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Blade Free IntraLase LASIK – Latest Technology
There have been several advancements in LASIK surgery over the past couple of years, including IntraLase—a highly sophisticated blade-free method for creating the corneal flap. The IntraLase Method™ virtually eliminates the most severe sight-threatening LASIK complications.
HOW THE INTRALASE METHOD WORKS
LASIK surgery consists of two steps. During step one the surgeon creates a corneal flap. During step two, the surgeon gently folds the flap back to perform the laser procedure that corrects your vision.
Traditionally, the corneal flap has been created using a thin metal blade. The IntraLase Method™ uses tiny, ultra precise pulses of laser light to create the corneal flap—a blade is not used.
THREE ADVANTAGES OF THE INTRALASE METHOD™
Any three of the following:
More people achieve vision that is 20/20 or better.
The procedure is 100% Blade Free.
It allows the surgeon to tailor-make your corneal flap based on what is best for your eye—something that is not possible with a blade-treated eye.
In a survey of LASIK patients, the vision in the IntraLase®-treated eye was preferred up to 3-to-1 over the vision in the blade-treated eye (among those who stated a preference).
Patients with certain types of corneas who were not previously eligible for LASIK using a blade may now be eligible using the IntraLase Method™.
Custom Vue™ Procedure Provides Individualized Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction can now be tailored to the unique characteristics of your eyes thanks to advanced technology developed by VISX, Incorporated, the worldwide leader in laser vision correction, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Like a fingerprint, the vision of every eye is unique. The VISX Custom Vue™ procedure uses state-of-the-art technology to measure the unique characteristics of your eyes. Based on a sophisticated map of the eye, we can customize a unique correction that is tailor-made to your vision.
By specifically addressing the unique imperfections of your vision, the VISX Custom Vue procedure can help you achieve your “personal best vision,” without contact lenses or glasses. Results from clinical study have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the Custom Vue procedure, and demonstrated that it can potentially produce better vision than previously possible with contact lenses or glasses.
VISX WaveScan® system
At the heart of the Custom Vue procedure is the VISX WaveScan® system. The WaveScan is 25 times more precise for measuring visual imperfections than the technology commonly used to prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses.
The WaveScan system produces a detailed map of the eye. The digital information is transferred into the Star S4™ Excimer Laser System. This provides a new level of precision and accuracy for optimizing each patient’s vision based on their specific needs.
Using the measurement and correction technologies of the Custom Vue procedure, Alexandria Eye & Laser Center can develop an individualized laser vision correction plan that addresses your individual needs.
The VISX Custom Vue procedure utilizes the WaveScan measurement device to map the entire optical path of your eye. The resulting WavePrint® map produces a “fingerprint of your vision,” providing our doctor with a precise and detailed guide for how to best improve your vision. This enables us to correct your eyesight so that you can get the best possible vision. In many cases, patients see better than 20/20 following a Custom Vue treatment.
Custom Vue LASIK Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Custom Vue (individualized laser vision) correction? |
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Custom Vue individualized laser vision correction is WaveScan®-driven, which enables the physician to measure the unique imperfections in each individual’s vision. Many of these imperfections could never be measured before using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses.
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Who is a candidate for Custom Vue procedure? |
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If you are 21 years of age or older and wear glasses or contacts to correct nearsightedness and/or astigmatism you may benefit from Custom Vue™. If you meet the criteria, you should see your doctor for more information. |
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What is WaveScan® technology? |
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WaveScan technology was originally developed for use in high-powered telescopes to reduce distortions when viewing distant objects in space. This technology has now been applied to laser vision correction, measuring imperfections in eye never before measured using standard methods for glasses or contact lenses. WaveScan-based digital technology identifies and measures imperfections in an individual’s eye 25 times more precisely than standard methods. Physicians use this information to treat individuals with the Custom Vue® procedure. |
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What is Personal Best Vision? |
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Because everyone’s eyes are unique, each individual may benefit from vision correction that is custom-tailored for them. For the first time, Custom Vue using Wavefront technology can measure and correct the unique characteristics of each individual’s vision, potentially providing them with the best possible vision for their eyes, or their Best Personal Vision. |
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Why is WaveScan technology so important to the Custom Vue procedure? |
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Until now, physicians were forced to practice one-size-fits-all vision. An off-the-shelf lens corrects an individual’s vision fairly well, but it does not correct it precisely because it is not uniquely tailored to that person’s fingerprint of vision. Now, with WaveScan technology, we can custom tailor a correction for the unique characteristics of each individual’s vision. |
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How is the information transferred from the WaveScan to the laser? |
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The WaveScan digital information is transferred to the laser, providing a new level of precision and accuracy. |
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Can you briefly explain what a patient will experience during the course of this procedure? |
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The individual will initially meet with the physician for an evaluation to determine if he or she is a good candidate for the Custom Vue procedure. A WaveScan measurement will be taken to map the unique characteristics of his or her vision. The physician will assess several criteria including level of correction and overall eye health and discuss the benefits and risks of the procedure with the patient. Once it is confirmed that the individual is a good candidate, he or she can be scheduled for Custom Vue. The physician will provide details for the individual on how to prepare for the day of the procedure.
If the physician feels it is beneficial, he may choose to provide the patient with a PreVue® Lens during the consultation. The Pre Vue Lens allows an individual to “preview” their potential vision before the Custom Vue procedure. The physician will place a plastic lens under the laser. Using the information from the WaveScan, the individual’s unique correction will be placed on the lens. The lens is then fitted in a trial frame for viewing. If a Pre Vue Lens is used in this evaluation, your vision through the Pre Vue lens is not meant to be predictive of the end result that you might achieve.
On procedure day, the individual will be seated in a reclined position, anesthetic drops will be placed in the eyes and a flap will be created in the cornea. The individual’s treatment information is transferred from the WaveScan to the VISX® laser in order to drive the Custom Vue Procedure. The actual laser procedure typically takes several seconds. The majority of individuals feel no pain during the procedure.
After Custom Vue, individuals will notice results immediately, and vision will continue to improve over the few days. The individual will be scheduled for a follow-up visit in a week. |
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Will I need glasses or contacts after the Custom Vue™ procedure? |
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Probably not. Six months after the clinical study, all participants saw well enough to drive a car without glasses or contacts. Ninety-four percent had 20/20 vision. However, individual results may vary. |
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What does better than 20/20 mean? |
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20/20 is the current standard for excellence in vision. But, with the Custom Vue™ procedure, individuals have the potential to see even better than 20/20. In fact, six months after the Custom Vue™ procedure, 74% of the clinical study participants saw 20/16 or better. |
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How could the Custom Vue™ procedure affect my night vision? |
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Many patients found their night vision was improved after the Custom Vue™ procedure. In fact, in the clinical study, four times as many participants were very satisfied with their vision after their procedure, as compared to their night vision before with glasses or contact lenses. |
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Why is WaveScan Technology so important to the Custom Vue™ procedure? |
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For the first time, WaveScan Technology captures unique imperfections in each individual’s vision that could not have been measured before using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses. This new level of measurement is 25 times more precise than standard measurements for glasses and contacts lenses. Then, the WaveScan technology produces a detailed map of the eye—much like a fingerprint, no two are alike. And, WaveScan digital information is transferred to the laser, providing a new level of precision and accuracy. |
For questions or to request a consultation, please e-mail us.
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