LASIK is a modern and reliable method of treatment for people who constantly use eyeglasses or contact lenses. Many refractive surgeons believe that Lasik is the best technology for vision correction. This method is able to treat different types of eye diseases like nearsightedness (up to 15D), farsightedness (+- 4D) and astigmatism (+-3D0. The excimer laser used is FDA approved and considered the most gentle and safe because it does not harm the cornea of the eye. The majority of eye clinics and centers prefer Lasik procedure as an effective way of eyesight restoration.

The individual approach

The modern method of Lasik involves an individual approach to treat the diseases of the vision. Before the correction procedure, Dr. William Boothe of Boothe Eye Care performs a thorough eye examination , which reveals the extent of the disease. All of the resulting diagnostic data is entered into the computer, which calculates the laser influence on the inner layers of the cornea. This allows Dr. Boothe to perform laser eye surgery with a maximized accuracy of vision correction.

The principle of laser eye surgery

The principle of the method of the vision correction by Lasik surgery consists of a short-term influence of a laser beam on the inner layers of the cornea. The restorative eye surgery is carried out on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. After Lasik surgery the majority of patients have the ability to see sharper, brighter, and clearer in the daytime and at night without eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Eye examination before laser vision correction

Dr. William Boothe can find out through a careful preliminary eye examination if laser treatment is the right thing for you. Many factors aside from the severity of refractive error are considered before recommending treatment:

- Visual acuity (refraction): The quantity of dioptries will be determined, which is the optical power of your eyes. Patients should not wear contact lenses for 24 hours before the eye examination

-  Thickness of the cornea (pachymetry): This is defined during the ultrasonic examination. Before surgery it is one of the most important indicators that affect the decision carry out a laser eye procedure

-  Front and back surface of the cornea/curvature of the cornea (astigmatism): the so-called topography of the eye shows different heights and rates of curvature. Using this, Dr. Boothe is able to determine a disease or scarring on your cornea

- Diameter of the pupil: Coreometry is used to determine the maximum diameter of your pupil in the dark. This indicator is also important in addressing whether laser treatment is suitable in your case. The maximum diameter should not be greater than the laser-treated corneas. Otherwise, after surgery your eyes will be more sensitive to light than before

- Length of the eyeball (biometrics): This is determined using a special instrument called the IOL-Master

- Retina: after artificial expansion of a pupil by eye drops, it is possible to define degenerations on a retina and weak places, especially on its edges

- Measurement of intraocular pressure.

PRK is sometimes a better choice for both myopic and hyperopic patients. In myopic people, the aim of the doctor will be to flatten the cornea as it will be too steep. In hyperopic patients, the doctor will be creating a steep cornea. Astigmatism also can be corrected with excimer laser by changing irregular cornea into a normal shape. About 90% of the patient who had undergone PRK procedure achieved 20/20 vision without using eyeglasses or contact lenses. Around ninety five to ninety eight percent of all patients experienced 20/40 vision or better after surgery.

Unlike Intralasik, in PRK Boothe Eye Care specialists will not make a corneal flap at the beginning of the procedure. In PRK, the surface tissue or the corneal epithelium is removed. After completing the treatment, the corneal epithelium will grow again naturally. The surface of the corneal can grow well as it is resilient and tough. The epithelial tissues of the corneal will grow back (just like healing a corneal flap) without any sutures. The PRK surgical procedure can be completed within 30 minutes. It is recommended to have another person drive you from the center back to your home.

Dr. William Boothe recommends you to used moisturizing and antibiotic eye drops. He also will give you the instructions on how you have to care for your eyes during the recovery period. If you feel pain or discomfort, he will provide you with a painkiller. In order to have a speedy recovery from the surgical procedure, you should have plenty of sleep. The recovery time for PRK procedure is more than that of a LASIK procedure. The delay is due to the fact that the epithelial cells removed need to grow again. So, contact lenses or protective bandages have to be worn during the first 3-5 days after the procedure.

You should not rub the eyes after the procedure and should avoid any kind of injury by accidentally getting hit strongly on/around the eyes. Plastic shields will be provided by Dr. William Boothe so that you can wear then at night. PRK avoids LASIK related complications because a corneal flap is not created in this surgical procedure. Most of the complications in LASIK procedures are associated with the creation of the corneal flap. In certain cases we will recommend PRK over LASIK. Some of the more common side effects of PRK are minor glares and mild halos. Dr. Boothe is the best surgeon to perform PRK as he is a trained and skilled professional in PRK procedure.

The fear of pain during and right after the procedure is very common among most people that consider Lasik. Before the Lasik procedure starts, your surgeon puts anesthetic drops into the eyes. You may also receive a mild sedative to help you relax and to lessen any anxiety. Though a slight pressure to the eye may be felt during the surgery, the process itself is virtually painless.

The surgeon employs a special excimer laser to help remodel the cornea during the Lasik procedure. Dr. Boothe says that many people are afraid of the laser beam being directed into the eye, or that they might accidentally look away or blink while the procedure is on, and thus develop a serious complication with their eyes. But the fact is that the laser itself lasts only about ten to fifteen seconds for an eye, and the new Lasik laser devices he uses have a high speed eye tracker device to compensate for eye movements.

The fear of going blind after Lasik procedure is also one of the biggest fears that people have. According to the FDA studies and other clinical projects covering over one thousand of patients, there are no reported cases where somebody lost his/her sight because of the procedure. If you choose an experienced surgeon, your chances of risks or complications are very low. An eye surgeon like Dr. William Boothe with over a hundred thousand procedures under his belt will be able to deal with any unpredictable situations as they happen and correct them in real time.

Serious complications that may occur after Lasik are very rare and are currently in less than one percent of the patient population. In fact, the risk of permanent complications, even not serious ones, is less than three percent. It is extremely rare for a patient to have worse eyesight after a Lasik surgery. If you are interested in learning more, visit Boothe Laser Center in Plano Texas.

If you are living in Texas and experiencing some vision problems, the best way is to visit Dr. William Boothe. His Eye Care & Laser Center offers its patients the next generation of laser vision correction – WaveFront Guided Customized IntraLasik. Pete O’Brien, former MLB player and one of many Dr. Boothe’s patients, says: “I’ve been to the couple of other laser centers and I realized that the technology Dr. Boothe had in his office was exactly what I needed. That’s why I went to Dr. Boothe”. If you are interested in consultation, call (214) 328-0444.

In normal eyesight, light rays initially pass through the cornea, the clear covering of the eye, and then through the pupil. Light then goes through the lens, which focuses the image on the back of the eye.

Lasik vision correction procedure is for people who are nearsighted, meaning that far objects are blurry because the far images are focused in front of the retina instead of on it.

During atypical Lasik surgery, a femtosecond laser or a cutting tool called microkeratome are utilized to create the flap on the cornea. The corneal layer is pulled back and the inner tissues of the cornea are reshaped with the excimer laser. The laser remodels the shape of the cornea so that images entering the eye will strike the retina more directly.

The aim of this procedure is to enhance the patient’s eyesight. Lasik therefore reduces the patient’s dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses.

There are several potential complications associated with the Lasik surgery that should be discussed with an eye surgeon prior to your procedure.

Thank you for everything!
Danny J.

That is why several pilots considered and had laser eye surgery done at Boothe Eyecare and Laser Center in Plano, Texas, to correct their eyesight and reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. The Lasik procedure can give 20/20 vision or even better to patients who have myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

For the pilot who is going to stop using contact lenses or eyeglasses, Lasik eye treatment is a real option now because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does accept laser eye surgery such as Lasik as an effective method of vision correction. In accordance with the Federal Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin, the FAA accepts Lasik for pilots, as long as the FAA examining eye surgeon reports that the procedure did not result in complications or considerable side-effects, and the patient’s eyes are completely healed and visual sharpness is stabilized one to six months post-operatively. Eye examination will ensure that the pilot is ready to effectively carry out flight duties.

After procedure and recovery, Dr. Boothe will fill out some FAA forms as part of the administration eyesight requirements. If you are commercial pilot or air force pilot, you should get an approval from your air carrier or commanding officer, in writing, before Lasik procedure. Most airlines determine their own medical standards. This is a great alternative that improves performance and decreases the chance of having any eye complications while flying.

Dr. William Boothe can determine if you are a good candidate for the Lasik surgery. It is important that the eye doctor and patient agree on the postoperative expectations before the procedure as well as give careful consideration to all of the possible risks and complications.

Dallas patients seeking high quality vision correction treatment often visit the area to undergo LASIK with Dr. Boothe at the renowned Boothe Eye Care Center. This accredited facility features countless patient amenities, one of the most experienced medical teams in the country and safe eye care treatments in a relaxing and comfortable environment. For more information on the Boothe Eye Care, please contact Dr. Booth’s office at (214) 328-0444.