Center for Laser Vision Excellence
at the Eye Institute of Southern Arizona

Tired of Your Eye Glasses?

Many individuals are tired of wearing eye glasses for distance or near activities. This may be due to large prescriptions which can result in poor vision quality or simply because glasses can be inconvenient or uncomfortable for an active lifestyle including biking, running, or swimming. Here at the Eye Institute of Southern AZ, we are committed to providing safe and effective solutions to meet individuals needs. We offer a variety of surgical techniques and procedures and we invite you for a free consultation.

Below, is a list of procedures which are commonly performed at our institute:

Advanced Surface Ablation       Click Here for more information LASEK Epi-LASIK Intraocular Collamer Lens Natural Lens Replacement Conductive Keratoplasty

Background:

Surface ablation was the first FDA approved laser treatment on the cornea for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Today, surface ablation has distinct advantages, but it is less popular than LASIK due to a slower recovery period (up to 6 weeks).

Historically, numerous techniques have been employed for surface ablation, including PRK, Epi-LASIK, and LASEK. These techniques differ in the way the surface epithelium is removed and whether or not a suction ring is employed. Here at the Eye Institute of Southern Arizona, we have chosen the best of each of these procedures to offer a safe, precise, and comfortable form of laser vision correction.

Surface Ablation at the Eye Institute:

Dr. Goldman performs a modified LASEK technique, which involves removing the surface epithelium in a well circumscribed sheet with an alcohol solution. This epithelial sheet is discarded and a bandage contact lens is placed, which is later removed around day 5 or 7.

“The advantage of our modified LASEK procedure is that it avoids flap related complications and does not require a suction ring, which may be dangerous for older patients or patients with early glaucoma,” says  Dr. Goldman. In addition, “if patients are not good LASIK candidates due to an abnormal corneal shape or insufficient thickness, LASEK may still be an excellent option.”

For enhanced quality of vision, our CustomCornea® platform can be combined with modified LASEK to provide a wavefront tailored treatment known as Advanced Surface Ablation

Who is a good candidate for modified LASEK?

Frequently asked questions about modified LASEK?

1) Is there anything else I need to know?

If your ablation requires removal of a moderately high amount of tissue (> 75 microns), we may utilize a substance called Mitomycin C, which is a naturally derived anti-scarring agent. This is because individuals with large ablations are at risk for visually significant corneal haze. Mitomycin, when applied topically in dilute form, will reduce the likelihood of this complication significantly. This is an off label use of this medication, but it is standard of care amongst leading laser vision specialists.

2) How uncomfortable is it?

Patients with LASEK experience mild to moderate discomfort for up to seven days following the procedure. The use of a bandage contact lens keeps people comfortable enough to resume normal activity that does not require detailed vision. Additionally, topical steroids, dilute topical anesthetic, and oral ibuprofen/Tylenol are highly effective in controlling post-operative discomfort.

Please call for your complementary screening to see if you are a candidate