Setting New Standards in LASIK Technology
AGES 18-50
Laser In-situ Keratomileusis (known as LASIK) uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the front and clear outer window of the eye. By accurately sculpting the curvature of the cornea, the nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be precisely treated to eliminate your need for glasses and contact lenses. In 2019, nearly 700,000 LASIK procedures were performed in the U.S. Due to its tremendous success, LASIK has quickly become the procedure of choice for most patients because they recover quickly and have fewer side effects and complications than with other methods of vision correction. In fact, most LASIK patients notice a significant improvement in their vision almost immediately after surgery.
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Dr. Rush uses the safest and most advanced technology to perform the LASIK procedure with Alcon’s WaveLight© Refractive Suite. This advanced LASIK technique is a two part procedure. The first step uses the WaveLight© FS200 Femtosecond Laser to create a flap in the cornea. The second step uses the WaveLight© EX500 Excimer Laser to sculpt the cornea underneath the flap to treat your refractive error. Each person’s cornea is perfectly unique to them as is the case for your DNA or your fingerprints. New imaging technology can measure precise amounts of curvature that are specific to the exact shape of your eyes. The most advanced excimer laser technology with Contoura can sculpt your cornea using this data to create a customized profile that will provide optimal outcomes for your vision.
Stage 1. Here is how the WaveLight© FS200 Femtosecond Laser works:
The treatment parameters are programmed into the laser to select for the appropriate size diameter and depth of the flap for your eyes.
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Suction device secures the eye while the laser docks into position.
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The femtosecond laser “etches” the flap incision onto cornea to prepare for the second stage with the excimer laser. This portion of the treatment lasts approximately 10 seconds with the laser actually firing.
The flap previously created by the femtosecond laser is retracted by the surgeon.
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The treatment profile is determined by entering data previously obtained during your evaluation into software that uses formulas specific for our surgeons to make the appropriate calculations. This customized data is pre-programmed into the laser in preparation for your procedure.
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To treat nearsightedness, the steep shape of the eye is made flatter by removing tissue from the center of the cornea. This moves the point of focus from in front of the retina to directly on the retina.
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To treat farsightedness, the flat shape of the eye is made steeper by removing tissue outside of the central optical zone of the cornea. This moves the point of focus from behind the retina to directly on the retina.
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To treat astigmatism, the cornea is sculpted to be more spherical – like the round shape of a basketball rather than an oblong shape of a football. This reduces blur by eliminating multiple focusing points within the eye and creates one point of focus on the retina. Astigmatism is treated at the same time as nearsightedness and farsightedness. The breakthrough topography-guided Contoura technology allows for any small nooks and crannies naturally present on your cornea to be smoothed out into a perfectly round shape.
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The excimer laser sculpts your cornea according to refractive error that we are correcting. This portion of the treatment usually takes 10-20 seconds with the laser actually firing, but it will depend upon how large your treatment is.
“The experience with the Rush family is the primary thing that made me choose them. Obviously being local to Amarillo and not having to travel is a good, good upside. My local optometrist recommended them and I wasn’t nervous at all about using them with their combined experience and everything. And everybody in my family that has ever dealt with them and anybody else locally, they have an amazing reputation around here. And for the rest of my story…life after LASIK I would describe as simply a sigh of relief and a breath of fresh air. Going through every day without glasses takes a load off of something to worry about and allows me to focus on other things in life.”
Reece McKillip
LASIK is for those who want to:
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Want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts
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Are at least 18 years of age
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Have had a stable eye prescription
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Have had no health issues affecting their eyes
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Have had our Comprehensive Ocular Health Analysis that shows no signs of glaucoma, cataract or other eye disease that affects the ocular health
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As with any medical procedure, LASIK entails some degree of risk to the health of your eyes. You will be given formal written informed consent documents to review prior to any treatment. You should discuss this and any other concerns that you have with Dr. Rush.
Click Here to view the FDA LASIK Risks & Contraindications