Custom LASIK with Wavefront™ in Monterey and Salinas

The eye sees images clearly when light entering the eye is bent by the cornea and lens so that it hits the retina at a precise focal point. One of the major causes of vision problems occurs when the cornea is the wrong shape. Laser vision correction, the most popular form of which is LASIK, serves to correct the shape of the cornea and thus allow light to be focused more precisely on the retina. Recently, technological advances have created the more precise procedure known as custom or Wavefront™ LASIK. Patients in Monterey and Salinas have come to know us as experts in this and other types of refractive surgery.

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The LASIK Procedure

Because it is able to correct a wide range of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, LASIK has quickly become the most popular refractive surgery in the United States. Improved versions of the procedure such as Wavefront™ LASIK allow it to treat even more problems, including minute but important high-order aberrations.

The LASIK procedure is a two-step process. First, Dr. Penrose will numb the eye and create a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. This flap is folded out of the way and returned to its place once the surgery is over.

The second step is the reshaping of the cornea. The doctor will direct pulses of laser energy in a precise pattern on the cornea. Nearsighted patients will have their corneas flattened while farsighted patients require steepening of the cornea. In either case, the final outcome with LASIK is that the cornea is given a more regular curve to help it bend and focus light more efficiently.

The flap created at the beginning of the LASIK procedure is returned to its original position and the patient is sent home to rest. Generally, patients experience very little discomfort and most people are able to drive themselves to their follow-up appointment the next day.

Results of LASIK

The laser vision surgeries, including normal and custom LASIK using Wavefront™, that are performed at our Salinas and Monterey practice have shown excellent results over the years. There is no guarantee that you will have 20/20 vision after LASIK surgery, but with rare exceptions you can generally anticipate a decreased dependence on your glasses and contact lenses. It is important for patients over the age of 45 to note that, while your distance vision will improve significantly after LASIK, you may still require glasses for near work. One alternative approach is a special LASIK technique called monovision which corrects one eye for distance and the other eye for near vision. Discuss this and other options for correction of presbyopia with one of our doctors at a seminar or during your free LASIK screening consultation at our offices in Salinas or Monterey.

After we complete your initial eye examination and determine the extent of your refractive error, we will be able to further discuss the probable outcome of your LASIK surgery. Contact Yesenia, the LASIK coordinator at our 880 Cass Street clinic, to set up an appointment today.

Risks of LASIK

As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with LASIK. It is estimated that less than one percent of all LASIK patients will experience a problem with their treatment. Some of these surgical risks involve visual aberrations such as halos or "ghost" images, dry eye, and undercorrection or overcorrection. An enhancement for an undercorrection or overcorrection may be considered six months after the original treatment. Most side effects are less likely when the custom LASIK procedure is used. Our staff in Monterey or Salinas will be more than happy to discuss these issues with you in more detail.

LASIK Candidates

You may be a good candidate for LASIK if the following qualifications apply to you:

• You are at least 21 years old
• You have a stable prescription for glasses or contacts that has not changed for at least a year
• Your eyes are free from disease including keratoconus, cataracts, or retinal disease
• You do not currently suffer from a collagen vascular disease including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome or dermatomyositis
• You are not pregnant or nursing
• You are not using certain medications including Amiodarone or Accutane®
• You have realistic expectations of the visual outcome of LASIK after considering the benefits, risks, and alternative options to the procedure

There are other health considerations to be made when determining candidacy for LASIK. The only way to find out for certain if LASIK is right for you is to come into our office for a complete eye examination. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any medications or have any health conditions that may affect the success of your LASIK procedure.

Education is the best means to obtain quality, custom-designed LASIK, so our office seeks to provide Salinas and Monterey area residents with the opportunity to get the latest information. Monterey Bay Eye Center is pleased to offer informational seminars, during which your questions about LASIK can be addressed. Call or email Yesenia to find out when the next one will take place.

Call or email Yesenia.

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Custom Wavefront™ LASIK

Custom Wavefront™ LASIK , a specialty of our Monterey and Salinas area clinics, represents the most state-of-the-art laser vision correction technology available. Lasers in the past provided results that, though accurate, were unable to correct imperfections other than those that caused myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. This limitation meant that some LASIK patients would experience increased occurrences of halos and glare around lights at night.

Doctors Husted, Rosenblum, and Penrose use the VISX® S4 laser with Wavefront™ technology and the most recent upgrade: iris recognition. The Wavefront™ technology utilized in custom LASIK uses digital mapping to get an extremely precise image of your eye and its unique corneal surface. This image also recognizes and records fine details of your iris. Before the LASIK procedure, the digital map and iris image obtained are used to program and coordinate the laser that will reshape the cornea. This results in precise placement of laser pulses, minimizing unwanted glare and halos. Studies also show that patients who receive Wavefront™ LASIK have a higher incidence of 20/20 or better vision.

It’s easy to see why we now perform more custom LASIK procedures using Wavefront™ technology at our clinics in Monterrey and Salinas than ever before. If you are interested in experiencing the benefits of this advanced treatment for yourself, please contact Yesenia at 831-373-0183 today.

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Flexible Spending Accounts and LASIK

While the bulk of the cost of a LASIK procedure is not usually covered by health insurance plans, there are ways for the patient to reduce the effective cost. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tool set up by the federal government that allows people to set aside money for medical expenses without paying income tax on it. For a procedure like LASIK that may cost a few thousand dollars, the benefits of an FSA can mean hundreds of dollars in savings. Money that is put into an FSA each year must be used or forfeited within a set amount of time, but good planning should allow a potential patient to receive custom Wavefront™ LASIK treatment at a significant discount. Call to discuss the details of this option with Yesenia at 831-373-0183. She will walk you through this process as you prepare for your procedure.

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