irregularities because of the bladeless procedure. The all laser approach allows the physicians of the Pannu Laser Institute to design the flap accordingly to your own eye's needs.
2. Less Invasive
In a normal LASIK procedure, when the corneal flap is created by the microkeratome, there was a chance that an abrasion could form on the cornea which could end up being painful during the healing process. In Bladeless LASIK, everything is preprogrammed and controlled by the computer meaning there is a less likelihood of an abrasion happening.
Photo-Refractive Keratectomy or PRK is another form of laser vision correction similar to LASIK. The same excimer laser is used in PRK that is used in LASIK. One main difference is that a corneal flap is not created in PRK. The procedure is conducted on the outer layer of the cornea instead below it as in LASIK. If you suffer from low to moderate amounts of nearsightedness PRK may be another option for laser vision correction if you are not a candidate for LASIK.
Just like LASIK, the actual procedure takes less than a minute. The healing process, compared to LASIK, is quite a bit longer. Depending upon how your overall eye prescription is you may consider having the PRK procedure performed. As with any laser vision correction procedure you need to meet with a refractive coordinator to help you decide which procedure is right for you.
To find out how PRK can help you improve your vision. Call Pannu Laser Institute at (954) 484-0700 for your free vision consultation, or request an appointment online.
