1. Anesthetic drops are applied to the eye.
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2. A hinged flap is created by the surgeon and folded back.
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3. The inner corneal layer is reshaped with the laser.
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4. The surgeon closes the flap.
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5. The flap adheres naturally and securely. |
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LASIK is the acronym for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK is a surgical procedure which permanently changes the shape of the cornea. LASIK can eliminate a lifetime of dependence on glasses and corrective lenses.
In LASIK, a microkeratome (an automated microsurgical instrument similar in design to a carpenter's plane) is used to create a corneal flap.
Dr. Donnenfeld chooses from three different microkeratomes depending upon the patient. Next, the cool laser beam gently reshapes the exposed cornea below the flap by removing a thin layer of tissue. The corneal flap is then closed.
Each pulse of the laser can remove
39-millionths of an inch of tissue in
12-billionths of a second, enabling surgeons to achieve remarkable accuracy while maintaining excellent control throughout the procedure.
LASIK is an extremely effective outpatient procedure that is suitable not only for higher prescriptions but also for patients with moderate to low prescriptions. It can be used to correct even the most severe 1% of prescriptions and has generated considerable excitement in the eye care community around the world.
All excimer lasers are not the same. Each laser has different strengths and Dr. Donnenfeld is the only surgeon in New York with three different lasers to choose from to customize the procedure to the patient. Dr. Donnenfeld consults with all three of the major laser manufacturers and is the first to have new technology when it becomes available.
LASIK has a very quick recovery time. Because the surface layer(epithelium) of the cornea is preserved, discomfort following the LASIK is minimal. The LASIK procedure itself involves minimal discomfort and takes only a few minutes to complete.
Performing LASIK requires more technical skill and training than other laser procedures. Surgical skill is a key component in the creation of the corneal flap and Dr. Donnenfeld's experience and success with this procedure is unsurpassed. Dr. Donnenfeld has performed over 37, 000 procedures with impressive results.
With LASIK, the greater your prescription, the longer the procedure takes, yet even the most severe prescriptions require only about one minute of laser time and utilize only a topical anesthetic in the form of eye drops.
Although no procedure is perfect, excimer laser technology allows for an unparalleled degree of precision and predictability, making laser vision correction, in our opinion, the best procedure available for suitable candidates.
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