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Archive for the ‘lasik’ Category

Anti-Halo Lasik and Custom Guided Wavefront Lasik Surgeries

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Many of us think of Lasik surgery and remember noted problems in past Lasik procedures. However technology has come a long way since those days. Learning the difference could mean improved quality of vision for you or those you love.

Recent surveys have shown that many are skeptical on the procedure of Lasik and it is important that you know the facts. In this article we hope to give you a better understanding of Lasik Surgery. The different options and what it can mean for you.

Anti-Halo Lasik~

Anti-Halo Lasik is a procedure used to correct reflective and halo problems from older Lasik procedures. Anti-Halo Lasik uses a specialized laser that provides the patient a more accurate procedure by changing the zone size for treatment. The laser is able to pin point the issues causing the problems and correct them.

Additionally the doctor is able to help patients that would not normally be eligible for the procedure, such as patients with large pupils. Anti-Halo Lasik is designed to correct problems that have occurred from other Lasik procedures or for patients with large pupils.

Wavefront Lasik~

Custom Guided Wave-Front Lasik is a new technology that allows the surgeon to create a blueprint or finger print before starting the procedure. This gives the surgeon a base they can follow during the procedure. Each blueprint or fingerprint” is unique to that specific patient. It helps when surgeons have patients that are not normally good candidates for the procedure. This procedure is ideal for patients with distortions or irregularities.

A customized treatment can be created to address and correct these issues providing better vision than older forms of Lasik. The software makes it easy for the surgeon to stay in the appropriate spot and give them a more accurate treatment due to advanced eye tracker. It can also be adjusted to fit larger pupils in some patients.

Which ever Lasik procedure you choose to have done you will find that the technology is expanding. Allowing better outcomes and a higher quality of vision. The choice for Lasik in this day-and-age is up to you however you will see that Lasik technology is truly restoring the sight of many.

Lasik treats: Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and some astigmatism. To find out if its best for you visit: www.boxerwachler.com

Implantable Lens and Lasik in Children

Monday, August 18th, 2008

As parents our biggest concerns are for our children. Hoping for good health we sometimes need to question whether the physicians are right. While many of us are starting to sway on the side of Lasik for ourselves. We still have questions as to whether this is a good procedure for our children. Some doctors are saying yes. The idea of getting to the children early and helping them before the problem grows is the best bet in some cases.

Even the idea of an Implantable lens is peeking many curiosities. The severity of the vision problems need to be taken under consideration and the ease with which the implantable lens can be removed if needed is weighing on doctors minds. Lasik surgery in the past was not as easy and required extra from the patient to help ensure and effective outcome. However the laser guided Lasik procedures are allowing many more patients to have an uneventful procedure allowing them to look at children of a younger age.

There are still some concerns when it comes to the children and vision correction however many doctors feel that if the child is suffering with sever eye problems than the corrective surgery should be considered. The Staar Surgical company has been providing ICL for several years.

The Visian ICL is one of the most incredible pieces of technology. The Visian ICL provides many benefits and is finding its way into doctors offices around the world. The Visian Implantable Contact Lens is a state of the art lens that is bio-compatible with your retina. There are less complications and if a problem should arise they can be removed.

Additional benefits of the Visian ICL:

Vision Clarity-

No Halos

Undetectable to the eye [or wearer]

No maintenance [good benefit for children]

This lens is made of Collamer which is compatible with the human body. It will not be rejected and the Staar Surgical Company Visian implantable contact lens has an impeccable record of safety. In the end the decision is up to you. However with the advancements in technology over the past years Lasik and Implantable Contact Lens are becoming a more viable solution.

Mimi Rogers, Dr. Boxer Wachler, and Anti-Halo Lasik

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

We often take vision for granted. Quite often because we have good vision. However those of us who struggle daily understand the importance of being able to see without vision corrective wear like glasses or contacts.

Mimi Rogers~

This reputable actress shared her journey with the good folks on USA Today and it is one that we all can benefit from. She says it started when he talked to her eye surgeon about Lasik surgery. He told her she was not a good candidate, because her pupils were large. This is a problem that many of us face and find that if the Lasik procedure is done complications can become an issue. Many have problems with Halos and night vision. These complications can cause problems when driving at night- additionally many suffer from dry eye.

The fact is several surgeons are performing the procedure even though patients are not good candidates. The importance of picking a good surgeon should be just as important as deciding to have the procedure done altogether. Mimi went on to say that her sister-in-law endured the procedure despite her similar pupil issues. She was having many complications and could not drive at night.

Later Mimi Rogers heard of Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler and his Anti-Halo Lasik

Anti-Halo Lasik~

This procedure is set up to customize the procedure to fit the pupil of each patient. The normal operational radius is 6-6.5 and in Anti-Halo Lasik the surgeon can adjust the tool to make the surgical area bigger to accommodate those who are 8-9 or more. This is what they did for Mimi Rogers. Through this customized Anti-Halo Lasik they were able to restore her 20/200 vision to 20/20 vision.

Mimi told USA Today-

Quote- ”I sat up and instantly was able to read the clock” she went on “For me to read a clock on the wall without corrective lenses would have been impossible before. It’s a little freaky at first because it takes your brain a little time to adjust to being able to see so well”

Mimi is very happy with her procedure and thankful for finding the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute. She has since referred her sister-in-law too. Who received the halo repair procedure. The Anti-Halo Lasik procedure can repair the complications that traditional Lasik has caused and many patients are satisfied with the outcomes. Though it takes a little longer she has had marked improvement after only 1 month and is driving at night…..

Thanks Dr. Boxer Wachler—–!!!

Lasik Procedures: Past and Present

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

Our Future“Vision: Freedom in your Future”

Today there are millions of Americans who use glasses and contacts to visually function in everyday life. The original “Lasik” procedure made the first visual step to freedom. Now with the improved technologies the “Wave Front Lasik” procedure is changing improving visual freedom.

The Past-

Older versions of Lasik struggled simply because the doctors performing them didn’t have enough technology to overcome patients with visual distortion. Many people complained of complications, such as halos, glare , and other problems that hindered their vision more. The doctors struggled with ways to correct the problems and they merely got worse.

The Present-

The new “Wave Front Lasik” procedure takes around 5-10 minutes and can accurately map out the vision irregularities of each eye. Each eye has its own unique design and pin points the irregularities to perfection.

Pre-paring for “Wave Front Lasik”

The doctor applies the numbing drops to the eye and then makes an alignment marks with the patients sitting up looking straight ahead. The program will use these alignment marks as a reference during the procedure. The marks will help line up your eye perfectly during the procedure and help the laser adjust for accuracy during the procedure. A map is created for each eye.

The Procedure-

The patient is laid down and the laser device is placed up to the eye. The laser lets out lights which scatter across the eye fixing the irregularities in the patients vision.

Dr. Boxer Wachler is a pioneer in his field. The procedure is preformed with the utmost care and he can also fix the mistakes of past Lasik surgeries. Dr. Boxer Wachler is dedicated to his patients and uses the least invasive process possible. Just ask Ruben:

Ruben Gustiomus recently had the Wave Front Lasik procedure preformed he now has perfect vision and no longer needs glasses or contact lenses. Something he has needed his whole life. Ruben has not seen his alarm clock without them in over 20 years– until the day after his Lasik procedure!

Ruben Says “ It was the best thing I could have done in my life”

True Testimonials: Meeting Sandra

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Sandra Kampinella has had vision problems most of her life. She has worn glass and contact lenses as long as she can remember. Recently Sandra went to Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler to have his Wave Front Lasik procedure done. Her experience? From the moment she picked up the phone and called she was amazed with her experiences.

Sandra stated “I felt safe and secure like I was in good hands” she continued to say “I didn’t even think of being afraid”

The Story-

The day of the procedure Sandra was having some nervous feelings the staff of Dr. Boxer Wachler gave Sandra a stuffed animal to keep with her. It was a boxer named “Cornelius” Sandra said Cornelius made her feel safe again. When she showed the pictures to her daughter—she asked about Cornelius and Sandra told her daughter how “Cornelius” protected her and kept her safe during her procedure.

About 6 months after her procedure she received a gift from Dr. Boxer Wachler. It was a mini version of “Cornelius”. This mini boxer’s name is “Iris”. Her daughter was excited to receive the gift and when her tooth was coming out she carried “Iris” around with her so she wouldn’t be afraid!

Sandra’s story is just one way to see the true patient care and the impact that Dr. Boxer Wachler’s office has on his patients. He goes above and beyond the call of “the doctor – patient” relationship. Sandra is thrilled with her results. She now has 20/20 vision and living a new life with her improved quality of vision.

Patient Tips: Questions for Lasik Recovery

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

The option to have Lasik procedure can be difficult. Though many strive to be freed from vision problems it is often difficult to undergo any procedure. Many questions arise after a Lasik procedure which long to be answered.

Below are a few tips for after care that may ease your worries:

Tip 1: Ask Questions- Though this is quite the obvious. Many feel insecure with doing this. Doctors understand that you are worried and they expect you to have some questions.

*Note: Remember to keep all questions simple and to the point. This will allow time for the doctors to answer your questions & those questions of others as well.

Tip 2: Make sure you understand your instructions- Getting clear and understandable instructions is very important. You may have already asked the same thing two or three times- if you still are not sure—ask again! Do not worry about what they think; or feeling incompetent… it is you that will be going home to do this. You must understand each step of your aftercare to ensure there are no complications.

Tip 3: Follow your instructions: Though its sounds petty and a bit on the childish side, doing as your doctor has instructed will help lower your risk for infections and complications. Although nothing is 100% your chances of a full and healthy recovery will be greater.

Sometimes after a procedure we forget to ask some things. Having someone with you that can ensure that everything is done and understood is very important. Making a list of things to ask before you leave is also a smart step to take. They want the best for you and your health should be first on your list!

Discovering Lasik

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

Millions of Americans are discovering a whole new way to see. Freedom from glasses or contact lenses can be achieved with today’s new vision correction methods. Lasik surgery is a great way to improve your sight. It will reduce your prescriptions if you have severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, or give you excellent vision if you have mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

The loss of vision is a scary feeling to most. Learning that there is hope and finding a way to be free from restricting glasses or contacts is a treat in itself. One of the great benefits to Lasik or Laser In Situ Keratomileusis is that is has some benefit in seniors who are experience difficulties due to age. This is called Loss of Accommodation. There are some procedures like Blended or Mono vision which is when they correct one eye improving distance vision and the other improving near vision.

The reason many older people experience difficulty with sight isn’t necessarily do to health conditions. which can have an effect as well. But because when the lens in eye is young it has more elasticity…it bends to the curvatures much better. As we age the eye lens becomes stiffer. The curvatures are not as able to bend. As a result some near vision is affected.

Before you receive Lasik Surgery you must have an evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate for Lasik.

Below are a few things that you should expect in the evaluation:

High Prescription check: The surgeon will often check the strength of your prescriptions because people will high prescriptions aren’t always good candidates for this procedure.

Thin Corneas: If you have thin corneas typically the surgeon will not preform this kind of procedure on you. When your cornea is thin it leaves you vulnerable to weakening of the cornea.

Pupil Size: If you have large pupils you may not be a good candidate for Lasik because you could be at higher risk for night vision problems.

In the end the decision to get Lasik should be researched well. It will provide you will lots of benefits. Lasik can help you have freedom again. It will show you a new way to live and enjoy the beauty we take for granted.

If you are not a good candidate for Lasik don’t despair. There maybe other procedures that might be right for you and provide the visual freedom you are looking for.

Lasik Surgery History and Complications

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Lasik surgery has increased in popularity in the last decade. More people are learning the benefits of this treatment. Lasik surgery is making it much easier for people to enjoy life without glasses or contact lenses. Only 3-6% of patients have continued complications after Lasik surgery.

Before deciding to undergo Lasik eye surgery you should evaluate your individual risks, as well as determining a good Lasik surgeon as this is an important factor in the effectiveness of the procedure. Making sure you ask questions and are comfortable with your surgeon is very important. There are different ways the procedure is performed and understanding what is going to happen during the procedure is additionally important.

History-

Some Lasik procedures have been around for the better part of 50 years. In 1950 Dr. Jose Barraquer MD. Developed the first microkeratome. Shortly there after in 1968 the first Excimer Laser was used world wide. These things made way for the first patent for Lasik surgery in June of 1989 given to Gholam A. Peyman MD. The patent was listed under the title name “Method for Modifying Corneal Curvature”. Inch by inch they made there way to Lasik surgery. Though we now have much more advanced instruments and techniques we still have much more to learn.

Complications-

As with all procedures there are some risks and complications can play a part in our comfort. Though only a small percentage of patients suffer complications greater than 6 months each patient should be aware of what they are:

Over or under correction

Flap Wrinkles

Infections

(DLK) Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis

Astigmatism

Corneal Ecastasia

Remember that there can be complications in any procedure. Talking to your doctor and feeling comfortable with your surgeon is important. Asking any additional questions about how the procedure is done, healing time, risks, etc…will ease your mind. Lasik surgery can improve your mild nearsightedness, some degrees of farsightedness and some astigmatism to “excellent” without the use of your glasses and contact lenses.

Finding a Good Lasik Surgeon

Monday, May 26th, 2008

Much like finding a general physician or Family Doctor; finding a Lasik Surgeon requires research. Making the decision to have Lasik surgery is a big choice. Making sure that you have the right surgeon can effect how your result turn out. A surgeon with more experience can give you a better result and you can be less likely to have complications with the surgery.

Lasik surgery is a delicate procedure and requires a special touch. The results of Lasik surgery are excellent. It can free a person with mild nearsightedness from wearing glasses or contacts.

Below are some things to take into consideration when looking for a surgeon for Lasik Surgery:

Make sure the surgeon is sincere and has you best interest in mind- As with all doctors, specialists, and surgeons you need to know that the surgeon cares. You should feel comfortable with the surgeon you select and they are listening to you and will consider your feelings before, after, and during the procedure.

Know what type of Equipment the Surgeon uses- Now I know this one sounds a bit silly; however the type of equipment a surgeon uses can effect the outcome of the procedure. Making sure that the surgeon uses double sterile equipment is also important. When a surgeon does work on both eyes they should have two sets of equipment. This is a question you should ask before going into the procedure. Sometimes a single sterile kit is used. This means the same set is used for both eyes. This can cause infections, and other issues later.

How long they Trained- This is important because we all know that the more training a surgeon has the more qualified they would be. Finding out if their training was hands on may also give you an idea on how much experience they have as well. Learning from a class or book is a must; but it doesn’t compare to actually performing the procedure.

Asking questions is the best way to determine whether the surgeon is right for you. Lasik surgery is a great benefit to many and making sure that you have found the right surgeon is very important. Never be afraid to ask questions. After all they are their to help you and your vision!

 

Exploring Lasik Eye Surgery

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

For millions of Americans everyday the burden of poor vision has been difficult. Finding new ways to gain freedom from eye wear was a hope we often clung too. However now people are seeing clearly for the first time without the use of glasses and contacts. Lasik Eye surgery is bringing new life to many across the country.

Lasik eye surgery is the most common refractive procedure in the United States today. Lasik eye Surgery or (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is done by creating a small circular flap in the cornea. They will then use the excimer laser to remove gently break the modular bonds of the cornea to reshape the cornea. This will help you see clearer and can give you better vision in as little as 1 day.

The cost of Lasik surgery can often discourage many people. But how much is it worth to you to have your vision restored? The Lasik procedure can help people with nearsightedness and farsightedness. It can also help correct astigmatism.

After the Procedure-
As with all surgeries the doctor will keep you a bit in the office. They will request when you return home to get lots of rest. It is important for you to not touch or rub the eye because that can dislodge the flap and can create complications.

You may feel ok within a matter of hours but you should get rest because your vision may still be blurry. It is important for you to take it easy for the first week much of our balance is coordinated with our eyes and doing things too quickly can also create complications.

Some people may still require glasses or contacts after surgery for vision however the prescription will not be as strong. Also there maybe some complications later and you may need what is called a “touch up”. Below are some complications common in Lasik:

Dry eye
Infection
Irritated eyes
Scratchy eyes
Irregular flap
Over/under correction

It is important to find a qualified eye surgeon to assist you in this procedure. Making sure they have experience in this field will ease your mind and reduce the chance of complications. There are many available Online and you can find many by look up Lasik Los Angeles. As with all procedures there will be some risks. However if you are serious about your vision and want to be free from your glasses or contact lenses Lasik eye surgery could be right for you.