LASIK/PRK

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

LASIK and PRK are refractive surgery procedures designed to improve your vision and decrease your dependency on prescription glasses or contact lenses. Dr. Jeremy Kieval 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, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, involves a modification 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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LASIK Procedure

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

During the first step of LASIK, a corneal flap is created. A microkeratome (a handheld, bladed instrument) can be used to make the flap, however, Dr. Kieval only uses the IntraLase® femtosecond laser to make the flap. IntraLase® technology uses no blades and creates a corneal flap with greater safety and accuracy than a microkeratome.

During the second step of the LASIK surgery, Dr. Kieval uses the VISX S4™ excimer laser to reshape the cornea. In most cases, patients are eligible for a "customized" laser treatment which utilizes the CustomVue™ Wavefront system. This system analyses the way in which light travels through your eye and then creates a unique map similar to that of a fingerprint. This information is then used to allow for a more individualized correction of vision than a "conventional" laser treatment, which uses the information obtained from a glasses or contact lenses examination.

Visual recovery after LASIK is typically rapid. Our patients usually note significant improvement in functional vision and are often able to return to work within a day 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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PRK

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, was the original excimer laser procedure for reshaping the cornea. PRK was first performed in the mid 1980s. Unlike LASIK, there is no corneal flap that is created during PRK. Instead, the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea after the epithelium (the superficial layer) is removed. Because of the epithelial defect created in PRK, the visual recovery period is slightly longer compared to LASIK. However, the long-term visual results of PRK are equal to those of LASIK. Some patients who are not good candidates for LASIK may need to 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, and would like to learn more about LASIK and PRK, contact Lexington Eye Associates today.

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