LASIK is a treatment that corrects refractive errors. This eye surgery reshapes the cornea, making clearer vision possible. Refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism hinder a person’s focusing ability of the eye, thus making them dependent on eyeglasses and contact lenses. LASIK provides patients with an alternative. This safe and effective procedure removes a predetermined amount of corneal tissue and reshapes the cornea, which improves the focusing power of the eye and visual acuity. LASIK helps to reduce a patient’s reliance on eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Your eye will first be anesthetized with topical eye drops. Then, your surgeon will use a specialized, hand-held laser to create a hinged corneal flap on the outermost surface of the eye, which will reveal the underlying cornea. The surgeon will carefully reshape the cornea using the laser and then replace the flap.
A good candidate for LASIK should be at least 18 years old, have no change in refraction for at least one year and have realistic expectations for the results of LASIK. If you believe you are a good candidate for LASIK, contact your ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam.
Provided you are a good candidate, the average success rate for LASIK is 95 percent. Contact your ophthalmologist to see if you are a good candidate.
The LASIK procedure is near-painless. Usually, patients complain only of a mild discomfort, which can be controlled with medication.
Patients should have realistic expectations going into the procedure. While 20/20 vision has been achieved for some patients as a result of LASIK, it is not guaranteed for all patients. Improved vision and reduced dependency on eyeglasses and contacts can be expected, but allow months for vision to completely stabilize.
Only a small number of patients have reportedly experienced complications as a result of the LASIK eye surgery. Some risks of LASIK may include:
Fortunately, with today’s advancements in technology, complications with LASIK are drastically reduced.
As the LASIK procedure becomes more increasingly popular, the overall cost has declined. On average, LASIK can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,500 per eye. It is recommended, however, that you not chose your surgeon based on cost, but rather on experience. Normally, insurance companies do not cover the cost of LASIK. Z-LASIK® method – the premium LASIK procedure.
With FEMTO LDV™ laser
During the first step, the femtosecond laser creates an ultra-thin flap in the cornea by applying millions of tiny laser spots.
Thanks to the laser this occurs precisely within one hundredth of a millimeter according to the requirements defined by earlier diagnostic tests. The need for a blade is eliminated – the whole procedure is completely blade-free!
The flap, remaining hinged on one side, is then gently folded back and the eye is ready for step two.
With excimer laser
Now another laser ablates the corneal tissue directly under the flap to correct your refractive error.
It only takes a few seconds – then the flap is put back in place, where it adheres naturally.
In conventional LASIK, a blade is used to make the flap. Z-LASIK however uses the FEMTO LDV™ femtosecond laser to create the flap. It makes the whole procedure completely blade-free and enables the surgeon to tailor the procedure according to the very unique characteristics of each patient. A truly personalized, painless and safe treatment!
To find a Z-LASIK physician in your area please visit www.z-lasik.net.
Femto LDV™ femtosecond laser is manufactured by Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG. For more information, please visit www.ziemergroup.com.
Laser Vision Correction That’s Truly Personalized
There has never been a laser vision correction procedure that offers the precision and accuracy of the Advanced CustomVue Procedure. Since 2003, the Advanced CustomVue Procedure has continued to earn FDA approvals to treat the broadest range of vision imperfections possible, including mild to severe nearsightedness, farsightedness and all types of astigmatism.
The Advanced CustomVue Procedure begins with an individual vision evaluation using our WaveScan System which creates a map of your eyes’ unique imperfections. The Advanced CustomVue Procedure uses the digital information from that map to design a custom treatment for each of your eyes. This WaveScan map information is then transferred to the STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser. The laser uses this information to apply a cool laser beam that reshapes your cornea to create a new curvature and correct your vision.
Clinical studies presented to the FDA show that the Advanced CustomVue Procedure can potentially produce better vision than is possible with glasses or contact lenses.* In fact, clinical studies have shown that more patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their vision after the Advanced CustomVue Procedure than they were before with glasses or contact lenses.
Other notable outcomes for specific indications show:* Ninety-eight percent of mild to moderate nearsighted patients could see 20/20 or better one year after treatment One hundred percent of mild to moderate nearsighted patients could pass a driving test without glasses or contact lenses one year after treatment.