Local 2 Anchor Shares LASIK Surgery Experience
Procedure Takes 10 Minutes
| Video |
EpiLASIK Offers Alternative To LASIK
After doing the research and asking a lot of questions, Isela Flores, 24, was ready to undergo EpiLASIK surgery.Dr. Edward Wade, at the Eye Center of Texas, is the first Houston doctor to use the EpiLift system, approved by the Food and Drug Administration eight months ago. He has performed about 50 procedures."(Isela) could not have had LASIK if she had wanted to because her risk would be too high," Wade said. "EpiLASIK has been really good for a few patients whose corneas were too thin to have LASIK."Flores has worn glasses since she was 12 years old and contact lenses since she was 15. She wasn't a candidate for LASIK surgery until now."So you're going to go from 20/200 to 20/20 and we're going to do it safely without having to cut a flap," Wade said.He said that's the major difference between traditional LASIK and EpiLASIK."Instead of a blade which cuts across the cornea, it's got a separator that as it runs across the cornea it's actually lifting off the epithelium. The separator is actually not sharp, unlike a LASIK blade," Wade said.After the laser treatment to reshape the cornea, Wade put in a temporary contact lens. Similar to most LASIK procedures, the surgery took about 10 minutes.But the initial recovery period for EpiLASIK can be difficult. Local 2 visited Flores five days after surgery."The first day I had to have my eyes completely closed. I really couldn't keep them open. The only times I kept them open was to get my drops in," she said.But each day there was improvement."Everything looks great. I went from 20/200 vision to 20/40, so I was glad to hear that. I could easily pass a driving test now without my glasses," Flores said after one week. "Overall I am pleased and I would recommend it."The LASIK industry is evolving at laser-like speed."The next new thing is the lens implant because now we're able to treat patients with a lens implant that will allow them to see distance and near out of the same eye," Wade said.The procedure is called Restor Lens. Wade will be performing that surgery soon.The bottom line -- if a patient has not been a candidate for LASIK before, he or she might be now.Patients should do their research, get an evaluation, ask lots of questions and choose a doctor with specific experience in the procedure.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Web site is a good resource for information.More Information:- FDA Approves WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE Excimer Laser System FDA: LASIK Eye Procedure International EyeCare Laser Center Eye Center Of Texas
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