There are many forms of refractive surgery available to correct all types of visual issues, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even presbyopia. Though LASIK is the most common type of refractive procedure there are multiple other types of refractive surgery that may benefit you. These include Phakic IOL’s (also known as implantable contact lenses), Conductive Keratoplasty and Refractive Lens Extraction using either multi-focal or accommodative lens technology.

How DO I Know if I am a Candidate?
We offer a free refractive surgery consultation. During that visit we will determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery, and if so, the procedure that would offer you the best success rate for your vision. We will perform a thorough eye exam that includes:

• Review of past medical history
• Review of past ocular history
      • Use of glasses or contact lenses
      • Previous infections or other problems
      • Trauma
• Corneal Topography - measures corneal curvature and shape
• Corneal Pachymetry - measures corneal thickness
• Measurement of refractive error (prescription)
• Measurement of tear production
• Measurement of pupil size
• Biomicroscopic Evaluation of all ocular structures to determine overall eye health

During your consultation, you will be provided with information regarding the various procedures for which you are a candidate for, as well as the results from your examination. This consultation is extremely important because we want to be certain that you are an excellent surgery candidate.

LASIK

LASIK eye surgery remains the most popular laser vision correction procedure in the world. Its popularity can be credited to the level of success, safety, predictability, and rapid healing associated with the procedure. Millions of people now live without the need for glasses or contact lenses thanks to LASIK eye surgery.

How is LASIK Performed
LASIK surgery is performed under topical anesthesia, which is easily administered in the form of eye drops. During the procedure, the surgeon utilizes an automated microkeratome that precisely creates a thin, hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is a crucial step in LASIK surgery because it allows access to the central portion of the cornea, which causes the refractive error. To correct this error, the cornea is reshaped by removing a microscopic layer of tissue using a computer-controlled laser. Once the necessary portion is removed, the flap is returned to its original position and naturally adheres for fast healing without stitches. By reshaping the cornea, LASIK surgery creates a corneal shape that allows light to be focused more directly on the retina, which allows the patient to see more clearly. LASIK eye surgery patients experience little or no discomfort, and both eyes are typically completed in less than 15 minutes.

LASIK FAQs

What is custom laser vision correction?
Custom laser vision correction, or Custom LASIK, is an exciting and advanced new technology that accounts for each patient's individual unique vision needs, resulting in the most successful vision correction possible. The three-step procedure is fully customized to your eyes and offers a more precise and accurate correction of higher order aberrations, (subtle focusing imperfections) which compromise vision in low-light environments. Traditional laser vision correction only accounts for lower level aberrations, which contribute to blurry vision. In the first step, the eyes' individual aberrations are captured and a highly accurate wave front map is created. A computer then translates the map, which displays even tiny irregularities in the eyes, into a guide for an excimer laser. The process is completed when the laser reshapes each cornea. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Custom LASIK trial found that 98% of participants attained at least 20/20 vision, without the aid of glasses or contact lenses! The FDA thus deemed custom laser vision correction both effective and safe to treat low to moderate nearsightedness and astigmatism.

Who should I trust to perform my LASIK surgery?
Dr. Morris spent 10 years in the refractive surgery industry before moving into private practice. He is very knowledgeable about refractive surgery options and only uses the best surgeons in Colorado for each type of procedure. Choosing a surgeon is the most important decision you will make. To ensure the best results possible and minimize the risk of complications, we will discuss the qualifications of each surgeon, their equipment and who we would recommend.

Other Procedures:

Conductive Keratoplasty
If you have good distance vision and are tired of your reading glasses, Conductive Keratoplasty, or CK, may be perfect for you. CK utilizes localized radio-frequency energy to gently reshape the cornea. This simple, non-laser procedure, requires no tissue removal. Conductive Keratoplasty can significantly improve reading vision in patients who are good candidates for this procedure.

Phakic Intraocular Lenses (Verisyse Implantable Contact Lens)
People with extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness may not be suitable candidates for LASIK, but may benefit from a Verisyse lens, which is a special contact lens that is implanted behind the cornea.

LASEK & PRK
These procedures are similar to LASIK, except that a tissue flap is not created. The laser treatment is done on the surface of the eye after removing the outer layer of cells. LASEK and PRK are suitable for people whose corneas are too thin or too curved to be good candidates for standard LASIK. With LASEK and PRK, healing time is slightly longer than with LASIK, and good vision is achieved in four to seven days.