LASIK Vision Correction

Bring Your World into Focus with LASIK

If you have been wondering what life would be like with clear vision, free of glasses or contact lenses, then you owe it to yourself to consider LASIK. It is a painless, safe and effective outpatient procedure that corrects a wide range of vision problems. There's a reason so many people are getting LASIK these days. It really can improve your eyesight — dramatically in most cases.

Compared to other vision correction procedures, LASIK provides a number of very important advantages. There’s typically little or no post-operative discomfort. Recovery is fast and complications are extremely rare.  And you’ll notice improved vision immediately.  In fact, and most LASIK patients eliminate or greatly reduce their need for glasses after surgery.

Most Common Vision Conditions That Can Be Corrected with LASIK

Clear vision is the result of light passing through a perfectly shaped eye so that it focuses clearly on the retina. Abnormal focusing conditions of the eye are called refractive errors and consist of the following:

• Nearsightedness
  Nearsightedness occurs when the cornea is too curved. Light focuses before it reaches the retina, which causes distant objects to appear blurry.
• Farsightedness
  Farsightedness occurs when the cornea is too flat. This causes light to focus at a point beyond the retina, resulting in blurry close vision and sometimes blurry distance vision as well.
• Astigmatism
  Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is oval-shaped. When light passes through the cornea, it focuses in more than one place, which causes images near or far to appear blurred and distorted.

The Five Steps of LASIK

1. Before surgery, the front of your cornea is measured with a wave scan.  This produces a map of your cornea which determines areas the laser will treat.  You are then given a mild sedative to help you relax.
2. After numbing your eye with mild anesthetic drops, your eyelid is stabilized with a lid holder.  The surgeon then creates a flap of tissue and gently folds it back, exposing the cornea.
3. Guided by the wave scan and a computer programmed for your prescription, the surgeon applies a cool-beam laser in brief pulses.  The laser gently reshapes targeted areas of the cornea to correct your vision. 
4. The actual laser is applied for less than 60 seconds per eye. The corneal flap is then replaced and smoothed. 
5. The cornea begins the natural healing process immediately. Most patients notice improved vision right away.

Are You a Candidate?

The ideal LASIK patient is someone who is over 18 years of age and has healthy corneas with a relatively stable prescription. People with certain medical conditions or pregnant and nursing women may not be good candidates. Candidates should also have a good understanding of the risks and rewards from LASIK. The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to arrange for a complete eye evaluation with our LASIK Surgeon, Dr. Eric George. You will know in minutes whether this procedure is right for you. During the evaluation Dr. George will answer any questions you may have and discuss your post-surgery expectations.

Not a Candidate? Consider Epi-LASIK.

You may not qualify for LASIK if you have corneas that are too thin, steep or flat, or if your profession puts you at risk for eye injury. However, a similar surgery called Epi-LASIK may be an option for you. This advanced procedure separates the ultra-thin epithelial sheet from the rest of the cornea. The laser is then applied to the surface only, maintaining the integrity of the cornea. Afterwards, a transparent contact lens is placed on the area to act as a temporary bandage. Like LASIK, the result is long-term improved vision.

Vision Correction at Armstrong Colt George Cohen Ophthalmology

Our Cornea Specialist, Eric George MD, performs traditional and custom LASIK and Epi-LASIK, operating at the Wills Eye Surgery Center in Warminster, PA and the TLC Laser Eye Center in Plymouth Meeting, PA.  Dr. George is a graduate of Penn State and Hahnemann University School of Medicine, and was Chief Resident at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital of Columbia University. After completing a fellowship in Cornea and LASIK Surgery at Louisiana State University, he has successfully performed thousands of eye surgeries. Learn more about Dr. George.

To make your surgery safe, Armstrong Colt George Cohen Ophthalmology only utilizes LASIK technology that has been approved by the FDA. To make it affordable, we offer easy financing options.

Click here for LASIK Frequently Asked Questions.