New LASIK Technology Provides Greater Patient Benefits

Friday, March 1, 2002

Eye on Health New LASIK Technology Provides Greater Patient Benefits (NAPSA)—Morethan half of all people in this country require vision correction, and more and more of them are looking to rid themselves of eye glasses and contact lenses with the help of laser eye surgery, or LASIK. Nearly one million people are expected to undergo LASIK surgery this year alone. As the demand for laser eye surgery grows, so do the exciting, new advancesin this field. One of the newest developments in LASIK surgery, a new system called LADARVision, actually uses technology originally developed by NASAto help provide laser vision correction patients with a procedure personalized to their needs. “Our eyes are always moving, sometimes 100 times per second,” explains Stephen Brint, MD, clinical associate professor of ophthalmology, Tulane University School of Medicine. “These movements differ from patient to patient and can affect the proper placement of the laser beam during surgery.” LADARVision helps to eliminate the challenges of involuntary eye movements during surgery. It uses a one-of-a-kind eye tracking device—called laser radar tracking—that actually locks on to the eye and tells the laser where the eye will be when the laser beam is sent. This unique device tracks a patient’s eye movements 30 times faster than any other laser vision correction system, ensuring accurate placement of the laser beam. “The LADARVision eye tracker makes sure that, even if the most subtle eye movement occurs, the laser beam stays locked on the patient’s eye. This laser system provides the most accurate placementof the laser beam, while correcting the patient’s vision problem,” explains Dr. Brint, the first surgeon to perform LASIK in the United States. Another feature of the system is its small laser beam. Just one millimeter wide, this small beam provides patients with a more refined and tailored approach to LASIKsurgery. “While reshaping the clear, front part of the eye, called the cornea, the smaller laser beam allows for very precise, gradual reshaping and a smooth corneal surface, providing patients with a more personalized LASIK procedure that meets their individual needs,” Dr. Brint says. LADARVision is the only laser vision correction system that provides patients with the benefits of both a laser radar tracker and a small laser beam. As such, it is the only system that actually improves the accuracy of corneal shaping during LASIK. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the system for a broad range of treatments, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and mixed astigmatism. As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved with LASIK and not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure. If your prescription changed within the past year, if you are pregnant or nursing, younger than 18, or if you have eye disease or viruses, LASIK surgery may not be for you. Choosing the right doctor to perform this delicate procedure is critical. Experts recommend that people research the surgeons they are considering very thoroughly, and that they learn as much as they can about LASIK. Your eye doctor can discuss the risks and benefits associated with LASIK, and help you determineif you are a good candidate for the procedure. For more information about laser vision correction, visit www.ladarvision.com.

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