Western Laser Eye Associates | Dr. Anderson Penno

Saturday, February 6, 2010

New Book About LASIK, PRK, Epi-LASIK, and Intra-LASIK

Dr. Anderson Penno is pleased to announce that her latest book "Laser Vision Correction: What You Need to Know" is now available on Amazon.com. This book is an excellent resource for anyone considering vision correction surgery. Follow the link below to access the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Laser-Vision-Correction-What-Need/dp/143926497X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1265126338&sr=8-1

"Laser Vision Correction: What You Need to Know" is also available at www.booksurge.com and is coming soon to Kindle.

Call 403.547.9774 or visit www.westernlasereye.com to book your complimentary assessment.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 10:20 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Recovery after No-Flap Laser Vision Correction: PRK and Epi-LASIK

Laser vision correction surgeries can be divided into flap and no-flap categories. Flap treatments include LASIK and Intra-LASIK. These treatments involve creating a corneal flap, lifting the flap, and then applying the excimer laser energy to reshape the tissue under the flap. The corneal flap is then replaced. Creating a corneal flap carries some risk of flap problems at the time of surgery or possible flap shift after surgery. The flap allows for more rapid recovery of vision and less discomfort in the first few days.

The long term results are equally good according to many studies that compare flap to no-flap treatments. No-flap laser vision correction treatments, PRK and Epi-LASIK, have gained in popularity over the past few years due to the longstanding safety record of surface no-flap treatments. PRK was introduced over twenty years ago in North America. For PRK the surface cells called epithelium cells are removed with a brush or spatula. Epi-LASIK is a newer treatment that uses an epikeratome to remove the surface cells to prepare the surface for laser reshaping.

No-flap laser vision correction carries a lower risk than flap treatments and will take longer to recover from than flap treatments. No-flap treatments like PRK and Epi-LASIK require an investment of time for healing in return for an added level of safety with excellent long term results. The recovery from no-flap treatments can be divided into days 1-4, 3 days to 1 week, 1 week to 8 weeks,2 months to 1 year.

Days 1-4 following PRK and Epi-LASIK are when the surface epithelial cells regenerate. During this time a bandage contact will remain in place to help with comfort. The amount of discomfort in the first few days will range from mildly gritty or sore to more significant burning, stinging, and light sensitivity. During these first few days following a no-flap laser vision correction treatment it is important to use medicated drops as directed, to use copious lubricating drops, and to plan to rest as much as possible with the eyes closed. Most people will find the comfort and vision worsens over the first few days following surgery. Many people find that the worst of the discomfort occurs in the second 24 hours after treatment and then improves. Pain medications including special eye drops are provided for use if needed. While not everyone will need these pain relievers, a minority of people will be staying in a dark room with their eyes closed for a day or two.

Days 3 to 7 will be a period of vision improvement. In most cases the epithelium will be healed and the bandage contact lens will be removed on day 3 or 4. Following Epi-LASIK many people may be legal to drive within 5 days. With PRK the healing may result in vision in the legal to drive range at about 7 to 10 days. It is important to know that legal to drive is a few lines away from 20/20, so some people will chose to wait longer before driving. While many people will return to usual activities in this time, some modifications may be necessary such as more breaks from computer work or avoiding night driving. During this time fluctuations of vision may be present and the vision will continue to improve. Post-operative examinations are usually done every 1 to 2 days until the bandage contact lenses are removed.

Weeks 1 to 8 are a time of continued sharpening up of vision. During this time symptoms of dryness, night vision problems, and overall vision will improve. Some people will continue to need frequent lubrication drops. Most surgeons will recommend continuation of steroid eye drops to aid in healing. While many people will be very happy with their vision within several days after surgery, others will be happier after 1 to 2 months following surgery. Patience with healing is important following PRK and Epi-LASIK.

Post-operative vision checks are usually scheduled every 1 to 2 months for 3 to 6 months. In most cases it is advisable to wait up to 6 months before considering an enhancement surgery (touch up). The majority of people will have a stable correction following PRK or Epi-LASIK for many years following laser vision correction.

When considering a no-flap laser vision correction treatment it is important to understand the benefits of safety and excellent long term results in return for a longer recovery than with flap procedures. The majority of people have excellent results with PRK and Epi-LASIK. For more information or to schedule your free laser vision consultation contact www.westernlasereye.com or call 403.547.9775.

posted by Gary Penno at 6:50 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

LASIK, Epi-LASIK, PRK, Intralase and Diabetes

Diabetes does not automatically disqualify you from laser vision correction surgery. If the blood sugar is under good control and the prescription is stable you may qualify. If the blood sugar is fluctuating to very high or very low levels then the prescription may be unstable. In some cases a diagnosis of diabetes is made when fluctuating vision leads to a check of blood sugar.

Diabetic people are also at risk for diabetic retinal problems. Whether or not laser vision correction is being considered, people with diabetes should have annual eye examinations regardless of age. The American Academy of Ophthalmology's patient education site Get Eye Smart has a campaign to get 10,000 diabetic people committed to annual eye examinations.

Over half of diabetic people do not get annual eye examinations and are at risk for vision loss. Over 90 percent of severe vision loss due to diabetes can be prevented by routine examination. For every pledge to have annual eye examinations the Academy of Ophthalmology will donate one dollar to diabetic eye health education. More information is available at http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/eyecommitted/about.cfm.

For more information about laser vision correction in Calgary contact us at www.westernlasereye.com or call 403-547-9775.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 8:40 PM 1 comments

Sunday, November 8, 2009

H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Calgary

The H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus appears to be very active in Calgary at this time. While the H1N1 flu will not impact your suitability for laser vision correction, it is important to be aware of how the flu might impact you.

The Alberta Health Care (AHC) service has identified high risk groups for priority vaccination. Check http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/887.asp to find updated information. These groups include children from 6 months up to 5 years old, children up to age 10 with chronic disease, pregnant women, care-givers of infants less than 6 months, and health care workers. Most health care workers have received the H1N1 vaccination. Health care workers are also instructed not to come to work if they have a fever. This will help to protect you when you come into a medical office for evaluations including if you choose to undergo a laser vision correction assessment or surgery.

The majority of people will recover from H1N1, however young children, pregnant women, and people with underlying problems like asthma or other health conditions are at risk for more serious disease. The CDC reports that over 70% of of the deaths from H1N1 have occurred in people that have underlying medical conditions.

If you are in a high risk group and qualify for the vaccination, it is recommended. Although the vaccine is new, so far there have been no significant numbers of adverse reactions to the vaccine. If you have symptoms of flu which include sudden onset of upper respiratory symptoms, fever, sore throat, and in some cases gastrointestinal distress and are in a high risk group then taking Tamiflu at the onset of symptoms may shorten the duration and severity of the flu. If you have a fever then you should avoid going to work and reschedule elective medical appointments to reduce the chance of infecting others. Frequent hand washing may help protect from infection. Wearing a mask will not protect you from the flu in most cases. More information about the H1N1 flu can be found at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm.

To schedule a laser vision correction assessment or to learn more about laser vision correction call 403-547-9775 or contact us through www.westernlasereye.com.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 9:41 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

What is laser vision correction - LASIK,Epi-LASIK, PRK, Intralase?

Laser vision correction refers to any surgical procedure that uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The cornea is the clear surface on the front of the eye through which you can see the iris (colored part of the eye) and the pupil. The laser is used to vaporize the tissue in a precise pattern which reshapes the corneal surface such that dependence on glasses or contact lenses is reduced or eliminated. This process of vaporizing corneal tissue by the excimer laser is called ablation. In Calgary there are several surgeons who offer a variety of laser vision correction options. The main four treatments are no-flap treatments which include Epi-LASIK and PRK, and flap treatments which are LASIK and Intra-LASIK.

The surgeon who performs the procedure is an ophthalmologist who is a medical doctor (MD) with a specialty in the diagnosis of eye disease, treatment of eye disease, and eye surgery. The surgeon should be board certified. A surgeon who is board certified in the United States is designated as a Diplomate American Board of Ophthalmology (Dipl. ABO) and in Canada as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC). There are often optometrists who work in association with an ophthalmologist who may do the initial assessment at some centers. Other staff such as technicians will also participate in your care.

The types of staff involved in your care may include:

Ophthalmologist (MD): medical doctor specialized in eye care and eye surgery
Optometrist (OD): doctor of optometry trained in medical eye care
Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (COMT): the highest technician
designation that assistants in eye care can achieve through the Joint
Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO)
Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT): second highest level of JCAHPO
certification held by assisting staff
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA): first level of certification available to
eye care assistants through JCAHPO
Counselors: staff specializing in giving detailed information to patients.
Receptionist: staff who will be involved in scheduling appointments.

Pay attention to the quality of the front office staff including reception and secretaries. A well run center should have prompt and courteous care starting from your initial telephone inquiry and throughout your visits. If you choose to undergo surgery you will be spending time with a variety of staff members during your testing, counseling, surgery, and post-operative care.

Laser vision correction is also called refractive surgery or laser eye surgery. The procedures can be divided into two groups: those with flaps and those without flaps.

The most commonly available specific types of surgeries are:

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK): the original no-flap surgery introduced in
in the US in1988 by Margueritte MacDonald.
Epi-LASIK: the latest no-flap procedure in which an epikeratome is used to
remove the outer epithelial layer to prepare for laser application.
Laser in situ Keratomeleusis (LASIK): the first flap procedure introduced in the
1990s in which uses a mechanical microkeratome to create a flap.
Intra-LASIK: a newer flap procedure which uses a femtosecond laser to create a
flap.

For PRK and Epi-LASIK the surface corneal epithelial cells are removed and the laser is applied directly to the corneal surface. For PRK the surface cells can be removed using dilute alcohol or with a brush. For Epi-LASIK an automated device called an epikeratome is used to remove the surface cells to prepare the corneal surface for the laser reshaping.

PRK has been around for over two decades and has an excellent long term safety record. Epi-LASIK is a newer technique that creates a precise epithelial removal that will help speed recovery. Because there is no flap to protect the surface while healing, PRK and Epi-LASIK result in more discomfort for the first few days after surgery and take four to ten days before the vision is recovered enough to resume driving and/or work. Medicated drops may be recommended a few times per day for a number of weeks or months after surgery. The long term vision results are excellent. The simplicity of the surgical technique means there is a lower chance of complications during surgery and no flap that could become damaged or dislodged due to injury in the future. Recently many surgeons have returned to PRK and Epi-LASIK as their recommended vision correction surgery due to the low rate of complications.

With LASIK and Intra-LASIK a corneal flap is created and the laser treatment is applied to the bed of tissue under the flap. LASIK was developed in the 1990s. LASIK is a combination of an older technique called lamellar keratoplasty in which a corneal flap was created and PRK. It has been called “flap and zap” in the past. For LASIK a mechanical device called a microkeratome is used to create a corneal flap. Flaps can range in thickness from 90 microns to 180 microns depending on the device used. For Intra-LASIK an ultrafast femtosecond laser is used to create the flaps.

Vision recovery following a flap procedure is quicker than with a surface treatment. In an uncomplicated case the patient may expect some discomfort and blurred vision for the first twenty-four hours. By the following day in most cases patients will be legal to drive, although there is long term healing that will be occurring so some patients may find the vision continues to sharpen for a number of days to weeks. There is a higher risk with flap procedures due to the complexity of creating the flap and the possibility that the flap could become damaged or shifted if a future eye injury occurs. In rare cases flaps may be shifted even months or years later. In most cases common sense eye safety should protect you from this type of injury. However, if you are in a high risk occupation or have high risk hobbies PRK or Epi-LASIK may be a better choice. Although higher risk, some consumers will opt for LASIK or Intra-LASIK due to the shorter recovery.
There may be reasons why a specific type of vision correction surgery may be recommended as safest for your individual case. Alternatively you may be given a choice of procedures, in which case you will need to weigh the risks and benefits of each procedure to make the choice that is right for you.

Regardless of the type of treatment you choose - flap or no-flap - the laser reshaping will be the same. Each center will have a different laser which is capable of different laser patterns. Some systems such as the Visx S4 IR can do a true wavefront treatment which can treat both the prescription as well as the higher order aberrations. The difference between a wavefront laser pattern and a non-wavefront pattern is like the difference between a tailored suit and an off the rack suit. Some systems will do a treatment with a specialized blend zone called an aspheric treatment. Aspheric treatments are not true wavefront treatments.

Your choices for laser vision correction include:
1. Flap or no-flap.
2. For flap treatments the choice is LASIK or Epi-LASIK.
3. For no-flap treatments the choice is Epi-LASIK or PRK.
4. Choice of surgeon & surgical center.
5. Choice of wavefront treatment (if available) or non-wavefront treatment.

If you have the time to undergo an assessment at more then one center you will be able to learn more about the options available at each center. For more information or to book an assessment, contact us at 403-547-9775 or http://www.westernlasereye.com/.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 9:25 PM 0 comments

Monday, September 21, 2009

Why do I have to leave my contact lenses out before LASIK, PRK, Epi-LASIK, and Inta-LASIK assessment and surgery?

Many people are unhappy to be told to leave their contact lenses out before assessment or surgery when investigating laser vision correction. Some people who wear contact lenses full time don't even have a current pair of glasses to rely on when instructed to leave contacts out. For wavefront treatments it is important to have soft contact lenses out for at least 1 week and for rigid lenses it may be necessary to leave contact lenses out for 2 weeks or longer. It may be less frustrating to leave your contact lenses out if you understand why.

Contact lens wear can warp the corneal surface and in some people will lead to chronic dry eye. These surface changes can affect the testing including the corneal mapping results. In some cases, if the mapping is abnormal your eye care provider may ask you to leave contacts out for a longer period of time and suggest dry eye treatments to optimize mapping results. Corneal mapping is done to identify people who may have a high risk for corneal instability, also called ectasia, following laser vision correction. Abnormal maps may disqualify you from LASIK, PRK, Epi-LASIK, or Intra-LASIK.

For true wavefront treatments leaving contact lenses out for the recommended period of time is especially important since the measurements of higher levels of irregularity (higher order aberrations) will be used to create the individualized laser treatment plan. Rigid gas permeable lenses may need to be left out for a longer period of time for the cornea the return to it’s natural state.

Regardless of whether you choose to have refractive surgery, it is wise to have a current pair of glasses as back-up. There are a number of conditions including infection or injury which may require that you stay out of contact lenses, and it is difficult to obtain accurate glasses measurements in these situations. An up to date pair of glasses will allow you to be more functional during times when you may not be able to wear contacts.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary assessment contact us at www.westernlasereye.com or call 403-547-9775.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 9:02 PM 0 comments

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The role of the brain in Epi-Lasik, PRK, LASIK, and Intra-LASIK

Proper functioning of the visual areas of the brain is critical in visual functioning. There are numerous disorders that can affect the brain causing visual disturbances. One of the more common disorders that is seen in people who are interested in laser vision correction is called amblyopia which is also known as a “lazy eye”. An eye that is “lazy” does not develop the proper connections with the brain and will have poor vision compared to a normal eye. Unfortunately laser vision correction can not improve an amblyopic eye beyond what the best acuity is with glasses or contacts.

Other conditions of the brain that can affect vision include stroke, and tumors. If you have a stable condition with some vision impairment you should discuss your condition with your surgeon before considering laser vision correction.

The brain is also important in the ability of adjust to changes in vision. For example some people will easily adjust to monovision where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision. Other people can not tolerate this imbalance. For people that are very particular about their glasses or contact lenses laser vision correction may not be advised. It is not possible to guarantee that the two eyes will be exactly equal in acuity or that it will be exactly the same as the previous glasses or contacts. If you have trouble adjusting to new prescriptions you may not be a good candidate for laser vision correction.

Another factor in satisfaction with laser vision correction is your ability to cope with adversity. Although uncommon, complications may happen which might delay the recovery of vision or in rare cases cause a permanent loss of vision. If you suffer from depression or anxiety it may be more difficult for you to cope with a poor outcome. Don’t forget, the risk of laser vision correction is low but it is not zero.

To schedule a free laser vision correction assessment call 403-547-9775 or email a request to contact@westernlasereye.com.

posted by Western Laser Eye Staff at 9:34 PM 0 comments