LASIK and LASIK with Contoura®
What is LASIK?
In the past, doctors have used an instrument called a microkeratome for the creation of corneal flaps. The microkeratome is a hand-held blade that moves across the eye, cutting the corneal flap as it goes. While LASIK is extremely safe, if complications do occur, the microkeratome is most often the cause. By contrast, a femtosecond laser enables your doctor to create your corneal flap without a blade ever touching your eye.
LASIK with Contoura
This FDA approved, topography guided procedure uses more data points than traditional LASIK to customize the treatment to an individual’s own scans. The results are impressive especially for patients with high astigmatism. During your initial consultation, we will talk with you about your candidacy and determine if Topography-Guided Laser Vision Correction is right for your needs. Not everyone is a candidate for Contoura treatments, which is why we also offer the standard, wavefront-optimized, LASIK treatment. Both “versions” of LASIK have outstanding visual results. We will recommend the LASIK procedure that has the best chance of success for you. We don’t price the procedures differently to ensure your decision is purely based on what will work best for you!
The Procedure
LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery itself is relatively painless and quick – about 15-20 minutes for both eyes.
During the procedure, the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser (ZEISS Visumax 500) to create a thin, circular flap on the surface of the cornea. The surgeon then uses a computer-guided laser (Alcon Wavelight EX500 Excimer laser) to reshape the inner layers of the cornea, thus correcting your vision.
When used by a skilled and experienced surgeon, the laser is precise and safe, able to remove a single cell without affecting other cells. Then the corneal flap is set back in place, and heals rapidly.
What is Contoura®?
Contoura®, also known as topography-guided LASIK, is the latest FDA approved
evolution in advanced custom LASIK technology. This laser vision correction technique is designed to enhance the results of LASIK. Many Contoura® Vision patients reported experiencing better vision quality than they ever did with glasses or contacts. This is because topography-guided LASIK treats both the shape of the patient’s eye and the surface texture of the cornea, while other LASIK treatments correct only the shape of the eye.
The Contoura® Vision laser treatment smoothes out any surface irregularities on your cornea, significantly improving the quality of vision for patients after the procedure.The advanced laser technology takes several topographical images of your eye and analyzes the 22,000 unique elevation points on the cornea in order to recommend a custom treatment.
