Lasik™

LASIK Surgery with the Advanced Precision of IntraLase

We know the decision to have LASIK surgery is a big one, so we take great care to determine what’s best for you as our patient. That’s why we offer IntraLase as step one in your LASIK treatment.

“I appreciate the professional, warm and courteous care I receive at every visit.”
~ read more patient comments ~

With IntraLase, a beam of laser light is used to create your corneal flap, which is then lifted so the second step of LASIK—the reshaping of your cornea—can be performed. When your LASIK treatment is over, the flap is securely repositioned into place. This bladeless, computer-guided technology is 100 percent more accurate than most of the mechanical microkeratomes (hand-held device with a thin metal blade) that surgeons may also use to create a corneal flap.*

Because of the superior accuracy of IntraLase, certain patients who were ineligible for LASIK may now be able to have treatment. Ask your doctor today if you are a candidate.

IntraLase Assurance and Comfort

IntraLase has been used successfully on hundreds of thousands of eyes and we trust this advanced technology to deliver exceptional results. Our commitment is to provide you with the ultimate in comfort, safety, and outstanding vision. LASIK with IntraLase can help you achieve all of this—while it delivers the added assurance of knowing you’re being treated with the most advanced technology there is.

How IntraLase Works

Unlike mechanical instruments, IntraLase technology is uniquely able to program the dimensions of your flap based on what’s best for your eye. Then the IntraLase laser creates your flap from below the surface of the cornea—without ever cutting it. How?


1. IntraLase uses ultrafast pulses of laser light to position microscopic bubbles at a precise depth determined by your doctor.

2. The laser light passes harmlessly through your cornea.  Then the laser creating rows of these bubbles just beneath your corneal surface as it moves back and forth across your eye in a uniform plane.

3. Next, the IntraLase laser stacks bubbles around your corneal diameter to create the edges of your flap. These bubbles are stacked at an angle that is determined by your doctor and is individualized to the way your eye is shaped.

4. The process takes only about 30 seconds from start to finish—it’s quiet and it’s comfortable.

5. Your doctor then gently lifts the flap to allow for the second step of your LASIK treatment. When treatment is complete, the flap easily “locks” back into position and rapidly begins to heal.

LASIK performed with IntraLase is preferred by patients

In a survey of clinical practices, the vision in the IntraLase-treated eye was preferred up to 3 to 1 by patients over the vision in the mechanical blade-treated eye (among those who stated a preference).**

LASIK performed with IntraLase delivers superior visual results

In a clinical study comparing the IntraLase laser to the leading microkeratome, more patients achieved 20/20 vision or better in standard and custom LASIK surgery when IntraLase was used to create the corneal flap.***

*Wang M. Femtosecond technology: is now the time to buy? Refractive Eyecare for Ophthalmologists. May 2003;5:7.

** Daniel S Durrie, M.D.: Randomized prospective clinical study of LASIK: IntraLase versus mechanical keratome. Subsets presented at the Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology & the International Society of Refractive Surgery, November 14, 2003, Anaheim, CA, the Symposium of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, May 4, 2004, San Diego, CA, the International Refractive Surgery: Science and Practice, October 23, 2004, New Orleans, LA, and the Symposium of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, April 18, 2005, Washington, DC.

*** Durrie, DS, MD, Kezirian GM, MD. Femtosecond laser versus mechanical keratome flaps in wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis: Prospective contralateral eye study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2005;31:120-126.

Mkt Doc 213 Rev. A     IntraLase is a registered trademark of IntraLase

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What is laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction treats vision problems like near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism using state of the art, computer controlled, Excimer laser. This gentle beam of cool laser light carefully reshapes the cornea and improves the focusing problem. Laser pulses remove less tissue from the cornea than the width of a human hair ensuring the structural integrity of the cornea is maintained. Since 1988, more than four million Excimer procedures have been performed worldwide. The Longterm follow-up of these patients has proven the safety and long lasting effects of this procedure. There are several different applications for laser vision correction including traditional LASIK, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), and Monovision LASIK. We would be happy to discuss which option would best suit your personal visual needs. We customize each treatment plan based on your desired goals and outcomes. We offer the latest technology including Intralase.
2. Who is a candidate for LASIK?
Laser vision correction is well suited for active people who find glasses and contacts to be a nuisance, and those who simply don't want to be dependent on them. If you wear glasses or contacts, and are over 18 years old, you may be a good candidate. Your lens prescription should be relatively stable for at least one year and you should be free of medical problems related to your eyes. To find out for sure if you are a LASIK candidate, you can schedule a free complete LASIK evaluation by Dr. Barber.
3. Are there any risks associated with LASIK?

LASIK is the most commonly performed vision correction procedure in the United States.  Long-term studies indicate that LASIK is safe and effective.  Consistently excellent results and LASIK’s rapid healing characteristics have made it extremely popular with patients, and widely accepted by thousands of eye doctors as a legitimate alternative to dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

There is no surgeon or surgical procedure that can guarantee perfect results.  As with any surgery or medical procedure, there are possible risks.  While rare, some side effects that may be encountered after laser vision correction include infection, delayed healing of epithelium resulting in haze, corneal flap problems, corneal surface irregularities, under/over correction, contact lens intolerance, or regression. Dr. Barber will give you detailed information about LASIK’s potential risks, complications, and side effects, and you should get all of your questions answered before giving your consent for surgery.

4. What is the recovery time?
Lasik is an outpatient surgical procedure.  The only anesthetic is an eye drop that completely numbs the surface of the eye.  The Lasik procedure itself typically takes less than fifteen minutes.  For the first 12 hours immediately following your procedure, we strongly encourage you to rest and keep your eyes closed as much as possible. You will have a follow up appointment the morning after your surgery. Often our patients return to work after the first post operative appointment.

We do ask that you avoid extreme sunlight exposure, scuba diving, swimming, strenuous exercise, saunas, hot tubs and water sports for a minimum of one week.
5. What will my vision be like after my procedure?
The visual results of LASIK are usually very rapid, and you may be able to see more clearly with hours of the procedure, although it’s common for vision to fluctuate for several weeks to several months as your eyes heal.  Your individual results will depend on a number of factors including your age, the amount of correction you need, and your individual healing characteristics.  The goal of LASIK is to enable you to see as well as, or perhaps better than, you currently see through your glasses or contact lenses.
6. What is the cost of LASIK?
Our LASIK cost includes all pre-operative testing, the procedure itself, and follow up (including enhancement procedures if necessary) for one full year. We are committed to your long term satisfaction and visual health. Our practice has been established for over 20 years and our success has come from offering cutting edge technology and ethical patient care at affordable and reasonable prices. Our prices are very competitive with national and regional averages. Please give us a call to find out more.

A Vision Financial Plan was created to make laser vision correction an affordable reality by providing a convenient monthly payment plan. Zero down payment and no interest options are available. This program is available to qualified laser vision correction patients prior to having their procedure performed. The underwriters offer a variety of creative financing plans designed to meet your needs and budget.

Flexible Spending Accounts can be used for LASIK. Depending on your tax bracket, using an FSA to pay for vision correction could save you significantly.
7. Why do other practices charge less?
Some practices charge less because they go by your prescription and not a flat rate.  Often times LASIK is offered at a cheaper rate because outdated technology is being offered.
8. What is the IntraLase™ Method?

The IntraLase Method is a 100% bladefree approach to creating your corneal flap, the thin flap of tissue that the doctor folds back in order to perform your LASIK procedure. The IntraLase Method can only be performed using the IntraLase® FS laser.  Traditionally, doctors have used an instrument called a microkeratome for the creation of corneal flaps. The microkeratome is a hand-held blade that moves across the eye, cutting the corneal flap as it goes. While LASIK is extremely safe, if complications do occur the microkeratome is most often the cause.  The IntraLase Method, by contrast, enables your doctor to create your corneal flap without a blade ever touching your eye. 

With the IntraLase Method, tiny pulses of laser light, a quadrillionth of a second each, pass harmlessly through the outer portion of your cornea and form a uniform layer of microscopic bubbles just beneath the surface of your eye.  The exact dimensions of this layer of bubbles are determined by your doctor based on what’s best for your eye, and are computer controlled for maximum precision—things that are not possible with a hand-held blade. The IntraLase flap creation process takes about 10 to 20 seconds.
When it’s time for your LASIK treatment to be performed, your doctor easily separates the tissue where these bubbles occur and then folds it back, thus creating your corneal flap.  When LASIK is complete, a flap created using the IntraLase Method is uniquely able to “lock” back into place. Your eye then begins to rapidly heal.

9. What is the next step?
If you’re tired of reaching for glasses and contacts, call today to make an appointment to find out if you’re a candidate for laser vision correction:  (386) 734-2931

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