Lasik Vision Correction
Click here for more info about the Most Advanced 3D Tracking
Technology using the ActiveTrak™ Excimer Laser System by VISX
Click here for more
info about Refractive Eye Errors (eye focusing problems)
LASER VISION CORRECTION
S. Ejaz Husain
MD, FACS
Laser Treatment for Correcting
Near-sightedness, Far-sightedness and Astigmatism
To our patients:
Laser Vision
Correction is an exciting alternative to contact lenses
and glasses. Over the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in the
field of laser vision correction in treating refractive errors of the eye
such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. This technology
has proven remarkably effective in reducing or eliminating dependence on
glasses and contact lenses.
The following information provides you with an overview of laser
eye surgery in general. We use the most advanced VISX STAR ActiveTrak excimer laser with CustomVue technology & Variable Spot Scanning, which
utilizes the latest and very best technology available today. This is the
only laser that uses the advanced 3-Dimensional eye tracking system,
developed specifically for tracking the human eye during laser vision
correction. Along with shorter treatment times, this laser removes less
tissue than other lasers available and so preserves more corneal tissue. The VISX laser has been used by more
ophthalmologists than any other laser in the
United States
and over 10
million people globally have been treated successfully with this laser.
We truly care for our
patients and Dr. Husain examines every patient
personally. Our belief is that laser vision correction is a surgery, and it
is in the best interest of the patient to always follow up with their
surgeon both pre-operatively and post-operatively. We believe in a conservative approach and with this
philosophy have enjoyed among the lowest complication and enhancement rates
in the field. Being a part of an established and reputable practice in
Des Moines
, Dr. Husain’s
patients like the easy access to their surgeon. Patients choose us
primarily because of our excellent outcomes and quality of care.
To discuss these matters further, please call Dr. Husain’s Laser
Vision Coordinator at (515)
244-3937(EYES).
When it comes to your eyes, there should be no compromise.
1.
It is
important to understand that Laser vision correction is a surgery. As with
all surgery, the results are dependent on the skills, experience, judgment
and ethics of the surgeon. Please
do not be misled by inaccurate, aggressive and overly sensational
advertising that is commonly seen in the newspapers and the media. Since
Lasik is economically driven, some practices tend to trivialize the
procedure in order to gain market and patient share. Since all surgery has
some risk associated with it, the critical thing the patient needs to
understand is that an experienced surgeon is the most qualified individual
to evaluate, perform surgery and do follow up care. Therefore, it is
important for you to know who will be evaluating your eyes, and who will be
providing follow-up care after your surgery. If an improper claim is made
by someone that the surgeon will not need to see you after surgery, then
this should raise a red flag and prompt appropriate questioning by the
patient. A medical procedure on your eyes is not a product that should be
commissioned. It is also important to understand that excellent results
come from being very selective in choosing the right candidates and not by
doing surgery on everybody who walks into the clinic. Not everyone is a
candidate for refractive surgery.
2.
All technological devices used in Laser Vision
Correction should be approved by the FDA. The FDA studies show that all
these devices are equivalent in their efficacy, safety and predictability.
It would be inappropriate for the FDA to approve lasers or devices that are
unequal in their safety profile. Therefore be wary of claims in ads that
try to attract patients with claims of superior technology and safety.
Numerous studies have shown that it is in fact the surgeon’s experience,
judgment and quality of care which drives the results. The technology is
only as good as the surgeon utilizing it. If the surgeon is meticulous in
managing the patients and is attentive to detail, the chances of a
successful outcome are maximized. It is also better to use state of the art
technology that has undergone rigorous and exhaustive testing over a long
period of time in millions of patients (industry standard), rather than
jumping on the bandwagon of a new technology that has just been approved
and has not undergone extensive long-term follow-up. A conservative
approach to surgery is very important. Although we all look forward to
better technology for our patients, be wary of claims in ads that just seem
to push technology. Similar claims were made over the last few years with Intacs and LTK, which despite the great hype, have been
discarded by most ophthalmologists.
3.
Make sure your surgeon is accessible to you
when you need him or her. Non-medical personnel care is not equivalent to
the care that the surgeon can provide. Your goal is to find a center that
will provide the best surgery and state of the art equipment; and a surgeon
who will provide an honest assessment about your likely outcomes and risks
and personalized quality care after your surgery.
4.
Make sure your surgeon personally answers all
your questions and concerns. The surgeon should also discuss other
alternative procedures, their risks and benefits. A lot of places are
becoming like factories, and patients are literally getting in and out of
chairs. In our desire to promote the positive aspects of refractive
surgery, one should not minimize the potential for complications nor forget
that everyone is not a suitable candidate for existing technology.
5.
Careful and meticulous pre-operative evaluation
by your surgeon is probably the most important factor leading to a
successful outcome in Laser Vision Correction. Make sure your surgeon
personally evaluates your eyes and does not rely on non-medical personnel.
Patients are at risk because non-medical personnel fail to do thorough
screenings.
WHY CHOOSE DR HUSAIN FOR YOUR LASER VISION CORRECTION?
Dr. Ejaz Husain has successfully performed thousands of laser
vision correction procedures. Keeping eyes healthy and seeing clearly is
what we do best. With us you can be confident that you will get the best
laser vision correction possible.
Our surgeon:
- Personally examines
patients extensively and does
all pre and post-op care himself and follows post op laser patients
himself for one year
- Dr.
Husain is
very selective in choosing the appropriate candidates and always uses
a conservative approach
- The only two-year
fellowship trained refractive surgeon in
Des Moines
- Board certified surgeon with reputable practice in
Des Moines
; and
accessible
- Specially certified by VISX to perform
laser vision correction
- Among the lowest
enhancement and complication rates in the field
- Uses Customvue diagnostics and wavefront analysis on every
patient
- Thousands of laser
vision correction procedures performed successfully
Our staff:
Dedicated, certified staff giving personal
care for every patient. Every member of our clinical team has years of
experience. They provide a teamwork that makes your procedure run smoothly.
Our eye team understands your concerns and answers your questions—even the
ones you forget to ask. Our concern doesn’t stop when you leave. After you
go home, we’ll call to see how you are doing and to answer any questions
you have.
No matter how warm the staff and nurses
are, there’s nothing like having someone with you
for support. We recommend that you bring a friend or family member with
you. They can stay with you right up until you have the procedure, and can
even watch the procedure if they wish. Then they can meet you afterwards
and drive you back home.
Our Laser:
- Newest
generation FDA approved VISX Star Active Trak Excimer Laser.
- Removes
less tissue than other lasers so preserves more corneal tissue.
- Shorter
treatment times with superior smoothness compared to other lasers.
- Most
advanced 3D eye tracker – developed specifically for tracking the
human eye during laser vision correction unlike other systems.
- Individualized CustomVue wavefront driven Laser Vision Correction.
- Has
both scanning and broad beam technology compared to other lasers.
- Most
advanced and trusted FDA approved microkeratome in the world.
- Used
by more ophthalmologists than any other laser in the
United States
.
Over 10 million people worldwide treated successfully.
- State
of the art technology promotes faster visual recovery.
What is laser eye surgery?
Lasers are used to treat many eye
conditions. Over the last 20 years, one of the most exciting advances has
been the development of lasers in treating refractive errors of the eye,
that is, near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. In fact, the
laser we use to treat these eye-focusing problems is FDA approved for both
Lasik and Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA).
What are refractive errors of the eye?
How does the eye see?
The eye is like a camera that has two
lenses. One of these lenses is the crystalline lens inside the eye. The
other lens is the cornea, which is positioned in the eye like a watch
crystal but actually provides 2/3 of the eye’s focusing power. When the
light rays entering the eye are perfectly focused on the retina, the eye is
neither nearsighted nor farsighted. This condition is called “emmetropia.”
What are refractive errors of the eye?
Myopia, or near-sightedness,
occurs when the eye has too much focusing power. As a result, objects at
distance are blurry, whereas objects that are close can be clearly seen
(unless astigmatism is present). Typically, the myopic eye is slightly
longer or has a steeper cornea compared to the normal eye.
Hyperopia, or far-sightedness, occurs when the eye lacks
sufficient focusing power. This usually causes objects at
a distance to appear blurry, and near objects are seen even less
clearly. Typically, the far-sighted eye is slightly shorter or has a
flatter cornea than the normal eye.
Astigmatism is a condition
in which light rays in different orientations are brought to different
points of focus. A useful analogy is the comparison of a basketball to a
football. The surface of a basketball has equal curvature in all
directions, whereas a football is flatter in one orientation and steeper in
the other. The surface of the football represents the situation that is
present when the eye has astigmatism. Usually, the astigmatism occurs in
the cornea. This can often be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, or
in many instances, treated with refractive surgery.
Presbyopia is a natural condition that typically becomes
noticeable around age 45. In children and young adults, the crystalline
lens inside the eye can focus at a distant object and then easily increase
its focusing power to look at a near object. As we get older, the lens
inside the eye loses this capacity to focus in and out. When this occurs,
individuals find that they need to hold reading material at greater
distances. Ultimately, reading glasses are needed, typically by the
mid-40s.
What is refractive surgery?
Refractive surgery involves the use of
lasers or other devices to treat the refractive errors of the eye.
LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis)
LASIK is an excimer laser surgical procedure that treats the middle layers of the cornea to correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and/or astigmatism. LASIK is FDA
approved and is the most advanced procedure for correcting focusing
problems of the eye. LASIK is performed using numbing drops to prevent pain
during the procedure. A vacuum ring secures the eye while a thin layer of
the cornea is formed into a flap. This is done with a microkeratome,
which is a specialized instrument that makes the corneal flap. This flap is
folded over, and the laser surgery is performed on the bed of the cornea
that is exposed. The laser treatment reshapes the cornea to treat the
refractive condition. The actual laser portion of the procedure lasts 10 to
60 seconds. The flap is then placed back into its original position and
observed for 2-3 minutes to insure that it is fully adherent.
Advantages of LASIK include:
- Little
or no discomfort following the surgery;
- Recovery
of vision often within 1-2 days;
- Little
or no risk of developing haze following treatment, and
- Ease
of doing additional laser treatment should this be necessary. As with
any surgical procedure, complications can occur, including those that
could result in loss of vision. Fortunately, severe complications are
extremely rare.
Flap Free Laser Vision Correction
ASA/PRK
(Advanced Surface Ablation/Photorefractive keratectomy)
ASA uses the excimer laser to reshape the front surface of the cornea to change its focusing
power. Surface cells of the cornea (the epithelium) are gently removed from
the central portion of the cornea, without creating a flap, to
expose the region of the cornea that is treated with the laser. The actual
laser time is similar to that with LASIK. The surface cells require two or
more days to heal. A soft contact lens is placed over the eye during this
period to serve as a bandage. ASA has been FDA approved for
treatment of near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism with the
VISX Star laser and long term safety and efficacy has been well
established. ASA has been very useful for eyes that have thin corneas as
well as those with corneal dystrophies, corneal irregularities or those who
have occupational safety needs. Many of our patients like the concept of
flap free surgery and choose this option.
Our Laser
We use the VISX Star ActiveTrak excimer laser
system to treat near-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Dr. Husain has been
specially certified to use the VISX laser. VISX is the choice of more eye
doctors for their patients, and more people have been treated with the VISX
laser, which is FDA approved for LASIK and
advanced surface ablation (ASA). We also use CustomVue Wavefront technology to provide our patients with
individualized laser vision correction, which is more precise than
conventional laser treatment.
About Our Physician
Dr. S. Ejaz Husain graduated Magna Cum
Laude from the Ivy League Brown University in 1986. In 1990, he received
Doctorate in Medicine with honors from Brown University School of Medicine.
He completed his Ophthalmology residency at Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston
,
Texas
where he also completed a two-year surgical fellowship program in
Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Husain was then invited to
stay on as faculty at Baylor College of Medicine where he taught Anterior
Segment and Refractive Surgery.
Dr. Husain has been involved in laser
vision correction since 1994. He has authored over twenty research articles
and educational chapters in peer-reviewed medical journals. He is the
recipient of the prestigious Paul Kayser scholarship awarded by the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology for
Refractive Surgery. He is also certified to perform LASIK as well as
PRK/ASA and has performed thousands of procedures. He is certified by the
American Board of Ophthalmology.
He is a fellow of the American Board of
Ophthalmology, the
American
College
of Surgeons and a member of the American
Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Pan American Association of
Ophthalmology,
American
College
of Eye
Surgeons, American Medical Association and Iowa Medical Society.
Who is a candidate / Is it right for me?
If you are over 18 years of age and have
myopia (near-sightedness) with or without astigmatism, you may be a
candidate for refractive surgery. If you are over 21 years old and have hyperopia (far-sightedness) with or without
astigmatism, you may be a candidate for refractive surgery.
Refractive surgery can reduce and even
eliminate refractive errors in most patients. Depending on the degree of
near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism the chances of seeing
20/40 or better after surgery (legal to drive without glasses) may exceed
95%. While results are good in most patients, no one can promise that you
will be able to “throw away your glasses” after surgery. If, however, your
goal is to reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses, then
refractive surgery may be for you.
If you elect to have refractive surgery,
several conditions are necessary to maximize a good result. Your refractive
error (spectacle prescription) should not have changed significantly over
the previous year -- this ensures that your correction is stable and that
the treatment will be more precise. Your eyes must be healthy without
conditions such as keratoconus (a progressive
thinning of the cornea), or corneal scars. Since the results of refractive
surgery depend to a large extent on normal healing, patients should not
have any eye disease (such as glaucoma or severe dry eye) or medical
illness (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) that may interfere with
recovery. Your suitability for the procedure can be determined following a
complimentary screening and a personal consultation with Dr. Husain. We
appreciate that the decision regarding refractive surgery is very personal
and we believe that it should be made only after you are fully informed
about your options.
Preoperative Preparation
Prior to the procedure you will have a
screening exam with Dr. Husain to determine whether you are a good
candidate for the surgery. Since contact lenses may have temporarily changed
the curvature of the cornea, we ask you to discontinue soft lens wear for
two weeks and rigid gas permeable lens for three weeks prior to the “final
examination” with Dr. Husain, which is usually the week before your
procedure. This allows the cornea to return to its “normal” shape. Pregnant
patients may also have undergone temporary corneal changes, and therefore
we do not recommend refractive surgery until several months after delivery.
If, after the screening examination you are determined to be a good
refractive surgery candidate, an appointment will be made for the
procedure.
On the day of your procedure, you will be
shown the laser room, and all the events of the surgery will be explained
to you. You will also be asked to listen to the different sounds of the
equipment so you are prepared for the noises that you will hear during
surgery. Anesthetic eye drops will be placed in your eyes, and a small
instrument will be placed between your eyelids to help you keep them open
during the treatment. Dr. Husain will then perform the procedure and
afterwards recheck your eyes. You can return home immediately after the
procedure. We ask that you arrange for transportation to and from the laser
center, as you will not be permitted to drive yourself home after your
Laser Vision Correction.
Postoperative Care
Following your surgery you will be given
drops to use on the evening of surgery and for several days afterwards. You
can expect some discomfort following the procedure, but this is highly
variable depending on the individual patient and the specific procedure
performed. You will be instructed not to get water in your eyes and to
avoid eye make-up or lotions around the eye for one week following the
surgery. You will also be cautioned against eye rubbing in the early
post-operative period. Postoperative examinations will be scheduled for
the day after surgery and, (generally) depending on the procedure, 2-7 days
later. We request that our patients be accessible to us for at least
7-10 days after surgery. Additional examinations will be planned for
6-8 weeks following surgery and as needed to ensure that all is going well
with your eyes.
Risks and Benefits
Benefits:
When considering refractive surgery, as
with any procedure, the patient and the physician work together to evaluate
the relative risks and benefits for each individual patient. The benefits
of the procedure are a reduction (and possible elimination) of
near-sightedness, far- sightedness and astigmatism. A successful outcome
decreases an individual’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses, and in
some cases allows one to function without the need for any glasses or
contact lenses. This has permitted many patients undergoing the surgery to
participate in a variety of activities not previously possible due to their
need for glasses (such as water-skiing or scuba diving). When patients
discuss their individual experiences following refractive surgery, they
frequently describe a general improvement in their overall quality of life
as exemplified by such experiences as being able to see the alarm clock in
the morning without glasses.
Risks:
As with all procedures, refractive surgery
is not without risk and side effects. One side effect of the successful
correction of myopia is that you will need reading glasses at about age
forty-five to see near objects. For nearsighted individuals before surgery,
“nearer is clearer”. However, after surgery, if you are older than 40 years
of age, you may experience the same difficulty with reading fine print
experienced by all “normal” individuals that have never been nearsighted.
This may be improved somewhat by intentionally adjusting the treatment of
one eye to allow it to remain somewhat nearsighted (blended vision). If you
are in this age range, we will discuss this option with you.
Because the surgery involves removal of
tissue to change corneal shape, other complications are possible, although
they are rare. Infection, if it occurs, can cause corneal scarring and
reduce vision, which may not be correctable even with glasses or contact
lenses after surgery. Other complications that may occur during or after
the surgery include little or no reduction in near-sightedness, inaccurate
correction resulting from surgery, scarring of the cornea, healing problems
or other unexpected results. Any of these, if they are significant, may
require the use of glasses or contact lenses for good vision. In rare
instances, as with any surgical procedure on the eye, vision may be
permanently reduced as a result of a complication.
Fortunately, the occurrence of significant
complications with refractive surgery is very rare. It is important,
however, to realize that even though the risks are low, there is no such
thing as risk free, guaranteed surgery for any condition.
Cost
The fee for surgery covers the initial
evaluation, surgery, postoperative surgical care, enhancement (touch ups),
and any follow-up for up to one year related to the procedure. We
will discuss surgery fees with you at the initial complimentary screening
exam with Dr. Husain. There is a fee for digital corneal topography and Wavescan diagnostics. Dr. Husain will perform a
complete eye exam at the pre operative evaluation that in most cases is
covered by your insurance company. A number of financing options are
available to assist those who are unable to pay the full fee for the
procedure at one time. Please ask us regarding financing options. The cost
for laser vision correction is currently not covered by insurance. The
financial advantage of laser refractive surgery is that the high cost of
contact lenses, solutions and spectacles may be reduced, which could result
in savings of up to several hundred dollars per year. Medical saving
accounts and FLEX spending accounts have been used for laser vision
correction by a large number of our patients. Please ask us for details. It
is important to have a screening exam before you decide to use the
FLEX/medical saving accounts option.
Associated Ophthalmologists, P.C.
1212
Pleasant Street Suite 202
Des Moines
,
Iowa
50309
E-mail: eyes@dmeyemd.com
Telephone: (515) 244-EYES (3937)
Fax: (515) 243-1442
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