The LASIK Surgeons
LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is now the most popular of all the laser vision correction procedures. It is estimated that over 1.5 million procedures are done in the United States every year.
Drs. Brown, Corbit, Newton, and Pender are experienced and certified ophthalmic surgeons who do LASIK in our state-of-the-art facilities at ONTRACK in Bedford and at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. They have been doing LASIK since January 1998 and PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy) since 1991.
To arrange an appointment for a consultation, please call (603) 669-3925 and speak to one of our LASIK Coordinators. If you wear contact lenses, you will be asked to stop wearing them one to three weeks before the evaluation. Failure to do this will produce less predictable results. This in-depth history and testing (including computerized mapping of the curvature of the cornea as well as testing for corneal thickness) will determine if LASIK is right for you. Back to Top
Refractive Surgery: Having Realistic Goals
The goal of refractive surgery is to reduce your dependence on eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. Having refractive surgery does not ALWAYS mean 20/20 or even 20/40 vision uncorrected. There are NO guaranteed results, even if you are an ideal candidate. Whether you consider your results a success ultimately depends upon your expectations. LASIK Surgery does not correct presbyopia, which is a loss of accommodation (near focusing), due to natural aging of the lens in the eye. Presbyopia normally occurs around age 40, and is the reason why people use reading glasses. People over 40 who have LASIK surgery will need reading glasses after the procedure if both eyes are treated for maximal distance vision. Using LASIK to create monovision (one eye for distance and the other eye for near) is a possibility that may eliminate reading glasses. So having LASIK may not necessarily make you glasses-free for the rest of your life. A new procedure called Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is for people over the age of 40 who rely on reading glasses for close work. CK is the only vision procedure specifically designed for patients over 40 for the temporary reduction of farsightedness and presbyopia. CK has proven to be a safe, effective alternative to laser surgery. Instead of using a laser, radiofrequency (RF) energy is used to treat your vision problems. For more information about CK please go to: www.refractec.com. The decision to have LASIK or CK is an important one, that ultimately only you can make. Back to Top
Are You a Candidate? All the following apply to be a Candidate. 1. You must be 21 years of age. 2. You must have a stable eyeglass prescription for at least 12 months. 3. Your cornea (the tissue on which the laser is done) must be healthy and thick     enough for the procedure. 4. Certain medical conditions and medications may disqualify you as a candidate. 4. You are not pregnant or nursing. Back to Top
LASIK Procedure
LASIK Procedure LASIK is an outpatient procedure. Anesthetic eyedrops and a mild sedative are given. You will be awake during the procedure, but you should be quite comfortable. A special lid retractor is placed between your eyelids to prevent blinking during the procedure. A corneal flap is made with the microkeratome. Your eye is aligned with the laser. You are instructed to look at a flashing light overhead. While you are looking at the light, the laser is reshaping your cornea. The laser reshaping takes about a minute. The corneal flap is then placed back in its original position. Since the cornea has a special bonding ability, sutures are not required. You will be given more eyedrops and an eyeshield. Antibiotic drops will be used to decrease the risk of infection. It is okay to take pain medication, but it is usually unnecessary.
Some discomfort, such as scratchiness or grittiness may be experienced. You will need someone to drive you home. Do not drive until your vision has cleared. Initially, it is important that you do not rub, push or squeeze your eye, since doing this could dislodge the corneal flap. The flap becomes very secure and well healed within a very few days. Wear protective eyewear as instructed. Follow-up visits are at one day, one week, one month, 3 months, 6 months and one year. All of these visits are included in the LASIK fees. Back to Top
CK Procedure CK is relatively simple to perform. The physician uses a small probe, thinner than a strand of human hair, which releases RF energy. The probe is applied in a circular pattern on the outer cornea to shrink small areas of collagen. This circular shrinkage pattern creates a constrictive band (like the tightening of a belt), increasing the overall curvature of the cornea. The procedure, which takes less than three minutes, is done with only topical anesthesia (eye drops). Back to Top

Fees and How to Pay for Them
Since LASIK and CK are presently considered elective surgery (meaning you are choosing to have the surgery because you want it, not because you have to have it), most medical insurances do NOT cover this procedure. Financing may be arranged through companies that deal exclusively with patients seeking elective procedures. Please call Capital One at 1-877-559-5050 or go online at: www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com.

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