Are you tired of wearing glasses that weigh heavy on your nose? Do you keep your glasses in your pocket and only put them on if you really have to see something? Do you need to put your contacts in to find your way around from morning til night? Well then, you might want to consider having LASIK in Denver Colorado at Cutarelli Vision!

What is LASIK? Basically, it is computer-driven laser correction of the eyes achieved through a remodeling (sculpting) of the cornea. About 2/3 of the focusing power of the eye is through the cornea (the outer, dome-shaped, transparent cover over the iris, pupil, anterior chamber, and lens of the eye). When your vision is less than optimal, it is because the focus point of the image ends up in front or behind the retina. Think of the retina as a screen and the cornea as the lens of a projector. When the projected image is too far away or too close up, the image is blurred. The same thing happens when the cornea is not the right shape: the image is blurred.

LASIK (which stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is the term used to describe the type of refractive eye surgery used to correct the following conditions:

Myopia (nearsightedness)

Explanation: The image viewed is focused by cornea to a point in front of the retina. This is usually depicted as having an eyeball that is too long.
Resulting Effects: objects up close (nearby) appear clear but distant objects are blurred.

Hyperopia (farsightedness)

Explanation: The image viewed is focused by the cornea to a point behind the retina. This is usually depicted as the eyeball appearing too short.
Resulting Effects: Near objects appear blurry and distant objects are clear (except in extreme cases, when both are blurred).

Astigmatism

Explanation: The image viewed is blurred or distorted due to the cornea’s inability to bring the image into a sharper focus. This has to do with an error in refraction caused by two or more focal points in different planes.
Resulting Effects: Blurring of the object viewed, most commonly in a skewed or crooked manner. If you think a picture is hanging straight when everyone else says it’s crooked, you might have astigmatism.

LASIK vision correction is done using a computer-driven laser, by ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are EYE SPECIALISTS who treat medical conditions of the eye and its’ surrounding structures with corrective lenses, medicines, and surgery). LASIK surgery is for those who wish to correct their vision without the use of corrective lenses (glasses) or contacts. What’s the difference between LASIK, LASEK, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and Radial Keratotomy (RK)? They are all refractive surgery, done to correct vision. This surgery procedure aims to ‘remodel’ the cornea (outer transparent layer of the eye), reshaping the curvature to cause the focus to be in the proper place on the retina. Healing time generally takes up to a year but can take longer. In most cases, the pain goes away within 1-2 weeks.

Radial Keratotomy (RK)
Radial Keratotomy involves the use of a diamond blade to cut radial lines in the cornea. These lines are cut from the edge of the pupil, to the edge of the iris.The procedure can result in very slow healing and increased risk of infections. Due to ‘epithelial plugs’ (outer layers of epithelium that get dragged deep into the cornea), scattering of light occurs. The effect of scattering is most noticeable during night driving and may result in blindness in some severe high-altitude conditions.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK or PK)
In this procedure, the outer layer of the cornea is completely removed by the laser as the cornea is resculpted. The outer layer then grows back over the remodeled cornea.

LASEK
(Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis) is used when the cornea is too thin or at too much of an angle to use LASIK. LASEK may involve the use of a blade—in addition to the laser–in some cases. The shape of the anterior cornea is resculpted with the laser after the outer layer of the cornea is detached. This outer layer is then replaced and allowed to heal. Healing generally takes longer with this procedure and it tends to involve a little more pain during recovery than LASIK procedures.

LASIK
A thin flap of the cornea is excised with a laser and folded over, allowing for remodeling of the tissue underneath. After remodeling, the flap is repositioned and the cornea is allowed to heal naturally. Complete healing can take up to a year or more.

Now that you have the basics about what conditions are corrected by LASIK, how about the process of getting the surgery done?

The Consultation:

Your vision, health, and condition of your eyes are evaluated by your physician to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Measurements (a mapping of the eye by computer) are taken and financial arrangements are made. The Informed Consent is a document you will sign that names the exact procedure that will be done. Your physician and staff at Cutarelli Vision will discuss the procedure, possible risks and contraindications, and expected outcome. When you feel that you understand these points, sign the consent form. At this time, you really must tell the physician about any allergies you have to medications.

Pre-op:

Since LASIK is done as an outpatient surgical procedure, you should have a friend or family member drive you there…don’t expect to be driving yourself home (your vision might not be clear enough until your eyes have healed). It may seem that you can see, but don’t take the chance on driving since your depth perception will be impaired for a bit.

The Surgery:

Usually one eye is done with the other eye done a week or more later. Medication is given to numb the eye, so the procedure is painless.

The Procedure:
Once positioned for the surgery, you will be awake for the procedure. With the computerized laser (which can take thousands of repositioning measurements per second and doesn’t fire until everything lines up), a flap is created on the exterior layer of the cornea. This flap is folded back while another computerized laser vaporizes some parts of the underlying cornea, sculpting it to the proper shape for correct focus. The flap is then replaced and sealed to the surrounding corneal tissue. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and our physicians can give you some pre-op medication to relieve anxiety if necessary.

Post-op:

Post-surgical Instructions:
Have someone else drive you home. Avoid straining the eyes for at least a week, to ensure proper healing. Especially avoid actually rubbing the eyes, as this could result in dislodging the flap before it is healed. For the first day, it is best to just rest, with eyes closed (if one eye moves, as in watching TV, the other moves with it, even if covered with an eye patch).

Follow-up phone call and visit:
A staff member of Cutarelli Vision will telephone you in the next 24 hours to check on your progress. A follow-up visit is usually scheduled for 1-2 days after the surgery, and then regular visits to check healing and visual acuity are needed for at least the next few months. Medication is usually provided (analgesic eye drops) for discomfort that might be experienced for a few days after the surgery. Pain is usually mild and lessens every day. The whole procedure is quick, painless, and effective. Most patients are pain free in a few days.

The caring staff at Cutarelli Vision offers LASIK in Denver, Colorado and is dedicated to helping you achieve great vision without glasses or contacts; contact them today to find out how we can help you!

Cutarelli Vision Denver LASIK
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 180
Denver, Colorado 80111
303-486-2020

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As with any surgery, there are certain people who should not have LASIK. It is imperative that a potential laser vision correction candidate has obtained a stable prescription for at least one year.  Good candidates for LASIK in Denver, Colorado are at least 18 years of age, in good general health, and have no eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. A free consultation with your LASIK doctor in Denver, Colorado is the best way to determine if you are a candidate.  Your Denver ophthalmologist will follow these guidelines when considering your candidacy for LASIK. For safe laser eye surgery, the LASIK candidate must meet the following requirements:

• The ideal LASIK candidate must be at least 18 years old. This is to ensure that the eye has developed properly and matured,
• Vision must be stable for at least one year prior to surgery,
• The ideal LASIK candidate must have sufficient corneal thickness (the cornea is the transparent front part of the eye). A LASIK patient should have a cornea that is thick enough to allow the surgeon to safely create a clean corneal flap of appropriate depth.
• The ideal LASIK candidate must be affected by one of the common types of vision problems or refractive error – myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an irregular shaped cornea), hyperopia (farsightedness), or a combination thereof (e.g., myopia with astigmatism).
• A LASIK candidate may not be nursing or pregnant on the date of surgery, and must wait at least two menstrual cycles before being measured for surgery.
• Individuals with dry eye syndrome are not good LASIK candidates.
• No eye infection or injury within the past year.
• Candidates may not be affected by an autoimmune disorder, such as Sjogren’s Syndrome or Lupus.
• No history of herpes infections in the eye, as LASIK may bring on a recurrence of the infection.
• No scarring may be present on the cornea to be considered for LASIK.
• Individuals with pupils that dilate beyond seven millimeters in the dark are not good candidates for LASIK.
• Are adequately informed about the benefits and risks of the procedure. Candidates should thoroughly discuss the procedure with their physicians and understand that for most people, the goal of refractive surgery should be the reduction of dependency on glasses and contact lens-es, not their complete elimination.

The ideal LASIK candidate is free of eye diseases including keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases, and free of certain eye viruses including herpes simplex and herpes zoster. The ideal LASIK candidate is free of certain health problems including uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune or collagen vascular disease, and any medication or condition that affects the patient’s autoimmune system.

The ideal LASIK candidate informs his or her eye doctor of all eye problems including lazy eye, muscle imbalance, previous eye surgery or injury, severe dry eyes, or any recurrent, residual or active eye conditions. The ideal LASIK candidate should also relate to the eye doctor information about keloid scarring, back problems, and any psychological problems, which may affect the surgery or recovery.

Since hormones may affect the stability of your prescription, women who are pregnant or nursing not LASIK candidates until two menstrual cycles after nursing has been discontinued. This is to limit fluctuations in prescription that can occur with hormonal shifts.

LASIK does have risks that one needs to fully understand in order to make an informed decision about whether or not it is worth having for you as an individual.  A comprehensive examination and consultation with your LASIK surgeon in Denver, Colorado is the best way to insure that you will experience your best possible results.

Cutarelli Vision Denver LASIK
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 180
Denver, Colorado 80111
303-486-2020

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The belief that LASIK isn’t as safe in high elevations comes from the experience of Dr. Beck Weathers. Great notoriety was associated with the deleterious visual changes suffered by Beck Weathers, MD, during his disastrous attempt to climb Mt Everest following bilateral RK surgery. While ascending Mt Everest in 1996, some years after successful RKs, Dr Weathers suffered visual changes that worsened with increasing altitude. Poor vision at approximately 27000 feet rendered him unable to safely ascend or descend. Left alone, he was forced to remain overnight at this altitude until he was finally able to blindly stumble into a high base camp. Although he survived the incident, he lost both hands to frostbite.

He began his ascent of Mt Everest in May 1999. As anticipated, he noted no visual difficulties until staying overnight above approximately 12000 to 15000 feet, where he complained of some decrement in near visual acuity, which was corrected with +2.50 diopter reading glasses. Upon gradual exposure to altitudes above 20000 feet, he also noticed a mild decrease in distant visual acuity. This was slightly annoying but not incapacitating. He tried +3.00 glacier glasses at high altitude, which improved distant visual acuity but caused his eyes to ache when trying to see 10 feet or less in front of him. He chose not to use the lenses because of these difficulties. He was able to summit Mt Everest without correction and experienced only minor visual blurring and glare. It might be prudent for RK climbers to consider the use of plus lenses at altitude and inform their climbing partners of their potential disability.

It’s important to note that this unfortunate incident involved RK rather than LASIK, and that nothing similar has occurred involving LASIK at high altitudes in Denver.

Cutarelli Vision Denver LASIK
7887 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 180
Denver, Colorado 80111
303-486-2020

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