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Browse to see if
LASIK would be right
for you:
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| How
does laser vision
correction work? |
Laser
vision
correction
is
achieved
with
the
use
of
the
Excimer
laser,
a
high-powered
ultra-violet
laser.
Through
a
process
called
photo-ablation,
the
laser
removes
tissue
from
the
cornea
and
reshapes
the
curvature
of
your
cornea
to
match
the
curvature
of
your
eyeglasses
or
contact
lenses.
The
laser
can
flatten
the
cornea
(for
nearsightedness),
steepen
the
cornea
(for
farsightedness),
or
smooth
corneal
irregularities
(for
astigmatism).
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| What
is the difference
between LASIK
and PRK? |
Both LASIK
and PRK utilize
the Excimer
laser to change
the curvature
of your cornea.
In PRK, the
laser treatment
is applied
directly to
the surface
of the cornea.
In LASIK,
the surgeon
will first
create a corneal
flap with
an instrument
called a microkeratome.
The laser
treatment
is then applied
to the tissue
under this
flap. The
flap is put
back into
place and
will adhere
naturally.
When treating
low amounts
of nearsightedness
(under -3.00),
both techniques
will produce
excellent
results after
one month.
The LASIK
patient, however,
will have
a much more
comfortable
experience
and a quicker
return to
good vision.
The PRK procedure
creates a
large corneal
abrasion that
needs a few
days to heal.
The patient
may only have
one eye done
at a time
and will have
a slow return
of vision.
LASIK patients,
on the other
hand, can
have both
eyes done
the same day,
have excellent
vision the
day after
surgery and
are able to
return to
their normal
daily activities
almost immediately.
PRK is still
a very successful
procedure
for people
with low amounts
of nearsightedness,
but due to
the discomfort
and slower
recovery time,
most people
prefer to
have LASIK.
Our doctors
perform PRK
and LASIK.
We assess
patients very
carefully
when helping
to decide
which procedure
is right for
them.
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| Am
I a candidate
for LASIK? |
You must be
over 18 years
of age and
have had a
stable eyeglass
prescription
for one year
before you
would be considered
for surgery.
There is no
upper age
limit; in
fact, we have
performed
successful
procedures
on patients
in their seventies
who had the
goal of playing
golf without
glasses!
You are
not a good
candidate
if you are
pregnant,
nursing,
have any
eye disease,
or healing
disorders.
Pregnant
women need
to wait
three months
after they
deliver
as the procedure
has not
been studied
in pregnant
women. Additionally,
if you are
taking Accutane,
a medication
used for
acne, or
Cordarone,
a medication
used for
cardiac
arrhythmia,
you should
not have
LASIK.
We offer
a complimentary
consultation
to anyone
who is considering
having LASIK
or is interested
in learning
more about
the procedure.
If you would
like to
reduce or
eliminate
your dependency
on glasses
or contact
lenses,
LASIK could
be an excellent
treatment
option for
you. If
you'd like
further
information,
please contact
our office
at (847)
259-2777.
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| I
wear bifocals.
Can LASIK help
me? |
Yes, but you'll
have a decision
to make. In
our forties,
a normal aging
change occurs
in our eyes
that causes
our reading
vision to
decrease.
The lens of
the eye, which
lies behind
the iris and
pupil, is
elastic in
a younger
adult. It
has the ability
to rapidly
change focus
from far to
near. As we
reach our
forties, however,
the lens loses
its elasticity
and can no
longer focus
on both near
and far equally.
Remember
that LASIK
only changes
the curvature
of the cornea
and has
no effect
on the lens
of the eye.
LASIK can
not reshape
the cornea
to mimic
a bifocal.
Therefore,
a LASIK
candidate
in their
forties
has a choice.
Either both
eyes can
be treated
so that
distance
is clear
and reading
glasses
would be
needed,
or one eye
can be treated
for distance
and one
eye can
be treated
for near;
this treatment
is called
monovision.
Monovision
works extremely
well.
To help
you make
an informed
decision
about distance
vs. monovision
treatment,
we can provide
free glasses
or contact
lenses to
demonstrate
the difference.
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| Is
laser vision
correction safe? |
Yes. Over
four million
people around
the world
have undergone
successful
laser refractive
surgery. Dr.
Koziol and
Dr. Thoms
have chosen
to use the
VISX ( www.visx.com)
laser and
have been
VISX certified.
In fact, Dr.
Koziol and
several of
our office
staff have
had laser
refractive
surgery and
are extremely
happy with
their results.
As with
any surgical
procedure,
there are
risks and
possible
complications.
However,
serious
complications
that could
result in
permanent
vision loss
are very
rare. Minor
complications
may include
under-correction,
over-correction,
dryness,
or night
vision difficulty.
In order
to evaluate
the risks
and benefits
to you,
we encourage
you to visit
our office
for a free
consultation.
During this
visit, we
will check
your eyeglass
prescription,
your pupil
size, your
corneal
thickness
and your
corneal
topography.
All of these
tests will
give you
and the
doctor the
information
needed to
make an
informed
decision
about whether
LASIK is
safe for
you.
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| How
much experience
does Dr. Koziol
have? |
Dr. Koziol
is a very
experienced
ophthalmologist
and LASIK
surgeon. He
has performed
over ten thousand
cataract surgeries
and over three
thousand LASIK
surgeries.
He holds several
patents on
this technology
and is actively
involved in
research.
In 1989,
when most
refractive
surgeons
were performing
radial keratotomy,
Dr. Koziol
attended
VISX training
and became
certified
in the use
of the Excimer
laser. His
confidence
in Excimer
laser surgery
prompted
him to have
the procedure
done on
himself.
He knows
first hand
the rewards
of laser
vision correction.
One thing
that sets
Dr. Koziol
apart from
other surgeons
is the personal
attention
he gives
each patient.
He takes
the time
to thoroughly
explain
all aspects
of the surgery,
making sure
that every
patient
has all
of their
questions
or concerns
answered.
Dr. Koziol
examines
LASIK patients
at each
visit, both
before and
after surgery.
His concern
for patient
safety also
distinguishes
him from
other surgeons.
While most
doctors
use the
same instruments
for both
eyes of
a patient,
Dr. Koziol
takes the
time to
use a completely
new, sterile
surgical
set-up for
each eye.
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| Is
the surgery
painful? |
No, the treatment
is painless.
Numbing eye
drops are
applied just
before surgery
to eliminate
any pain.
Some patients
may experience
a slight "scratchy"
sensation
24-48 hours
after the
treatment.
Our doctors
and staff
make your
comfort a
priority.
We will talk
you through
the whole
experience
so that you
will not feel
that something
unanticipated
has occurred.
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Do I have to
stop wearing
contact lenses
before LASIK?
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Yes. Contact
lenses can
distort the
shape of the
cornea. Soft
lenses must
be left out
for 48 hours
before surgery
and hard or
gas permeable
lenses must
be out for
3 weeks before
surgery. If
you are having
Wavefront
guided LASIK
surgery, soft
lenses need
to be out
2 weeks prior
to surgery
and hard or
gas permeable
lenses a minimum
of 3 weeks.
If you wear
hard or gas
permeable
lenses and
being out
of your contacts
for 3 weeks
is too inconvenient,
we can provide
you with soft
lenses that
you can wear
up until 48
hours before
surgery. We
are also happy
to update
your eyeglass
lenses to
help get you
through this
transition
period.
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How soon can
I resume my
normal daily
activities after
LASIK? |
With LASIK,
patients experience
improved vision
immediately
following
the procedure.
Most patients
can drive
and return
to work the
day after
surgery. Activities
such as golf
and running
can be resumed
after only
two days.
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Can I afford
LASIK? |
LASIK is a
very affordable
procedure.
Financing
is available
which could
enable you
to have LASIK
done, both
eyes, for
as little
as $90 per
month. Our
fee covers
total eye
care for two
years, including
all follow-up
visits and
any possible
enhancements.
For more information,
please contact
us at (847)
259-2777.
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