LASIK and Laser Vision Correction in Monmouth County, New Jersey
You may never need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses again after undergoing LASIK refractive eye surgery. By revising the shape of the eye's corneal tissue, our LASIK and laser vision correction experts in Monmouth County, New Jersey, also serving Ocean County, can help you to see at near and far distances clearly and without the aid of corrective lenses. In addition to state-of-the-art LASIK vision correction, we also provide Epi-LASIK and photorefractive keratotome (PRK) as well as many other alternative treatments to patients who may not be LASIK candidates.
- The Eye and How it Works
- Refractive Errors
- Traditional LASIK – Laser Vision Correction
- Custom Wavefront™ LASIK
- Epi-LASIK
- PRK
- Other Eye Care Procedures
The Eye and How It Works
Vision is dependent on the refraction, or bending, of light as it enters the eyes. Light passes into the eye through the cornea (the clear window in the front of the eye), and the lens (located behind the colored part of the eye, or the iris). The cornea and lens refract rays of light and focus them onto the retina. The retina relays this information to the brain through the optic nerve, and the brain recognizes the image.
Refractive Errors
Refractive errors occur when light rays are not refracted properly onto the retina. Common refractive errors include:
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
If the cornea and lens of the eye have too much focusing power, or the eye is longer than usual, light rays focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina. This results in nearsightedness, or myopia. Nearsightedness causes a person to have problems seeing objects at a distance.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is caused by the eye being shorter than usual, or the cornea and lens lacking adequate focusing power. Light rays focus beyond the retina, causing a person to have problems with seeing things up close.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the curve of the cornea is steeper in one direction than the other. This condition causes light rays to focus on various areas of the retina, causing both nearsightedness and farsightedness.
Contact our laser vision correction offices in Monmouth County or Ocean County, New Jersey for more information on refractive errors.
Traditional LASIK – Laser Vision Correction
LASIK laser vision correction surgery, available at our New Jersey practice, is one of the most commonly recommended treatments for people between the ages of 21 and 60 who want to minimize their dependence on corrective eyewear. Our skilled surgeons use LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) to improve vision by reshaping the cornea with laser technology. While the procedure doesn't guarantee perfect vision, it can be an excellent way to correct vision problems associated with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Evaluation
LASIK begins with an eye exam. Our laser vision correction experts in Ocean County and Monmouth County will determine the refractive error of your eyes and the best corrected vision possible. Our vision experts will also assess your physical and emotional health, and your specific goals for the LASIK procedure. They will also answer any questions you may have. Our doctors will also need to go over any previous surgical procedures you have undergone, medical conditions and medications both past and present, and the medical history of you and your family.
The LASIK Procedure
Before undergoing the LASIK procedure, you will be given medication to relax you, and we will clean your eyelids with a sterilizing solution. During a treatment session, a topical anesthetic eye drop will be applied to numb the eye, and one of our physicians will then carefully drape the area around the eye and attach an eyelid speculum to prevent blinking. The surgeon will use an instrument called a microkeratome to create the LASIK flap, and the surface of the cornea will then be gently reshaped with an excimer laser to your specific prescription to provide you optimal vision improvement. After the LASIK flap is returned to its original position, it should adhere to the eye on its own within minutes, requiring no stitches.
LASIK Recovery
LASIK at our Monmouth County, New Jersey practice is an outpatient procedure that generally requires about two to three hours at our laser center. The procedure is typically painless, requiring about a minute per eye. You may experience mild burning or itching in the eyes after the surgery however, this should dissipate after a few hours. Vision can be blurry the day after surgery, but should improve considerably by the next day. Symptoms such as dry eyes, sensitivity to light, glare, and halos around lights may also occur, but these should dissipate over time.
Many LASIK patients report almost perfect vision the day after surgery. Follow-up visits, included in the cost of your LASIK procedure, are required one day, one week, one month, three months, and six months following your LASIK surgery.
Risks
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with undergoing LASIK surgery. While hundreds of thousands of people have successful LASIK treatment and recovery, some complications have been known to arise. With LASIK surgery, these include:
- Over correction of vision
- Under correction of vision
- Dislodged or poorly healed flap
- Debris under the flap
- Infection and/or scarring of the cornea which can lead to permanently impaired vision
- Instrument malfunction
- Dry eyes
- Problems with night vision, halos, glare, haze
- People with low to moderate nearsightedness, who are able to remove their distance glasses to read, use a computer, and other activities that require close-up focusing, will lose that advantage after LASIK.
Many of these complications are rare and can be corrected or improved with subsequent laser surgery or corrective eyewear. Our experts in laser vision correction will go over all of the risks and benefits of LASIK at your consultation.
Contact Jersey Shore Eye Associates for information on the risks and benefits of LASIK. The staff at our Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey offices will be happy to answer your questions.
Will I Need Glasses After LASIK?
The majority of LASIK patients do not need glasses or contacts for most activities after having the procedure, and stay that way until middle age, when reading glasses or certain activities such as driving at night may require corrective lenses. After the age of 40, almost everyone needs reading glasses, with or without refractive surgery.
LASIK Candidates
To qualify for LASIK laser vision correction, patients must be free of eye disease and have a relatively stable corrective eyewear prescription over a period of time.
People under the age of 18 are NOT good candidates for LASIK because their vision is still changing. Other people who should probably not undergo LASIK surgery are:
- Pregnant women
- People with diabetes
- Patients using medications such as oral prednisone, Accutane®, amiodarone (cardarone), and IMITRIX®
- Patients who have poorly controlled autoimmune disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- People who have a history of ocular herpes
- Patients with thin corneas, dry eyes, large pupils, and/or refractive instability
Custom Wavefront™ LASIK
Custom Wavefront™ is a LASIK technology that creates a precise map of the eye, allowing our physician to pinpoint the imperfections that affect a patient's vision. The map is relayed to a computer which controls the laser during surgery. Compared with traditional LASIK surgery, Custom Wavefront™ technology often provides even better vision correction for poor lighting conditions and at night. Also, Custom Wavefront™ LASIK may provide more defined contrast to a patient's vision. Wavefront™ LASIK may also have a shorter recovery time, and patients who are not candidates for traditional LASIK may qualify for the Wavefront™ technology.
Epi-LASIK
Epi-LASIK can be an alternative for people who are not candidates for traditional or Custom Wavefront™ LASIK. The main difference between Epi-LASIK and other LASIK procedures is that Epi-LASIK lifts the outer layer of the cornea without the use of a cutting instrument. Standard LASIK techniques are then performed in which the laser reshapes the cornea to provide better vision. The cornea's outer layer is then replaced and acts as a bandage following the laser correction. The recovery period may last a bit longer with Epi-LASIK. However, the results should be the same.
Contact our laser vision correction center serving Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey for more information on the various alternatives to traditional LASIK surgery, or to schedule an appointment.
PRK
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is typically performed on patients with minor vision problems such as low to moderate refractive errors. Unlike LASIK, PRK does not require creating a corneal flap. PRK involves the removal of the outer layer of the cornea, followed by reshaping of the cornea with a laser. The outer layer of the cornea takes time to regenerate after the procedure, which results in a longer and less comfortable recovery than with other laser vision correction procedures. However, the results of a PRK treatment are generally comparable to LASIK. Patients must wear a bandage contact lens for about three days after surgery, and they will be supplied with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops. PRK is useful for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK, such as people with thin corneas or large pupils.
Other Eye Care Procedures
In addition to the many state-of-the-art LASIK treatments and LASIK alternatives we offer at our Monmouth County, New Jersey center, our professional team of eye care physicians treats many other conditions and diseases of the eye. Two of the most common include diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Diabetic Retinopathy
With advanced technology, the physicians at our laser vision correction facility in New Jersey can help treat the deteriorating effects of diabetic retinopathy, a degenerative eye disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes can sometimes cause blood vessels in the eyes to become damaged and leak onto the retina, resulting in vision loss. Many of the symptoms for this condition are, sadly, not present until the disease has done significant harm to vision.
There are a variety of treatments available for diabetic retinopathy, including laser photocoagulation, which seals damaged blood vessels and stops them from leaking. The treatment cannot not restore prior vision loss; however, it can prevent future loss. Diabetic retinopathy cannot be reversed, making it important for patients with diabetes to receive regular eye exams before the disease has a chance to progress.
Contact our staff at Jersey Shore Eye Associates for more information on diabetic retinopathy, including details on symptoms and prevention.
Glaucoma
More than 3 million people in America have glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve. Only half of those afflicted even know they have it. The early stages of the disease have no overt symptoms, and by the time patients begin to experience symptoms, impaired vision has already resulted from it. Fortunately, our eye care physicians can offer treatment for glaucoma at Jersey Shore Eye Associates.
Individuals at risk for the disease, including people over 60, African-Americans, people who have prior eye injuries, patients with hypertension in the eyes, and steroid users, should have regular eye exams to check for glaucoma.
Schedule a Laser Vision Correction Consultation
Laser vision correction and LASIK in Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey is available at Jersey Shore Eye Associates. Amazing technological advances in optical care can eliminate the need for glasses and contacts, and give you a brand new "outlook" on life! Contact Jersey Shore Eye Associates today to schedule an appointment.