LASIK / PRK in St. Clair Shores & Shelby Township

For over 30 years, the doctors at Eastside Eye Physicians have performed thousands of refractive surgical procedures that help free our patients from glasses and contacts.

Refractive errors of the eye that are amenable to surgery include:

• Nearsightedness (myopia)
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Astigmatism (irregular curvature of the cornea)

While glasses and contact lenses may work well for many people, a significant number of individuals either have intolerance to contact lenses or find that wearing glasses and contacts interferes with their appearance, lifestyle or quality of vision. Refractive surgery is a good alternative for these people. Our doctors will discuss the pros and cons in depth with you, noting that the goal of any refractive procedure is to decrease dependence on the use of glasses and contacts.

The LASIK Procedure

Refractive procedures work by altering the shape or curvature of the cornea, the clear tissue that covers the front surface of the eye. LASIK – laser in-situ keratomileusis – is an FDA approved, advanced form of Excimer laser vision correction that removes a small amount of tissue beneath a thin flap of corneal tissue. The LASIK procedure was developed from two surgical procedures that have been performed for some time – PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and ALK (automated lamellar keratoplasty).

Prior to the procedure, you will receive a low dose sedative and eye drops to anesthetize and clean your eyes. Once the eyelids are cleaned, the patient lies down comfortably under the laser microscope. The eye is held open with a speculum and a pancake-like flap of the cornea is then fashioned with a microkeratome (a very fine, thin blade). New technology allows us to create this flap with the Moria OnePlus System™ or the AMO Intralase iFS™.

After the flap is prepared, the Excimer laser’s ultraviolet light removes a small amount of tissue from the remaining cornea beneath the flap, and the corneal flap is replaced on the eye. Our doctors use the state-of-the-art Abbott Medical Optics VISX Star S4 IR ™ Excimer Laser. Now that the cornea has been reshaped, the overlying flap helps protect and heal the eye quickly. This effect decreases nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

The procedure takes about 5-10 minutes for each eye. Your doctor will check your eyes immediately after the procedure, prior to you leaving for home. Protective eye wear is given immediately for your use.

The PRK Procedure

PRK, also sometimes referred to as advanced surface ablation, uses the Excimer laser to remove tissue, but no flap is made. Instead, a clear soft contact lens is placed on the eye for 3-7 days to protect the eye and help it heal. This procedure is sometimes preferred for patients with very thin corneas or other predisposing conditions. Our doctors will discuss your alternatives.

LASIK & PRK Technology

Standard LASIK and PRK surgery only takes into consideration low-order, simple vision deficiencies. These include myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The iDesign™ procedure by AMO-VISX is a laser ablation that considers all aberrations of the eye. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmastism are corrected as well as higher order (more complex) vision deficiencies. These other deficiencies include spherical aberration, coma, and trefoil and are determined by Wavefront Analysis™.

Wavefront Analysis™ is a computerized vision test performed directly before surgery, with the data input directly into the laser.

Not everyone is a candidate for the iDesign™ technique, but if you are, FDA studies have shown this technique may improve your chance of having 20/20 vision or better and decrease or eliminate the possibility of glare symptoms at night.

Contact Eastside Eye Physicians for LASIK & PRK

To learn more about LASIK & PRK procedures, visit our frequently asked questions page or call us to schedule a consultation at (586)-774-2020.