The Latest LASIK Technology in Orange County
The iDESIGN® Refractive Studio
The iDESIGN® Refractive Studio provides a new level of technology with over 1,200 personalized measurements of your eye. This helps to create a custom procedure plan which is designed as the most personalized laser vision correction available. It allows our surgeons to deliver a LASIK procedure that is designed specifically for you.
The iDESIGN® system measures both the inside and outside of your eye. To measure the inside of your eye, it uses a Wavefront analysis to see how light travels and creates what you see. It captures the unique imperfections of your vision.
To measure the outside of your eye, it uses the Corneal topography map imaging which scans the outside surface of your eye and gives precise measurements and analysis of the curvature and elevation of your eye that helps guide the laser during treatment.
STAR S4 IR® Excimer Laser
The STAR S4 IR® Excimer Laser is an FDA-approved system that sets the standard for customized LASIK surgery. It is powered by the iDESIGN® System’s wavefront-guided measurements to deliver personalized and custom treatment.
This advanced laser platform allows our skilled surgeons to reshape the cornea with extraordinary precision and accuracy. The process is quick, only lasting a few minutes, and is generally comfortable for most patients.
Monovision LASIK
Monovision is when one eye is focused for distance vision and one eye is focused for near vision. This method of vision correction takes advantage of the fact that each of us has a dominant eye for distance vision and a non-dominant eye that is used more for depth perception.
With monovision, the non-dominant eye is typically corrected to be sharply focused on up close (reading vision), and the dominant eye is sharply focused for distance vision. This allows the non-dominant eye to play a greater role in reading while the dominant eye plays a greater role in distance vision.
With careful measurements and proper planning, monovision can provide good reading and distance vision for patients with presbyopia who would like to avoid the use of reading glasses. After trying monovision and determining with your doctor that this is an appropriate treatment option for you, monovision can be accomplished with LASIK and other types of refractive surgery.
If you’ve never heard of or tried monovision, it can be difficult to imagine what it is like. During your free LASIK evaluation, the doctor will discuss what procedures you are a candidate for, demonstrate monovision (if you are an appropriate candidate), and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your procedure.
LASIK Alternatives
Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for LASIK. Luckily, our Orange County LASIK specialists provide other types of refractive surgery options that may be an alternative option for patients that are not eligible for LASIK.
Some of these options include:
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
- Implantable contact lens (ICL)
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) in Orange County
This laser procedure is similar to LASIK, but different enough to be appropriate for people whose corneal shape or thickness is not ideal for LASIK. The laser treatment is performed directly on the surface of the eye instead of under a flap as with LASIK.
Healing time is slightly longer than LASIK (typically 4-5 days) but ultimately, the visual outcomes are the same. Your doctor will discuss the details of this procedure along with the risks, benefits, and alternatives during the consultation.
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) in Orange County
Patients who have moderate to high degrees of nearsightedness, thin corneas, large pupils, or a history of dry eye may not be good candidates for LASIK vision correction or PRK. In the past, these patients would not have any options for correcting their vision. Now, some of the patients who were deemed not a good candidate for LASIK in the past may now be eligible candidates for the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) procedure.
During ICL surgery, a tiny contact lens is inserted inside the eye, where it remains permanently. The procedure takes as little as 15 minutes per eye and patients begin seeing clearly after the procedure. Most patients do not experience pain. The lens is both invisible to the patient and to any observer.
During your consultation, your doctor will determine if you are an appropriate candidate for this procedure and will discuss all the details with you.
Millions of people worldwide have successfully undergone LASIK refractive surgery, and the number continues to grow. The only way to find out if your eyes are right for LASIK is to be evaluated by a LASIK surgeon. Here at Harvard Eye Associates, we offer free LASIK evaluations. Our Orange County LASIK specialists are ready to assess your vision and eye health and recommend the best treatment option(s) for your eyes.
