Laser Vision Correction

• Better Vision Network
• Am I a Candidate for LASIK?
• LASIK eye surgery
  • Customvue
  • Intralase Bladeless LASIK
  • LASIK Self Test
• PRK
• Financing – Care Credit
• Patient Testimonials
• LASIK Lifetime Commitment

The recent advancement of medical lasers now makes it possible to correct your vision for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. The entire surgical process takes place in about 20 minutes and can eliminate the need for corrective lenses.

Think of it -- You will be able to see clearly when you wake up in the morning, in the shower, when participating in sports activities, etc. Your peripheral vision will no longer be blurred. Simply, you can have more fun doing the things you wanted to do, but couldn't without glasses. Laser vision correction can truly change your life.

Laser vision correction was first approved in America by the Food and Drug Administration in November 1995, although, the first laser procedure was performed in Germany back in 1987. To date, there have been over 4 million laser vision procedures performed throughout the world.

Virtually all people treated experience an improvement in vision that would allow them to pass a drivers' license exam without the aid of eyeglasses or contacts.

How LASIK Works

LASIK is an acronym for Laser in-situ Keratomileusis, and is one of the most commonly performed types of laser eye surgery. This procedure is safe, effective, and has very few side effects. LASIK eye surgery has helped millions of people see clearly without dependence on glasses or contact lenses. It has made active lifestyle people happy again. Imagine being able to workout without glasses or see the alarm clock in the middle of the night. For contact lens wearers, there is no more bother putting lenses in, no more scratchy lenses hitting your eyelids and no more solutions. LASIK is a quick and comfortable vision correction procedure with an excellent track record of success. Proper pre-operative evaluations are critical to the success of this procedure for you. To get a better understanding regarding whether or not you would be a LASIK candidate please see our LASIK candidacy page. To learn about what happens during this eye surgery process please read below.

What happens during LASIK eye surgery

During LASIK, Dr. Passarelli first applies anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye for surgery. Next a suction ring is applied that is designed to hold the eye steady and confirm the pressure of the eye. Dr. Passarelli then creates a thin corneal flap using a device called a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. Dr. Passarelli tests for laser alignment and walks the patient through the fixation process. The corneal flap is lifted up, and the excimer laser is applied to the exposed interior surface of the cornea to reshape the tissue. The computer-controlled excimer laser removes the tissue under the flap and reshapes the cornea of the affected eye. In less than 60 seconds, high-energy pulses from the excimer laser actually reshape the internal cornea. The flap is then repositioned over the treated area. This is the exact corneal flap that serves as a natural bandage, which eliminates the discomfort associated with other types of refractive surgery, and expedites the healing process. Eye drops will be applied to assist with the healing process. You will be required to take eye drops on a regular basis in the post-operative period. Dr. Passarelli will then watch the eye for a few minutes to ensure proper healing. Because of the extraordinary bonding properties of the corneal tissue, stitches are not needed to keep the flap in place postoperatively.

Your Long Island LASIK surgeon - John Passarelli MD

Dr. John Passarelli performed refractive surgery since its infancy in the early 1980s and has been performing LASIK surgery since its approval by the FDA in 1995. Dr. Passarelli is the senior partner in Island Refractive Eye Care, which owns a VISX Excimer Star S4 Laser. The laser utilizes WaveScan® diagnosis and CustomVue™ treatment and is located in a sterile surgical suite operated by certified laser technicians.

Getting Started with Long Island LASIK surgeons

If you live on Long Island and are seeking LASIK eye surgery we have the credible and experienced surgeons to help provide the best custom natural vision that laser vision can provide. We welcome you to take our LASIK self test to begin the conversation with one of our LASIK coordinators. The first step involves you contacting us to let us know of your interest. We will suggest a LASIK screening to determine your candidacy. Next our LASIK staff will properly educate you about the LASIK procedure, the LASIK technology available and your LASIK financing options.

LASIK Technology

LASIK Technology at Long Island Eye Surgical Care, P.C. is state of the art and includes various levels. Our LASIK coordinators will discuss all aspects of our technology and if it applies to your personal situation.

Custom LASIK with CustomVue™

The CustomVue™ LASIK process begins with a pre-operative consultation to inform you about the technology and the procedure. An evaluation follows to assess your overall eye health and to measure and create a detailed and unique WavePrint® map of your eyes. On the day of the procedure, your unique correction information is transferred directly from the WaveScan™ to the Visx STAR S4™ Laser where the LASIK procedure takes place. Custom LASIK is done using wavefront technology.

Wavefront Technology Benefits

• Improved overall quality of vision
• Improved night vision
• Uses the smallest and fastest laser beam for precision and overall improved health of the cornea.
• CustomVue is 25 times more accurate than the traditional method of measurement.

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Intralase Bladeless LASIK

Blade-FREE LASIK is a breakthough for improved safety with LASIK eye surgery and will benefit all vision correction candidates.

Intralase Blade-FREE Advantages:

• More precise flap creation
• More precise flap thickness
• More uniform flap creation
• Larger candidacy potential

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VISX Star 4 Excimer Laser

The VISX STAR platform's heritage of dependability and performance is well known. The STAR S4 from VISX has taken that reputation to an even higher level. Our latest excimer laser system represents the most advanced laser technology platform available today. Integrating data collected by the WaveScan WaveFront System, the STAR S4 utilizes these exclusive VISX technologies to deliver precision custom ablations:

• Variable Spot Scanning (VSS): Variable beam sizes from as small as 0.65 mm up to 6.5 mm scanned over the treatment area, conserving tissue
• Variable Repetition Rate (VRR): VRR delivers treatment at varying repetition rates, optimizing treatment time
• ActiveTrak 3-D Active Eye Tracking: Captures all 3 dimensions of intra-operative eye movements—no dilation required
• ActiveTrak Automatic Centering: Locates, and then automatically sets the treatment center to the center of the pupil.

How to Choose a LASIK surgeon
12 LASIK questions for 2012

1. What is your experience with LASIK eye surgery
2. What is the track record of LASIK success at Long Island Eye Surgical Care, P.C.
3. What is your educational background and training to be an ophthalmologist?
4. What do you like about LASIK?
5. What do you NOT like about LASIK?
6. What do you think about the LASER technology?
7. What type of LASER technology does Long Island Eye Surgical Care, P.C. use?
8. What is the difference between LASIK and PRK eye surgery?
9. Where is your laser center located?
10. How many days will I need to miss at work?
11. Who are the best Long Island LASIK surgeons?
12. Will LASIK last a longtime and is there any visual regression?

Concluding Remarks

Thank you for visiting our ophthalmology website. This LASIK website sections contains a unique collection of eye care information regarding LASIK eye surgery. The doctors at Long Island Eye Surgical Care, P.C. are undoubtedly committed to providing only the best patient education possible. We inform our patients accordingly so that only the right decision can be made between you are your eye doctor. If vision correction is a viable option we are happy to help you choose the best option. Because our eye doctors are board certified AAO ophthalmologists they also offer other eye surgical options for vision correction such as premium lens implants. Our doctors may choose to perform refractive lens exchange as well.

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