Refractive Surgery
When making a decision about refractive surgery, it is important to consider the
knowledge and experience of the surgeon. Dr. Holicki is a laser certified
Ophthalmologist and has performed hundreds of LASEK surgeries since 1999.
He was the first physician in Michigan to insert INTACS®, an FDA approved
Surgery for the correction of nearsightedness, using micro thin prescription
inserts, gently changing the shape of the cornea.
In 2005 he obtained certification to perform NearVision CK, a simple procedure
that can reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.
The LASEK Procedure
In LASEK, the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, is cut not with the
microkeratome cutting tool used in LASIK, but with a finer blade called a trephine.
Then the surgeon covers the eye with an alcohol solution (perhaps one part
alcohol and four parts sterile water) for around 30 seconds. The solution loosens
the edges of the epithelium.
After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny hoe to
lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently fold it back out of the way. Then he or
she uses an excimer laser, as in LASIK or PRK, to sculpt the corneal tissue
underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of
spatula.
After LASEK
In many ways, what you can expect from LASEK is similar to what you can expect
from LASIK, but there are some differences. According to doctors who perform
LASEK, the flap edge heals in about a day, though patients usually wear a
bandage contact lens for around four days. You may feel eye irritation during the
first day or two afterward. Also, the time it takes to recover good vision is often
longer — up to four to seven days. Of course, it varies from one person to the
next.
If you are considering LASIK, but your doctor says you need LASEK instead, ask
why. It's not for everyone, but many surgeons who perform LASEK consider it a
better option for some patients who will probably not do very well with LASIK.
INTACS (Intracorneal rings)
Intacs is a revolutionary corneal ring prescription insert that is entirely reversible.
Thus, patients who elect to have Intacs are not “locked in” to the procedure
forever, as are patients who undergo other refractive procedures such as LASEK.
Vision correction with Intacs entails implanting a micro-thin intracorneal rings into
the cornea by a trained eye surgeon. Intacs produce a reshaping of the curvature
of the cornea, reliably reducing low degrees of myopia (nearsightedness). Intacs
cannot be felt by the patient, require no maintenance, and are probably less
visible than a contact lens to the naked eye. Intacs have been studied for more
than 10 years and are FDA approved. The primary drawback at the present time
is that Intacs are only available in the U.S. for low degrees of myopia (-1.00 to
–3.00 diopters). However, these levels of myopia account for about 54% of all
myopes.
Since Intacs are prescription inserts, they can be removed or replaced if one’s
vision needs change or there is any dissatisfaction with the corneal ring inserts.
In the U.S. clinical trials, all of the very few people who had Intacs removed could
subsequently be corrected to 20/20 or better vision.
Intacs produce excellent results. In U.S. clinical studies, 97% of patients saw
20/40 or better, 74% saw 20/20 or better, and 53% saw 20/16 or better.
Furthermore, placement of Intacs maintains the “normal” positive asphericity
(shape) of the cornea whereas Excimer laser procedures such as LASIK and PRK
frequently produce oblate corneas. The latter condition may result in reduced
contrast sensitivity. Visual correction with Intacs is also rapid and stable. Eighty
percent of patients have 20/40 or better vision the day after surgery. A year after
surgery, over 50% of patients see 20/16 or better as a result of their first
procedure, i.e., without enhancements.
Indications for Intacs
Visual Results
Amazingly, 53% of patients see 20/16 or better as a result of their primary
procedure and 34% see 20/20 or better the day after the procedure! One month
after surgery 79% of patients see 20/25 or better and by one year 87% of
patients see 20/25 or better. Fully 97% of patients are 20/40 or better one year
following surgery (20/40 is a "benchmark" of visual acuity as this level of vision
allows unrestricted passage of a driver's license test in most states).
The Procedure
Intacs corneal ring prescription inserts are
placed within the substance of the cornea
under topically applied (eye drop)
anesthesia. No needles or injections are
required. Some patients may experience mild
and temporary discomfort during the
procedure. The surgeon makes a tiny incision
in the top of the cornea, creates a 180
degree tunnel in which to place the first
prescription insert, and then places the
Intacs ring in the corneal tunnel. A similar
procedure is used to place the second
Intacs ring.
Two Intacs inserts are placed in each eye, each of which approximates a near
half-circle. The tiny incision through which the Intacs are placed is usually closed
with a single stitch that can be removed within a few days or weeks. The entire
procedure usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes per eye.
What to Expect After Surgery
The day of surgery, the operated eye may feel somewhat scratchy and vision may
be blurred. Do not be alarmed. Any discomfort will usually be relieved by
anti-inflammatory eye drop medications. You will be instructed to use both
antibiotic and steroid eye drops, generally for about two weeks following surgery.
On the first postoperative day, vision is usually good enough to drive a car, i.e.,
20/40 or better, but may be reduced if the eye remains dry or an abrasion of the
corneal surface has occurred.
You will not be able to feel your Intacs inserts, however, you may feel the tiny
incision and or stitch as the incision heals. This will usually resolve within a couple
of days. If a suture was placed, your surgeon will probably remove it in about 2
to 4 weeks. With Intacs prescription inserts, you may expect your vision to
recover very quickly and to continue to improve for up to 6 to 12 months.
Intacs for Keratoconus
Restoring quality of life through better vision...
A new FDA approved option for keratoconus: filling the gap between contact
lenses and a corneal transplant!
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease,
which causes a thinning of thecornea, the
clear front surface of the eye. As
keratoconus progresses, the quality of one's
vision deteriorates and contact lenses or
glasses no longer become a satisfactory
solution for most people. For many, an
invasive corneal transplant was the only
option – until now! Intacs prescription
inserts are an exciting new option between
contacts and a corneal transplant that may
be the best possible option to stabilize the cornea and improve vision.
Intacs prescription inserts are indicated for use in the correction of
nearsightedness and astigmatism for patients with Keratoconus, where contact
lenses and glasses are no longer suitable.
Intacs prescription inserts are approved by the FDA for keratoconus under a
Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE).
For more information on INTACS for Keratoconus, click this Link
http://www.intacsforkeratoconus.com/main/termuse.html
Near Vision CK
Refractec was founded in 1993 to develop and market proprietary technology that
would help baby boomers improve their near vision. The result is NearVision CK®
a safe, non-laser vision-correction procedure that is allowing patients to end their
frustration with reading glasses. Using the first FDA-approved technology for
patients who are presbyopic and hyperopic, physicians have performed over
125,000 treatments, and in the process, are helping patients "see young, again."
For more information on Near Vision CK, click this Link
http://www.refractec.com
When making a decision about refractive surgery, it is important to consider the
knowledge and experience of the surgeon. Dr. Holicki is a laser certified
Ophthalmologist and has performed hundreds of LASEK surgeries since 1999.
He was the first physician in Michigan to insert INTACS®, an FDA approved
Surgery for the correction of nearsightedness, using micro thin prescription
inserts, gently changing the shape of the cornea.
In 2005 he obtained certification to perform NearVision CK, a simple procedure
that can reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.
The LASEK Procedure
In LASEK, the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, is cut not with the
microkeratome cutting tool used in LASIK, but with a finer blade called a trephine.
Then the surgeon covers the eye with an alcohol solution (perhaps one part
alcohol and four parts sterile water) for around 30 seconds. The solution loosens
the edges of the epithelium.
After sponging the alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny hoe to
lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently fold it back out of the way. Then he or
she uses an excimer laser, as in LASIK or PRK, to sculpt the corneal tissue
underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of
spatula.
After LASEK
In many ways, what you can expect from LASEK is similar to what you can expect
from LASIK, but there are some differences. According to doctors who perform
LASEK, the flap edge heals in about a day, though patients usually wear a
bandage contact lens for around four days. You may feel eye irritation during the
first day or two afterward. Also, the time it takes to recover good vision is often
longer — up to four to seven days. Of course, it varies from one person to the
next.
If you are considering LASIK, but your doctor says you need LASEK instead, ask
why. It's not for everyone, but many surgeons who perform LASEK consider it a
better option for some patients who will probably not do very well with LASIK.
INTACS (Intracorneal rings)
Intacs is a revolutionary corneal ring prescription insert that is entirely reversible.
Thus, patients who elect to have Intacs are not “locked in” to the procedure
forever, as are patients who undergo other refractive procedures such as LASEK.
Vision correction with Intacs entails implanting a micro-thin intracorneal rings into
the cornea by a trained eye surgeon. Intacs produce a reshaping of the curvature
of the cornea, reliably reducing low degrees of myopia (nearsightedness). Intacs
cannot be felt by the patient, require no maintenance, and are probably less
visible than a contact lens to the naked eye. Intacs have been studied for more
than 10 years and are FDA approved. The primary drawback at the present time
is that Intacs are only available in the U.S. for low degrees of myopia (-1.00 to
–3.00 diopters). However, these levels of myopia account for about 54% of all
myopes.
Since Intacs are prescription inserts, they can be removed or replaced if one’s
vision needs change or there is any dissatisfaction with the corneal ring inserts.
In the U.S. clinical trials, all of the very few people who had Intacs removed could
subsequently be corrected to 20/20 or better vision.
Intacs produce excellent results. In U.S. clinical studies, 97% of patients saw
20/40 or better, 74% saw 20/20 or better, and 53% saw 20/16 or better.
Furthermore, placement of Intacs maintains the “normal” positive asphericity
(shape) of the cornea whereas Excimer laser procedures such as LASIK and PRK
frequently produce oblate corneas. The latter condition may result in reduced
contrast sensitivity. Visual correction with Intacs is also rapid and stable. Eighty
percent of patients have 20/40 or better vision the day after surgery. A year after
surgery, over 50% of patients see 20/16 or better as a result of their first
procedure, i.e., without enhancements.
Indications for Intacs
- -1.00 to 3.00 diopters of nearsightedness (myopia) (Note: this range of myopia is considered "mild" by EyeMDs, yet accounts for 54% of all myopes)
- Relative intolerance of glasses or contact lenses
- Properly motivated and realistic patient
Visual Results
Amazingly, 53% of patients see 20/16 or better as a result of their primary
procedure and 34% see 20/20 or better the day after the procedure! One month
after surgery 79% of patients see 20/25 or better and by one year 87% of
patients see 20/25 or better. Fully 97% of patients are 20/40 or better one year
following surgery (20/40 is a "benchmark" of visual acuity as this level of vision
allows unrestricted passage of a driver's license test in most states).
The Procedure
Intacs corneal ring prescription inserts are
placed within the substance of the cornea
under topically applied (eye drop)
anesthesia. No needles or injections are
required. Some patients may experience mild
and temporary discomfort during the
procedure. The surgeon makes a tiny incision
in the top of the cornea, creates a 180
degree tunnel in which to place the first
prescription insert, and then places the
Intacs ring in the corneal tunnel. A similar
procedure is used to place the second
Intacs ring.
Two Intacs inserts are placed in each eye, each of which approximates a near
half-circle. The tiny incision through which the Intacs are placed is usually closed
with a single stitch that can be removed within a few days or weeks. The entire
procedure usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes per eye.
What to Expect After Surgery
The day of surgery, the operated eye may feel somewhat scratchy and vision may
be blurred. Do not be alarmed. Any discomfort will usually be relieved by
anti-inflammatory eye drop medications. You will be instructed to use both
antibiotic and steroid eye drops, generally for about two weeks following surgery.
On the first postoperative day, vision is usually good enough to drive a car, i.e.,
20/40 or better, but may be reduced if the eye remains dry or an abrasion of the
corneal surface has occurred.
You will not be able to feel your Intacs inserts, however, you may feel the tiny
incision and or stitch as the incision heals. This will usually resolve within a couple
of days. If a suture was placed, your surgeon will probably remove it in about 2
to 4 weeks. With Intacs prescription inserts, you may expect your vision to
recover very quickly and to continue to improve for up to 6 to 12 months.
Intacs for Keratoconus
Restoring quality of life through better vision...
A new FDA approved option for keratoconus: filling the gap between contact
lenses and a corneal transplant!
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease,
which causes a thinning of thecornea, the
clear front surface of the eye. As
keratoconus progresses, the quality of one's
vision deteriorates and contact lenses or
glasses no longer become a satisfactory
solution for most people. For many, an
invasive corneal transplant was the only
option – until now! Intacs prescription
inserts are an exciting new option between
contacts and a corneal transplant that may
be the best possible option to stabilize the cornea and improve vision.
Intacs prescription inserts are indicated for use in the correction of
nearsightedness and astigmatism for patients with Keratoconus, where contact
lenses and glasses are no longer suitable.
Intacs prescription inserts are approved by the FDA for keratoconus under a
Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE).
For more information on INTACS for Keratoconus, click this Link
http://www.intacsforkeratoconus.com/main/termuse.html
Near Vision CK
Refractec was founded in 1993 to develop and market proprietary technology that
would help baby boomers improve their near vision. The result is NearVision CK®
a safe, non-laser vision-correction procedure that is allowing patients to end their
frustration with reading glasses. Using the first FDA-approved technology for
patients who are presbyopic and hyperopic, physicians have performed over
125,000 treatments, and in the process, are helping patients "see young, again."
For more information on Near Vision CK, click this Link
http://www.refractec.com
Holicki Eye Centers
& Optical
