LASIK in Louisville, KY

Laser vision correction involves reshaping the cornea to improve visual acuity using a high-energy laser known as the excimer laser. With the aid of this computer-controlled laser, Dr. Burns is able to remove tissue from the cornea with extreme precision. The two laser eye surgeries performed most frequently by Dr. Burns are laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

LASIK eye surgery involves removing tissue from the middle layers of the cornea using the excimer laser. LASIK eye surgery can be used to treat myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. There are two steps to the LASIK eye surgery procedure. First, a corneal flap is created, which is lifted to expose the inner cornea for step two, tissue ablation by an excimer laser. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is repositioned, at which point the procedure is complete. LASIK eye surgery is popular because it is extremely effective, with very low incidence of complications. LASIK patients generally recover very quickly, with little discomfort reported following the procedure.

PRK differs from LASIK eye surgery in that it uses the excimer laser to reshape the front surface of the cornea, rather than the interior layers. Part of the epithelium, a layer of cells on the outer surface of the cornea, is removed to expose the corneal tissue itself. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the procedure is complete. Because it takes several days for the epithelium to heal, PRK patients will have to wear a soft contact lens to protect the cornea. Dr. Burns often recommends PRK to patients who are not good candidates for LASIK eye surgery. PRK patients generally take longer to recover, and are required to use steroid eye drops for some time after the procedure to facilitate proper healing of the cornea.

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LASIK eye surgery powered by the iDESIGN® system uses a unique process to map the eye’s entire visual pathway, not just the front of the eye (cornea), to make the procedure 100% personalized. This technology makes it possible to reduce or eliminate refractive errors-including higher order aberrations-of the full optical system.

Our practice believes in providing patients with the best technology available.  Technologies used worldwide and trusted by organizations with the highest safety standards, including NASA and the U.S. Military. Their elite personnel, including astronauts and fighter pilots, have relied on advanced technologies to improve their vision and reduce the need for glasses and contact lenses.

Because no two eyes are alike, it’s important to capture each eye’s exact vision imperfections. The iDESIGN® system uses a high-definition sensor that has 5x the resolution of previous technology*, capturing over 1,200 data points from each eye to create a detailed picture of your eye’s unique imperfections and accurately plan a treatment for you.

The IntraLase® FS laser introduced the concept of blade-free LASIK eye surgery in 2001, representing the first improvement in the procedure’s first step – creation of the corneal flap. In the IntraLase Method™, a laser is used to create the corneal flap during LASIK eye surgery, rather than the conventional microkeratome blade. Rapid, precise laser pulses applied to the cornea cause bubbles to form beneath the surface. Once the bubbles have formed, Dr. Burns will separate the affected tissue to create the corneal flap.

This technique allows the dimensions of the flap to be set precisely according to the individual structure of the patient’s eye, and it avoids potential irregularities that are sometimes caused by even the sharpest blade. These irregularities can negatively impact post-operative visual acuity. Although the blade method is safe and precise, the IntraLase Method™ has been proven to further improve the outcome for LASIK patients. Clinical studies have shown that patients treated with the IntraLase Method achieve vision that is significantly better than that of patients treated with the conventional microkeratome blade. In particular, IntraLase® patients are better able to see in low light and other visually demanding situations.

The VISX® STAR S4 excimer laser system has both active and passive tracking mechanisms that allow Dr. Burns to deliver this level of accuracy and precision. The ActiveTrak™ system tracks the eye’s movements in three dimensions throughout the procedure, allowing fine-tuned mid-surgery adjustments that make precise results possible. Additionally, iris registration technology records unique landmarks on the iris in order to align the laser properly for treatment. The eye can rotate several degrees between mapping and surgery, but with iris registration this is no longer a concern.

The results from custom LASIK eye surgery are impressive. This level of accuracy and precision provides you with the potential to achieve a level of vision that very often surpasses what can be achieved with glasses or contacts. With the CustomVue™ procedure, 98 percent of patients are able to achieve 20/20 vision or better without contacts, according to FDA studies.

Most individuals 18 years of age if strictly myopic and over 21 years old with myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism are candidates for laser vision correction. A patient’s vision must be stable for at least a year before undergoing laser vision correction. We offer a FREE consultation to determine if you are a candidate.