Diagnostic Eye Treatment, Diagnostic Eye Technology- Virginia Beach Eye Center

HISTORY OF LASER VISION CORRECTION IN HAMPTON ROADS

Advanced Vision Analysis & Treatment Technology

The eye surgeons at Virginia Beach Eye Center have the experience, expertise and training to provide excellence in the surgical needs of our patients. We are constantly updating our techniques and equipment to provide state-of-the art procedures and reviewing our past results to optimize outcomes. We always try to balance our enthusiasm for brand new procedures and make sure they will stand the test of time before offering these techniques to our patients. There have been many new procedures which have come onto the scene with great fanfare, only to be found lacking in stability, quality or reproducibility. Many of these techniques have been abandoned and surgical equipment companies have gone out of business. We feel very strongly that one of our responsibilities is to sort through the myriad of surgical offerings for our patients and only offer those that have the best chance of a great outcome.

Refractive Surgery (also called Vision Correction Surgery) are general terms that encompass various surgical methods to correct a patient's "refractive error": nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and presbyopia -- reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Corneal Refractive Surgery
The original refractive procedure was called Radial Keratotomy or "RK" which became popular in the late 80's and early 90's. This procedure involved using a diamond blade to make tiny slits in the cornea (front clear portion of the eye), flattening it, to reduce or eliminate nearsightedness and astigmatism. This technique was abandoned with the FDA approval of the excimer laser to reshape the cornea in 1995, and the publication of long term NIH (National Institutes of Health) data showing that 40% of RK treated eyes were not stable and became progressively more farsighted over time. Other refractive techniques that have come and gone include: Hexagonal Keratotomy, Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty, Intacs™, and Holmium Laser Thermo-keratoplasty.

The advent of modern corneal refractive surgery was with the 1995 FDA approval of the excimer laser to reshape the cornea by removing very precise amounts of tissue to either flatten it, steepen it or make it more spherical depending on one's particular vision problem. The original technique, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), had problems with pain and slow visual recovery. LASIK (laser assisted intrastromal keratomileusis) was then developed to first make a flap in the cornea before applying the laser. This improved the speed of recovery and comfort, but created a whole new set of complications related to the flap itself.

The newest form of excimer laser reshaping is the epi-LASIK technique which has many of the advantages of LASIK, such as improved speed of recovery, great visual results and excellent comfort, without flap complications. At Virginia Beach Eye Center, our preferred excimer laser technique is NuSite™ Advanced Surface Ablation, (a form of epi-LASIK), utilizing our proprietary methods of pre-op, intra-operative and post-op care that have been developed over the last 15 years of excimer laser surgery. We feel that this technique is an excellent balance of safety, quality and prompt visual recovery.

Lens Based Refractive Surgery
In the last decade, a new technique for refractive surgery called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) has grown rapidly, especially in individuals over 50. This technique was built on the 55 year history of successful lens implantation associated with cataract surgery. This procedure is, for all intents and purposes, the exact same procedure as cataract surgery, but is performed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia instead of removing a cloudy lens (cataract). Invariably over age 50 there is some clouding of the lens, and this can often decrease the quality of results from corneal refractive surgery, such as NuSite™ Advanced Surface Ablation. RLE removes the cloudy lens replacing it with a perfectly clear intraocular lens implant (IOL). Also, over age 40 or so, presbyopia has taken away the focusing ability of the lens such that if corneal refractive surgery is done with both eyes set for distance, the patient will need reading glasses at some point. With RLE, the crystalens™, a focusing lens implant, can be inserted which can give the patient good vision at distance, near and in-between without glasses.

Another lens based technique is the Visian ICL™, an intraocular lens implant, that can be inserted into the eye behind the iris without having to remove the clear natural lens of the eye. This acts like an intraocular contact lens to correct higher levels of nearsightedness in patients under 40, who may not be good candidates for corneal surgery, such as NuSite™.

Cataract Surgery is also refractive surgery
Modern cataract surgery now includes all the technological advancements of Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), so that not only is the patient's vision improved by removing the cloudy lens (cataract), but techniques can be utilized during the surgery to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses. The intraocular lens implant (IOL) can be calculated to reduce nearsightedness and farsightedness, Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) can be placed to reduce or eliminate astigmatism, and the Crystalens™ can be implanted to reduce or eliminate presbyopia. Monovision (one eye set for distance, the other for reading) can also be used with any of the above techniques to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses in patients over 40.

The surgeons at Virginia Beach Eye Center have performed thousands of successful cataract surgeries over the last 24 years with the skill and confidence that only comes from this extensive experience. Most all of our surgeries are performed in our state-of-the-art, in-office, ambulatory surgery center. This center is the first state licensed, Medicare certified, and AAAHC accredited ambulatory surgery center in Eastern Virginia dedicated solely to eye surgery. We take great pride in our high level of patient satisfaction created by a great surgical staff, great facility, great equipment and skillful surgeons.

Corneal, Glaucoma, Retinal Laser, Eyelid Plastic Surgeries
The surgeons at Virginia Beach Eye Center have extensive experience with a full range of ophthalmic procedures. Our fellowship trained cornea specialist, Dr. Kramarevsky, is highly skilled in cornea transplant including the newer less invasive techniques requiring less surgical time, smaller incisions and quicker visual recovery. We regularly perform technologically advanced laser procedures for glaucoma and secondary cataract, retinal laser procedures for diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, prophylactic laser techniques for retinal tears, and multiple eyelid plastic surgery techniques for drooping eyelids, eyelid lesions and eyelid malpositions.

Personalized Care and the Surgical Techniques that are Right for You
With continued improvements in technique and equipment, today's surgical options can be confusing. Depending on your eye anatomy, lifestyle, and needs, certain procedures may be more suitable for helping to achieve better vision without glasses or contacts or to correct eye disease.

At Virginia Beach Eye Center, you will receive personal attention and a complete vision analysis to determine which surgical procedure is right for you. You can relax, knowing that you are in the hands of highly experienced surgeons employing the very latest techniques. Our on-site surgical facility was designed with your comfort, convenience and safety in mind and houses some of the finest surgical equipment in the ophthalmic world, all to insure that your surgical results and experience are world class.