Laser vision
correction
Using the precise beam of the excimer laser, Dr.
Jerry Maida carefully reshapes the curvature of the cornea
so that it focuses light correctly on the retina. This
reshaping takes place on a microscopic level, involving the
removal of layers of cells thinner than a human hair. The
laser does not actually burn the cells away, but merely
breaks the molecular bonds between the cells. The cool
ultraviolet beam of light produced by the excimer laser is
so precise that each pulse removes only 39 millionths of an
inch of tissue!
At Maida CustomVision, we begin with sophisticated
pre-operative testing to ensure excellent results. We use a
state of the art Orb Scan which scans the front and back
surface of the cornea and generates a detailed mapping of
the cornea.
In the early eighties, radial keratotomy (RK) became the
first widely used refractive surgery procedure. RK involved
actual incisions in the eye made manually by the surgeon. In
the late eighties, this procedure was surpassed by laser
vision correction, in which the surgeon reshapes the eye
with the help of a computer-guided excimer laser. Currently,
there are two main excimer procedures considered to be the
standard of care, Lasik and PRK.
LASIK: The excimer laser produces a beam of light
in which high energy is concentrated. The Laser meticulously
removes small amounts of tissue from the cornea. This
reshapes the corneal surface, allowing it to better focus
the image on the retina, with the goal of reducing a
patient’s reliance on eyeglasses or contact lenses. In LASIK,
the laser treatment is performed under a thin “flap” of the
cornea. |
