Surgical Procedures

Cataract Surgery – click here

The bad news? There isn’t an exercise or moisturizer on the planet that counteracts the effects of aging on the lenses of our eyes. The good news? Cataract surgery is a very common, safe and effective surgery. As the lens ages, it develops opaque spots that impair vision. Fifty percent of people between 65 and 75 have cataracts so we perform a lot of cataract surgeries. Cataract surgery is painless and performed outpatient in our surgery center. You could notice a dramatic improvement in just hours, and be back to your normal routine within a few days.

Intraocular Lens Implants – click here

Intraocular lens implants are an exciting alternative for people who are nearsighted, farsighted or have a moderate to high degree of astigmatism, but not LASIK candidates. The lenses are similar to contact lenses, only they are surgically implanted inside the eye rather than worn on the surface. Intraocular lens implants replace cloudy lenses to correct or restore vision for cataract patients. Intraocular lens implant surgery requires meticulous measurements, skilled hands and a history of working with specialty implants like toric and multifocal to standard lenses.

Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery – click here

Certain prescriptions or eye conditions like thin corneas can cross you off the LASIK list. Luckily that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with glasses or contacts forever. Much like cataract surgery, our eye surgeons replace your lens with an artificial one during refractive lens exchange (RLE). The new lens is customized specifically to you and precisely corrects near or farsighted vision and astigmatism. You can kiss your glasses and contacts goodbye.

PRK Surgery – click here

PRK is a laser correction surgery very similar to LASIK that is more beneficial for those who have very thin corneas. While traditional LASIK cuts a flap into the cornea, the PRK procedure simply removes only the outermost layer of the cornea (called the epithelium) before using the same excimer laser used in LASIK to sculpt the cornea and correct refractive error. Altering the shape of the cornea allows light entering the eye to be properly focused on the retina for clear vision. While both procedures will result in corrected vision, some prefer LASIK for the faster healing times and others prefer PRK for its extra safety as the original laser surgery for vision correction. PRK is a safer procedure for patients with thin corneas since more of the cornea is left untouched during the procedure than in LASIK. Unlike LASIK surgery, there is no risk of corneal flap complications because the cornea does not need to be cut.

Like most other refractive surgeries this procedure only takes 5 minutes per eye, and most people only feel a little pressure. You will be awake during the procedure but your eyes will be numbed with a topical anesthetic. Your surgeon will have you look into a target light while the laser uses pulses of light to reshape your cornea. As an additional benefit, patients experience less dryness in the eyes following PRK surgery. However, PRK does have a slightly longer recovery time than LASIK surgery as the outer layer of the cornea has to repair itself. After the procedure, you will have a corneal abrasion that will take 3-5 days to heal. The body is an amazing thing, and the cornea is able to repair itself without sutures or much interference from your surgeon. During the healing time you will wear a soft contact lens that acts as a bandage to minimize pain, promote healing, and protect the cornea. After the cornea has healed, your surgeon will remove this bandage lens for you. As a PRK patient, you will likely experience mild discomfort during the healing process. Expect some blurry vision initially; it is very normal for several weeks to pass before vision is clear and stable! Your vision will continue to improve and you will achieve excellent sight and minimal disruption to the cornea with PRK laser correction surgery.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty – click here

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a gentle alternative treatment option for glaucoma. Treatment is critical for eye health and eyesight preservation because blocked drainage in the eyes increases intraocular pressure, resulting in open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma. SLT is a very effective, painless laser procedure that reduces intraocular pressure, performed in our office and usually taking five minutes or less.  

SLT involves targeting the melanin, or pigment, in your affected eye with short pulses of low-energy light from a specially designed microscope. Before your SLT procedure, you’ll receive mild anesthesia drops in your eye. After the laser pulses, your body’s natural healing process kicks in to rebuild the laser-targeted eye cells. Immediately following the procedure, you might be given anti-inflammatory eye drops. One to three days post-procedure, drainage is improved and pressure is released, leaving the rest of your eye unaffected. It takes 4-6 weeks for the full pressure lowering effect. Your doctor will check progress during a follow-up visit and continue to recheck pressure during your future eye appointments.

Since SLT is mild, non-invasive and non-thermal, the treatment can be repeated when and if necessary, unlike other glaucoma laser treatments. If it’s difficult to take or you’re unable to tolerate glaucoma medications or other treatments have failed, SLT can be an effective option for you.