LASIK/PRK

LASIK and PRK Eye Surgery in the Boston Area Offices in Lexington and Concord

LASIK and PRK are effective refractive surgery procedures designed to improve your vision and decrease your dependency on prescription glasses and contact lenses. Dr. Richard Rodman uses his surgical experience and state-of-the-art technology in order to maximize the chances for a safe and accurate result. If you would like to schedule a consultation for PRK or LASIK, contact our Boston-area offices in Lexington and Concord.

LASIK

LASIK involves the modification of the shape of the cornea in order to more precisely focus light rays on the retina. LASIK has been performed since 1991 but has undergone extensive refinements since then.

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The LASIK Procedure

Upon a patient's arrival at the laser center, a low-dose sedative is offered. LASIK is performed using only topical anesthesia (eye drops). Most patients are quite comfortable during the procedure, which takes approximately 10 minutes per eye to complete.

During the first step of LASIK, a protective corneal flap is created. Traditionally, a microkeratome (a handheld, bladed instrument) was used to make the flap. Dr. Rodman uses the IntraLase® femtosecond laser exclusively to make the flap. IntraLase® creates a corneal flap with greater safety and accuracy than a microkeratome.

During the second step of the LASIK surgery, Dr. Rodman uses the VISX S4™ excimer laser to reshape the inner cornea. In most cases, patients are eligible for CustomVue™ LASIK, which allows for a more individualized correction of vision than standard excimer laser treatment.

Visual recovery after LASIK is typically rapid. Our patients usually note significant improvement in functional vision and are able to work within a day or two of the LASIK procedure. When you visit our Boston-area offices in Lexington and Concord for a consultation, we will answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns about LASIK. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

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State-of-the-Art LASIK Surgery

In addition to using IntraLase® and CustomVue™ technology, Dr. Rodman uses the state-of-the-art VISX S4™ excimer laser with a 3-D Active Tracker. The 3-D Active Tracker is a device that monitors and follows eye position 60 times per second, allowing for continuous laser beam application despite eye movement. This laser also has the capacity to create larger, blended treatment zones, which may help to protect the quality of vision at night. Dr. Rodman has access to the latest advances in the field of laser vision correction, and has made numerous technology upgrades to improve accuracy and safety for his patients.

If you would like to learn more about LASIK and PRK, please contact our Boston-area offices in Lexington and Concord.

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PRK

PRK was the original excimer laser procedure for reshaping the cornea. PRK was first performed in the mid 1980s. Unlike LASIK, in PRK, the excimer laser is applied to the surface of the cornea after the epithelium (the superficial layer) is removed. Because of the epithelial defect created in PRK, the visual recovery period is longer compared to LASIK. Because of this, PRK is typically performed one eye at a time. However, the long-term results of PRK are equal to those of LASIK. Some patients who are not good candidates for LASIK may opt for PRK. Given the choice, however, the majority of patients elect to have LASIK over PRK.

If you live in the greater Boston area, the staff at our offices in Lexington and Concord can answer your questions about PRK. To schedule a consultation, contact Lexington Eye Associates today.

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