LASIK Surgery

LASIK - 3D ActiveTrak System - Epi-LASIK

LASIK | Epi-LASIK | Virginia | West Virginia | Maryland LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a means of correcting vision by treating beneath the surface of the cornea using a laser. It is currently the most technologically advanced surgical procedure for correcting myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. LASIK has helped millions of people across the world reduce or even eliminate their need for glasses and contact lenses.

At the Shenandoah LASIK and Cataract Center, we use a VISX STAR S4IR excimer laser. The excimer laser produces a beam of cool ultraviolet light. The doctor programs your information into a computer that controls the laser. The computer creates an exact treatment plan based upon your individual eye utilizing VISX CustomVue Technology. The laser produces a series of pulses that remove small and precise amounts of corneal tissue. Excimer laser light does not penetrate into the eye and leaves other eye structures (iris, lens, retina) undisturbed.

3D ActiveTrak System

3D ActiveTrak System | Virginia | West Virginia | Maryland The laser also contains an auto-centering eye tracking system (shown below) which will automatically compensate for any of your eye movements during the treatment.

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LASIK SURGERY VIDEO

Epi-LASIK™

Epi-LASIK is ideal for patients whose corneas may be too thin to safely perform LASIK on, or those patients who would like to have laser vision correction but are afraid to have any type of incision made on their eyes. Epi-K leaves a patient's eye in a physical condition after surgery that is much stronger than any type of LASIK procedure. It therefore is also recommended for certain professions where there is a high risk of eye trauma under adverse field conditions, such as those in the military or law-enforcement. Introduced in 2000 by the inventor of LASIK, Epi-LASIK, also known as Epi-K or Advanced Surface Treatment, combines the best features of LASIK and PRK while reducing complications such as haze and halos, dry eye, loss of nerve sensitivity, post-operative pain and LASIK flap problems. Like PRK, Epi-LASIK affects only the surface of the cornea and does not involve cutting across the cornea with either a mechanical blade or a cutting laser. Like LASIK, it is relatively painless and heals quickly. After healing takes place, the attained vision in Epi-K patients is equivalent to that of LASIK patients.

During the Epi-LASIK procedure, a blunt microkeratome smoothly removes without cutting the surface layer, or epithelium, from the cornea. This is what gives the procedure its name: "Epi" stands for the Greek word "Epipolis," meaning "superficial." This avoids complications associated with the deep stromal flaps of ordinary LASIK including flap irregularity, epithelial ingrowth and corneal ectasia (weakness).

Next, a laser reshapes the surface of the cornea to improve vision. The epithelium is then replaced with a special type of protective contact lens. The epithelium re-grows in a few days with very little pain and without stitches and the protective lens is removed.

LASIK and Epi-K FAQ's

What makes me a good candidate for LASIK and Epi-K ?
Will LASIK and Epi-K hurt?
How long will LASIK and Epi-K take?
Will I need stitches?
How will I feel after LASIK and Epi-K ?
How quickly does my vision improve?

What makes me a good candidate for LASIK and Epi-K?

There are age limits for LASIK depending on the type of your prescription. You must also be in good general health and have good eye health with no existing eye diseases or conditions such as cataracts, chronic corneal infections, or keratoconus. Your cornea must be not be too thin or shaped too steeply or irregularly. Dr. Stefano has been able to treat nearsightedness up to 15 diopters, farsightedness up to 6 diopters and astigmatism up to 5 diopters in select patients. If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, Dr. Stefano offers several other procedures such as Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), Conductive Keratoplasty (CK), Epi-LASIK or cataract surgery that might be more suitable for you.

Will LASIK and Epi-K hurt?

Dr. Stefano uses a local anesthetic eye drop before he begins the surgery. The majority of our patients say LASIK is not painful.

How long will LASIK and Epi-K take?

The actual time spent with Dr. Stefano in the laser suite is about 20 minutes. The actual length of treatment time always depends on the strength of the patient's prescription. Most treatments are between 15 and 60 seconds for each eye.

Will I need stitches?

NO. Because the eye acts as a natural suction, you will not need any stitches after your LASIK surgery.

How will I feel after LASIK and Epi-K?

Most patients are elated and excited after their surgery is complete. For the remainder of the day, you should expect to be very sensitive to light. You will also have a slight irritation or discomfort for the first few hours after your surgery (similar to having a piece of sand in your eye.) Dr. Stefano recommends that his patients return home for the remainder of the day and even rest for a couple of hours when they get home. The next morning, you may still have some light sensitivity, but the discomfort should have resolved.

How quickly does my vision improve?

You will probably notice a difference immediately after your surgery. In fact, most patients are able to read the clock before they leave the laser suite. The evening of your surgery, things will be a little blurry and seem to have a haze over them. The morning after your surgery, you may notice the most significant difference in what you are seeing. When patients come in for their one-day follow-up appointment with Dr. Stefano, most see at least 20/40, which allows patients to legally drive without corrective lenses. Some patients even see 20/20 or better the day following their surgery.