Presently,
myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and
astigmatism can be permanently corrected with the Excimer
laser, which has been done at the Eye Care Center in the form
of LASIK surgery since 1998. The original Excimer laser
was approved for PRK or photorefractive care technique was initially
approved by the FDA in 1995 and Dr. Hunter Norris of the Eye
Care Center did many of these treatments in the Nashville Surgery
Center doing each eye one at a time individually. However,
over the next couple of years, a form of refractive surgery
known as LASIK done under a flap provided the ability for Dr.
Norris to do these surgeries locally in the Tullahoma Eye Care
Center as well as the ability to do both eyes at the same time.
This technique, done under a flap at the front surface of
the cornea, is either used to flatten for myopia, steepen
for hyperopia, or round it up like a basketball for astigmatism
correction. Essentially
most refractive errors can either be lessened greatly or even
completely eliminated to gain more independence from glasses
or contact lenses.
The laser
can be applied to the eye directly, as we mentioned, first
approved as PRK, leaving the patient with a large abrasion
on the eye that required a bandage contact lens for several
weeks. This evolved into LASIK done with a flap, which,
at the Eye Care Center, is done with a mechanical keratome,
which Dr. Norris has found to be reproducible and extremely
safe. More recently, a second laser, known as IntraLase,
has been introduced to cut the flap as effectively as the origin
microkeratome device.
Dr. Norris
has done over 3,000 of these refractive procedures since the
laser was approved in 1995. |
He
enjoys being able to give his patients the gift of a more
independent and active lifestyle without glasses or contact
lenses. As
mentioned, almost any level of nearsightedness or farsightedness
or astigmatism can be corrected this way without having to
go to Nashville or Murfreesboro for the treatment.
Conductive
Keratoplasty (CK)
For the first time, doctors can treat farsightedness (hyperopia)
and presbyopia without a laser or scalpel. A new noninvasive
technique called Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) can correct
patients' vision quickly, safely and effectively. Unlike LASIK,
PRK and other refractive vision correction techniques which
cut and remove tissue, CK uses radiofrequency energy to gently
reshape the eye.
Wavefront
Optimized
The
Eye Care Center and Dr. Norris have used five different Excimer
lasers since 1995, the most recent of which is the Allegretto
wave light laser that uses a flying dot laser, which obviates
the extra step of having to take a custom photograph of the
eye prior to surgery. The results with this laser have
been the best yet, as experienced by Dr. Norris and his patients. This
portable laser is approved by the FDA, and is brought to the
Eye Care Center office on the second Tuesday of each month for
LASIK treatments.
To
find out if you are a candidate view the accompanying patient
testimonials, call our office or visit a free seminar the
1st Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., Eye Care Center, 1100
North Jackson Street, 1-800-870-5473. |
