Colorado Ophthalmology
1666 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80210
Phone: (303) 320.1777
FAX: (303) 320.1784
255 Union Blvd., #470
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (303) 989.2023
Personalized Laser Vision Correction and Refractive Surgery for Every Patient
At Colorado Ophthalmology, our reputation has been built through years of achieving success in all facets of our treatments. To maintain our standing as one of the best ophthalmology practices in the Denver area, we take pride in featuring the latest technology in laser vision correction. Our treatments are designed to make your visit as safe and comfortable as possible while we help you to achieve clearer vision.
LASIK
LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis) is a refractive surgical procedure that in recent years has become one of the most popular and effective vision correction treatments in the United States. Due to the highly developed technology this procedure has become more common, with a high success rate and short recovery time, LASIK is the procedure of choice for patients who want to experience the benefits of corrected vision without the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses. LASIK removes tissue from the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. When the cornea is slightly misshapen, light that passes through it can be distorted such that the image is not properly focused directly on the retina. When this occurs, we develop the common conditions: myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
Candidacy
Patients interested in LASIK surgery must come to our office for a detailed consultation, where one of our skilled surgeons will use advanced computer and camera technology to map the corneal surface of the eye. This is an important step in determining whether you are a good candidate for the LASIK procedure. Good candidates for LASIK are patients whose refractive error falls within specific parameters and who have enough healthy corneal tissue for laser treatment. Patients with prior trauma or disease to the cornea or defects that make the corneal membrane too thin are encouraged to pursue different avenues of treatment such as PRK.
The Procedure
Those who qualify for LASIK and choose to undergo the procedure can do so during a second appointment. During the procedure, the surgeon will apply numbing drops to the eye. The next step involves making a very thin incision in the corneal membrane with a microscopic blade called a microkeratome. Once this incision is made, the corneal membrane is moved aside so the surgeon can access the inner corneal membrane. Using a cool, excimer laser, the surgeon makes very precise, predetermined adjustments to the shape of the corneal surface. These adjustments change the shape of the cornea to properly focus light on the retina, thus correcting vision.
Recovery
After the cornea has been reshaped, the corneal flap is replaced to its original position and heals on its own in a few days. Recovery from LASIK is relatively quick, as patients are usually able to return to their daily activities, without hindrance, the following day. The procedure itself is also very fast, commonly lasting no longer than ten minutes per eye. Side effects are generally minimal and tend to decrease with time.
If you are interested in finding out if you are a good candidate for LASIK refractive surgery, please contact Colorado Ophthalmology Associates to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled surgeons.
PRK
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a procedure that closely follows the LASIK surgery procedure, save for one important difference: instead of creating a corneal flap with a microkeratome, the outer layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is removed entirely before the start of the laser adjustments. Because this membrane is thin and contains limbic stem cells, it regenerates in a matter of days following its removal with no loss of clarity. This makes PRK a good option for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK due to corneal deficiency, because the relative stability of the cornea is preserved to a higher degree than with LASIK. Eliminating the corneal epithelium entirely allows the surgeon to make laser adjustments to the cornea without negatively impacting the thickness of the entire cornea.
Wavefront LASIK
Wavefront technology represents the next generation of LASIK surgery. The term refers to the cutting-edge technology which allows doctors to map the inside of the eye 25 times more accurately than with traditional methods. The technology takes advantage of the fact that light travels in uniform, flat sheets, called wavefronts. Using this technology, the WaveScan WaveFront® system sends beams of light into the eye and measures the amount of change in the wavefront when the light is reflected back out of the eye. This technology was originally used to determine the precision of mirrors used in astronomy in the early 20th century and was adjusted to ophthalmic procedures only recently. Interpreting these changes in reflected wavefronts, the WaveScan WaveFront® system is able to correctly identify imperfections in the eye that affect the way light is focused on the retina. This allows for completely automated, and thus more precise, laser adjustments to the cornea that can correct higher-order visual aberrations such as extreme cases of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
IntraLase®/IntraLASIK
The IntraLASIK procedure is very similar to traditional LASIK surgery, with the only difference being in the method of corneal flap creation. IntraLASIK utilizes a revolutionary development in laser technology, the femtosecond laser microkeratome. The IntraLase® excimer laser is the first laser which is precise enough to allow for corneal flap creation, thus eliminating the need for a traditional stainless steel microkeratome.
To learn more about Wavefront LASIK and how it can correct your visual deficiencies, please schedule a consultation with one of our skilled physicians.
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is a non-surgical procedure that is used to specifically treat mild to moderate hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia. Hyperopia occurs when the corneal surface is too flat to focus light properly on the retina or when the eyeball itself is too short, which again prevents proper image focusing on the retina. Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the lens loses some of its inherent elasticity and therefore some of its ability to focus light at extreme distances, near and far. CK can help to correct hyperopia and presbyopia because it involves using radio waves to reshape the surface of the cornea by shrinking the corneal collagen that surrounds it. In this way, the contour of the cornea, and thus its ability to redirect light, can be adjusted to ensure that the patient receives the benefits of laser corrective surgery in a non-invasive procedure. CK can help patients who are not comfortable using corrective lenses, including those who are not good candidates for LASIK surgery.
Contact Our Practice
Colorado Ophthalmology Associates is a leader in the field of laser corrective surgery. Our surgeons are among the most experienced and well respected in the Denver area. If you believe you are a good candidate for any of the procedures outlined above, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled physicians.