MARTIN DE LA PRESA, M.D.
Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery
REFRACTIVE SURGERY
As one of the most popular elective surgeries in the country, nearly 10 million Americans have had LASIK vision surgery since its FDA approval in 1999. At his state-of-the-art ophthalmology practice, Martin de la Presa, MD, specializes in LASIK vision correction surgery. As a highly skilled surgeon, Dr. de la Presa helps patients experience clear vision and a dramatic improvement in the quality of life with reduced dependency on glasses or contacts. Find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Call to schedule an appointment today.
LASIK Q & A
What is LASIK surgery?
LASIK surgery is a refractive procedure that surgically changes the shape of your cornea so you can see more clearly. During the LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) procedure, Dr. de la Presa uses an excimer laser to cut a small flap in your cornea. He then uses a computer-controlled laser to vaporize a small portion of the middle section of your cornea and puts the flap back into place.
The surgery takes just a few minutes per eye and almost immediately, your eyes function optimally through their new, precisely shaped corneas. As a result, you can see clearly with reduced dependency on glasses or contact lenses. After LASIK surgery, many people enjoy better vision than they’ve had in years.
What vision problems does LASIK surgery improve?
LASIK surgery corrects common refractive vision problems. Refractive problems occur when the retina in the back of your eye incorrectly bends light rays, making it hard to clearly interpret the images you see. By reshaping your cornea to correct these refractive issues, Dr. de la Presa can help correct vision problems associated with:
Myopia (nearsightedness)
Hyperopia (farsightedness)
Astigmatism
Presbyopia (age-related difficulty focusing up close)
If you’re farsighted, Dr. de la Presa flattens your cornea so it focuses light more accurately. Or, if you’re nearsighted, he increases the curve of your cornea. When astigmatism affects your ability to see clearly, LASIK surgery allows Dr. de la Presa to smooth out the irregularities in your cornea, and correct nearsightedness or farsightedness during the single procedure.
Is LASIK surgery safe?
Dr. de la Presa performs both LASIK surgery and PRK — another laser surgery technique — and both are extremely safe. These surgeries use programmed, automated lasers, so there’s less risk of human error. Additionally, the Excimer laser uses a cool, ultraviolet light beam to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. Since there’s no heat involved, there’s no risk of thermal damage to delicate eye tissue.
If you’re over 21 and you’ve had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years, you may be a good candidate for LASIK vision correction surgery. To learn more about laser refractive surgeries, call the office to schedule a consultation.
