Lasik Texas
What is LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that corrects certain vision problems, reducing or eliminating the need for eyeglasses or corrective lenses. LASIK actually stands for Laser in-situ keratomileusis, the technical term for the surgical procedure. LASIK eye surgery is the most common type of refractive surgery. Refractive surgery changes the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. This procedure can be quite effective, and has very few side effects. LASIK is a great option for many individuals considering laser vision correction for a variety of very personal and professional reasons. LASIK may not promise perfect vision, however; it is a highly successful procedure that can at the very least reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The lifestyle benefits can be tremendous for active and social people. These benefits can enable people to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities or career options.
LASIK is a non-invasive, refractive procedure using the technology of the excimer laser along with a well-known instrument called a microkeratome.(PLEASE NOTE some LASIK is performed using a femtosecond laser instead of a microkeratome, this is known as Bladeless LASIK)
LASIK uses a beam of cool light to reshape the top layer (less than 10 percent) of the cornea, so that images focus correctly on the retina. A computer, controlled by your LASIK eye surgeon, is used to precisely calculate the exact amount of cornea that needs to be removed for each person's individual eyes. Numerous tests will be done on the eyes to achieve the measurements that will be treated with the laser.
What happens in LASIK surgery?
Your eye is anesthetized with drops to ensure you do not feel the procedure. Two small marks which disappear in a few hours are placed on your cornea. A suction ring is placed on the eye to secure the eye and maintain pressure while a corneal flap is created. During LASIK, the microkeratome will be used to create a thin cellophane flap from the surface of the cornea. The flap is then lifted to expose the deeper layer of cornea to be treated. This corneal flap stays attached to the rest of the cornea on one side. If any abnormality is noted the procedure could be aborted and reattempted.The laser is then positioned into place, and delivers a programmed number of pulses of ultraviolet light onto the newly exposed part of the cornea. Each pulse of the laser removes a microscopic layer of cornea.
If you are seeking a Houston LASIK expert please fee free to contact us directly through our website. You can read our “Why Choose Us” page to learn more about the significance and experience of Dr. Stephen Slade.
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LASIK Risks
FDA Results
The FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration, is responsible for evaluating new medical devices and determining if these devices are safe for consumers. If you would like to more fully be informed of risks, we invite you to come in for a free consultation and ask for a copy of our informed consent. It is long, but it is designed to cover any and all possible complications.
LASIK Risks & Contraindications
LASIK, as in any other major surgery, has risks. Dr Stephen Slade, who is a highly experienced LASIK surgeon, can answer your questions about LASIK risks and possible side effects. Every FDA approved laser used in vision correction has various risks and complications associated with them. But all lasers approved for LASIK include the risks of dry eye syndrome, which can be severe; the possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery; visual symptoms including halos, glare, starbursts, and double vision, which can be debilitating; and the loss of vision. LASIK is considered contraindicated in pregnant or nursing women, and in patients with collagen vascular, autoimmune or immune deficiency disease as well as keratoconus or suspected keratoconus. Patients currently taking Accutane or Cordorone are also considered contraindicated for LASIK.
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LASIK Advancements
There are 2 major advancements in LASIK eye surgery and our Houston LASIK practice is involved with both of these new technologies. Wavefront technology originally developed by the hubble telescope evolved into what we known as custom LASIK. Bladefree LASIK comes out of femtosecond technology.
Custom LASIK
Since Dr. Slade performed the first LASIK procedure in the U.S., he has the longest experience with LASIK in the nation. Custom LASIK is offered by Dr. Slade at our state-of-the-art facility in Houston, Texas. In fact, we have more than one custom laser to choose from in our facility. We have 2 femtosecond lasers, and 2 excimer lasers. Since no two eyes are the same, you can feel confident that with the advantage of having a variety of the latest and most advanced technology, along with Dr. Slade's experience and expertise, that you will have the best results and best care with your custom procedure here at Slade & Baker Vision Center.
Our Laser Technology Sets us Apart
The two laser platforms our patients have available to them here are the Bausch & Lomb Technolas laser and the Allegretto Wavelight laser by Alcon. Each of these laser platforms are the latest lasers from Germany. With LASIK, we use a femtosecond laser to make the flap, and an excimer laser to do the treatment. We have the latest femtosecond lasers to make the flap: the Intralase and the Wavelight FS 200. Dr. Slade & Dr. Baker were the first doctors in the U.S. to use the Bausch & Lomb Technolas custom laser. This Technolas laser is the only excimer laser in the U.S. that actively tracks a patient's astigmatism. Therefore, it yields special benefits for astigmatism patients. The Allegretto Wavelight laser boasts both the fastest and newest femtosecond (Wavelight FS 200) and excimer lasers to be released in the country.
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Bladefree LASIK
What is Blade-FREE LASIK?
When LASIK first arrived as a laser vision correction procedure, a microkeratome was used to create the corneal flap. (To learn more about traditional LASIK please visit our LASIK eye surgery page) Over the years ophthalmologists have found that when complications arise from LASIK they are typically from a poorly created corneal flap. Unlike mechanical instruments, the IntraLase blade-free LASIK technology is uniquely able to program the dimensions of your flap based on what's best for your eyes. Then the IntraLase laser creates your flap from below the surface of the cornea-without ever cutting it. This process is done in a series of steps:
- Ultra-fast pulses of laser light position microscopic bubbles at a precise depth predetermined by your doctor.
- The laser light passes harmlessly through your cornea. Then the laser creates rows of these bubbles just beneath your corneal surface as it moves back and forth across your eye in a uniform plane.
- Next, the IntraLase laser stacks bubbles around your corneal diameter to create the edges of your flap. These bubbles are stacked at an angle that is determined by your doctor and is individualized to the way your eye is shaped.
- The process takes only about 30 seconds from start to finish- it's quiet and it's comfortable.
- Your doctor then gently lifts the flap to allow for the second step of your LASIK treatment. When treatment is complete, the flap is gently put back into position and the healing process begins.
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Why Choose Us
Slade & Baker Vision Center: The Physician’s Choice!
Slade & Baker Vision Center is regarded as one of the leading eye care centers in the United States. Stephen G. Slade MD, FACS and Richard N. Baker OD have helped thousands of people from Houston and around the world see better and improve their quality of life with cataract surgery, LASIK and other types of vision correction procedures. Drs. Slade and Baker have practiced together since 1983. Dr Slade was the first doctor in North America to perform LASIK, Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery and the first doctor in North America to implant the accommodating IOL (Crystalens) for cataracts and the correction of presbyopia (difficulty with near vision).
Many patients chose a vision correction surgeon without doing extensive research on their surgeon. The most important aspect of choosing a surgeon should be based on surgeon experience and surgical outcomes. Most surgeons and vision correction specialists, on the other hand, who choose a vision correction specialist for themselves or their family, seek out the opinions of their colleagues, read the published literature and observe the leaders and teachers at major medical meetings. Dr. Stephen Slade is a LASIK specialist that is indeed a surgeon’s surgeon. He has performed laser eye surgery and refractive surgery on more than 450 other ophthalmic surgeons and hundreds of other surgeons from other medical specialties. At Slade & Baker Vision Center are committed to excellence because our patients turn to us for the best eye care treatment available. At Slade & Baker Vision Center are committed to excellence because our the world turns to us for answers, and our patients turn to us for the best eye care treatment available.
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