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LASIK Options

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LASIK

Unlike other surgeons who have access to only 1 excimer laser technology, Dr. Dougherty owns and utilizes the 3 most common used lasers: Alcon Allegretto, Nidek CATz, and Visx Wavefront-Guided. Because of this, he can customize the technology to your unique visual condition.

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The LASIK Procedure

LASIK treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by removing precise amounts of tissue in specific parts of the cornea (the clear window in front of the eye).

This procedure is pain free and usually takes about 4 minutes per eye and involves minimal discomfort for most patients. Most patients heal within 4-6 hours and can return to work the next day. Statistically, LASIK is safer than contact lens wear. It is currently the most commonly vision correction procedure across the world. Most patients experience little or no discomfort after LASIK and LASIK has quick recovery and results, patients see results almost immediately.

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LASIK is performed in three steps

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The surgeon creates a small protective flap of corneal tissue with a femtosecond laser, which is lifted and folded back.

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The Doctor uses the laser to apply a cool beam of light that reshapes your cornea and corrects your vision.

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The surgeon gently repositions the flap and the healing process begins immediately.

PRK

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) has identical outcomes to LASIK. It is still commonly performed and may offer advantages over contacts and glasses for some patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. A PRK procedure fixes refractive errors by using an excimer laser to reshape the cornea.

First, your surgeon will gently remove the surface cells (epithelium) on the surface of the cornea. Then, using a cool excimer laser, your surgeon reshapes your cornea to correct your vision.

The vast majority of patients who receive PRK get 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. PRK is a better alternative to LASIK for many patients who have thin or irregularly shaped corneas, who have pre-existing chronic dry eye, or those who perform sports with a lot of direct contact to the eyes (ex: Boxers, Ultimate Fighting Champions, etc).

After a PRK procedure, it takes a week for the surface cells to grow back on the surface of the cornea. It takes anywhere from two to six weeks for the cells to smooth and allow for clear vision. It can take up to three months for maximum vision after PRK.

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The Procedure

The procedure itself takes about 10 minutes, taking about 2-3 minutes per eye. The procedure is performed under eyedrop anesthesia and a relaxing medication. You will feel a mild pressure during the PRK procedure but no pain.

First, a strong anesthetic is applied to the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) to loosen these surface cells. The epithelial layer is then removed or moved to the site using a manual instrument.

A cool excimer laser is then used to sculpt tissue from the cornea in order to correct your vision. Following the laser, a sponge with a medication called Mitomycin-C is placed on the cornea to help with healing. Then a bandage contact lens is placed on the eye to minimize discomfort and assist with healing. This bandage contact will be removed at our office about five to seven days later. The recovery is longer than LASIK.

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Implantable Contact Lens

The Implantable Contact Lens (Implantable Collamer Lens or Implantable Contact Lens) is an advanced form of vision correction providing ultra high-def vision to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. The Implantable Contact Lens Procedure benefits patients by reducing the surgery from four separate surgical procedures into a single surgical session, and speeds up the visual recovery time so that the patient experience with Implantable Contact Lens implantation is just like LASIK. In fact, in our practice, we refer to the Implantable Contact Lens procedure as “LASIK with a lens”. Like LASIK, most patients have significantly improved vision the day after surgery with minimal discomfort and most patients are back to work or school within 48 hours.

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What is the Implantable Contact Lens?

Approved by the FDA in December 2005, the Implantable Contact Lens is an implantable contact lens made of a biocompatible material called Collamer that allows the lens to be rolled into a tiny cylinder for insertion into the eye. As the lens is inserted, it gently unfolds behind the iris, where it remains virtually undetectable to an observer. The Implantable Contact Lens is self-cleaning and needs no maintenance, unlike traditional contact lenses.

The Implantable Contact Lens can provide clear vision for nearsighted patients who demand a higher quality of vision than LASIK or who do not want a flap. Implantable Contact Lens is also an excellent option for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK due to thin or irregular corneas, dry eyes, or prescriptions that exceed the acceptable range for LASIK.

Dr. Dougherty helped pioneer the Implantable Contact Lens technology and was one of just a handful of surgeons in the U.S. to serve as a principal investigator for the Implantable Contact Lens FDA clinical study. As such, he has implanted the Implantable Contact Lens internationally and on an investigational basis since 1999, long before it was approved for use in the US. In December 2005, DLV Vision hosted the first post-approval ICL training session for U.S. ophthalmologists from across the nation and many continue to come to our centers to observe Dr. Dougherty performing the Implantable Contact Lens procedure. Today there have been over 1,000,000 Implantable Contact Lens implanted worldwide with a patient satisfaction rate of 99%.

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Convenient Locations

No matter where you are in southern California, you’re never far for exceptional LASIK surgeons and excellent eyesight. Schedule a consultation at one of our offices today!

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