Turner Eye Institute Blog

Wavefront Optimized versus Wavefront Customized

Administrator — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:08:28 +0000

There are two common forms of wavefront LASIK. These are known as Wavefront Optimized LASIK and Wavefront Customized LASIK. Some excimer laser systems offer the surgeon the choice between either of these or even allows the surgeon to use both of them.

Custom Wavefront treatment uses a measurement of the patient’s optical aberrations to create a laser profile that can reduce the total optical aberrations of the eye to zero. While the system’s aim is to provide the best possible correction, the ability to actually provide this benefit is limited by the size of the laser beam, the accuracy of the beam, the accuracy of the eye tracker, the variability in healing, the variability in light absorption by the cornea, the variability in the laser beam strength, the variability in measuring the eye’s aberrations, the changes in the tear layer at the surface of the cornea, and many other factors.

Although the goal of a perfect correction for the individual eye is sought, it is in fact an impossible dream. No measurements can perfectly match the eyes optical needs at all times and in all conditions. Changes in humidity, light levels, environment, etc. can all cause a change in the eyes focusing. Custom wavefront at best can only provide the correction that a patient needed at one particular time. Despite this limitation, customized wavefront correction does in fact provide a benefit over standard LASIK.

Another LASIK correction that can be performed is wavefront optimized LASIK. Unlike wavefront customized LASIK, wavefront optimized does not depend on a patient’s personal aberration profile when it determines a patient’s needs. Instead, it uses the patients glasses prescription and using a complex nomogram determines the most accurate profile that can incorporate many of the elements that can provide variability in custom LASIK. It does not depend on measurements at any one time but uses the results of past patients to determine an ideal laser profile.

Wavefront optimized LASIK can be preferred in cases where a patient’s aberration profile is very variable or when a patient has very low levels of aberrations. Wavefront customized LASIK would be preferred in cases where a patient has very unique aberrations or when a patient has had prior LASIK surgery.

Before having LASIK surgery ask your surgeon whether he/she will use waverfront LASIK. Generally the answer should be yes. Next ask your surgeon if he/she will use customized or optimized LASIK. The surgeon should explain which one and why.

Remember that it is always a good idea to seek more than one professional opinion. Find the LASIK surgeon who you feel can provide the best treatment. This includes finding out what technology that the LASIK surgeon provides and becoming educated about your choices.

Why Wavefront LASIK Laser Vision Correction?

Administrator — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:57:57 +0000

LASIK Wavefront surgery continues to advance in technology and provides over a million eyes with excellent vision every year in the United States. Despite its phenomenal success, LASIK surgery is not without its controversy and patients can often be confused by the marketing information that is provided to patients. LASIK technology and the excimer laser systems used in LASIK surgery is one area of some confusion.

In regards to LASIK laser vision correction, there are several technologies that are important to consider. The first is the excimer laser system that will be used. All excimer laser systems are not equal. It is safe to say that regardless of the skill of the surgeon, any excimer laser system in use prior to 2001 is definitely outdated and cannot provide an adequate level of accuracy and performance. It is generally recommended for a patient to have wavefront correction unless the surgeon can provide a reason that this laser vision correction procedure would not be ideal.

What is wavefront correction? Wavefront measurements rely upon numerous rays of light to determine the correction needed for the entire optical system. It creates a very detailed image of the eye’s optical system and is more exact than a glasses or contact lens prescription that can be obtained at an optometrist’s office. These detailed measurements have been shown to provide an increased level of vision performance after LASIK surgery and patients who have wavefront LASIK correction are measured with fewer post-surgery optical aberrations.

Many LASIK surgeons no longer ask patients if they would prefer standard LASIK or Wavefront LASIK. They have decided that wavefront LASIK provides a higher degree of visual success and therefore provide wavefront LASIK to every patient.

In fact, wavefront LASIK is not all equal. With many different wavefront excimer laser systems on the market, you should find out the strengths and weakness of the various systems. Ask your surgeon which system they use and why. Find out what they feel are the strengths and weaknesses of the other systems.

Come visit with Dr. Stephen Turner to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK vision correction. Turner Eye Institute is a leading vision correction clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides treatment for near-sightedness, far-sightedness, astigmatism, cataracts, difficulty reading, and many other eye problems. Call and talk to our friendly staff.

CR3 Treatment - Corneal Cross-linking with Riboflavin

Administrator — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:05:09 +0000

Stephen Turner, MD is now using Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3R) as a treatment for patients with keratoconus. Recent evidence and studies are showing that Corneal Collagen Crosslinking with Riboflavin (C3R) strengthens the corneal structure and can help prevent the progression of keratoconus. CR3 works by increasing collagen crosslinking, giving the cornea greater ability to withstand degeneration that occurs in diseases such as kerataconus. The newly strengthened cornea protects against the bulging out and becoming steep and irregular, consequence of advanced keratoconus.
Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea that occurs in about 1 in 2000 Americans. It manifests as the cornea become weak and loses its shape, gradually causing a blurred image on the retina. Generally, it is the bottom half of the cornea that becomes distorted and vision loss first presents itself as irregular astigmatism. At first glasses or contact lenses can correct for this distortion but in advanced stages of keratoconus, glasses and contact lenses are much less effective. Although keratoconus causes irregular astigmatism, most forms of astigmatism are not related to keratoconus and are simply the effects of a slightly oval shaped cornea. In the early stages of keratoconus (forme fruste keratoconus), optometrists can often assist a patient by prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Some contact lenses have been designed to specifically help those who suffer from keratoconus. Advanced stages of keratoconus require surgical intervention to obtain good vision.
Corneal Crosslinking with Riboflavin, C3R treatment, is performed at Turner Eye Institute. During this advanced treatment, riboflavin drops are applied to the surface of the cornea. These drops will absorb into the cornea and are used to trigger the crosslinking inside the corneal stroma. The riboflavin drops are activated by exposure to low doses of ultraviolet light under carefully measured treatments by Dr. Stephen Turner. Clinical studies are showing that CR3 treatment increases the amount of collagen cross-linking in the cornea in order to strengthen the cornea. In studies at clinics in Europe, Asia, and America, CR3 treatments were demonstrated to be both safe and effective for keratoconus patients.

Dr. Stephen Turner is combining CR3 treatment and Intacs surgery to provide the highest level of treatment for keratoconus patients in the San Francisco bay Area. Dr. Stephen Turner’s extensive experience with keratoconus and specialty in corneal treatments provide an excellent opportunity for patients with keratoconus to have the best chance of good vision.

CR3 treatment could also be a treatment option for a rare complication of LASIK known as corneal ectasia. This complication occurs in fewer than 1 in 10,000 treatments and has become even more rare with advances in LASIK treatments. Dr. Stephen Turner’s Thin Flap LASIK is effective at preventing the rare complication from occurring.

San Leandro/Oakland LASIK Patient could not be happier

Administrator — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:06:27 +0000

LASIK Patient at Turner Eye Institute writes:

I could not be happier with my decision to go with Dr. Turner and his staff.

San Francisco Bay Area Patient Loves the Results

Administrator — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:55:32 +0000

San Francisco Bay Area patient writes:

Thorough through out the whole procedure. Staff was hospitable, knowledgable, and very efficient.

LASIK Review in San Jose

Administrator — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:41:10 +0000

Dr. Turner deserves excellent rankings from this patient.

Review of Turner Eye Institue LASIK and refractive surgery center in San Jose.

LASIK in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area

Administrator — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:10:52 +0000

LASIK eye surgery has made significant changes in the way that we adapt to the world around us. Glasses have been around for hundreds of years. Contact lenses have been around for decades, although the concept appeared much earlier. Laser eye correction has changed our vision even farther by allowing a permanent change in the optical properties of the eye to improve our vision.

The safety of laser vision correction has been challenged on occasion and websites exist which point to the troubles that patients have experienced when undergoing correction. Despite these opposing opinions, millions of patients each year report satisfaction with the procedure. A 10 minute laser vision correction procedure can provide a lifetime of independence from contact lenses or glasses.

New technologies such as iris registration, eye tracking, customized wavefront correction, and other features have further improved the safety and accuracy of the laser vision correction procedure. Most patients are satisfied with the initial correction, though in less than 10 percent of cases patients will be required to undergo a second follow-up procedure to provide the best possible vision.

In addition to LASIK, there are a variety of procedures that can assist patients with high prescriptions, thin corneas, far-sighted prescriptions, high astigmatism, cataracts, and even presbyopia (decreased near vision due to age). Patients who seek out a refractive surgeon for a laser vision correction procedure should be made aware of all possible options. Some surgeons may not feel comfortable performing all available surgeries but they are still required by law to provide information regarding optional procedures that might provide better results.

While some surgeons specialize in LASIK alone, these surgeons do a disservice to their patients if they do not present options such as crystalens, visian, restor, rezoom, intacs, customized correction, or other LASIK alternatives. Patients who might be considered to be in categories that would benefit from alternative procedures have a right to know about these choices. Every LASIK patient should feel comfortable asking the surgeon or doctor if there are other options that might be beneficial and what reason the surgeon had of choosing LASIK over these other options.

We recommend that patients inform themselves about laser vision correction prior to the procedure and that they are aware of its advantages and limitations. This way they can have correct expectations and understand the benefits that options to laser vision correction or LASIK might present.

If you have any questions regarding laser vision correction or LASIK, feel free to consult with our refractive surgery counselors.

Same Experienced Surgeon, New Location in San Jose

Administrator — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:27:35 +0000

Although Dr. Turner has been performing LASIK Vision Correction in San Jose for many years now, Turner Eye Institute has a new location in Campbell, California. Dr. Stephen Turner is well-known throughout California as one of the most experienced LASIK surgeons. He is also known for his innovation and excellent results. Dr. Turner introduced many of todays most successful eye surgery procedures to Northern California, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek. The advanced Crystalens procedure for improving near vision, the exciting Visian procedure for patients with moderate to high near-sightedness, and the precision of Wavefront LASIK, Intra-Lase, and TF LASIK were all introduced by Dr. Stephen Turner.

The new location in Campbell, CA contains the same advanced technology including the upgraded VISX laser with iris tracking software. San Jose patients can therefore expect the same high level of treatment in Campbell, CA that they had at each of the Turner Eye Institute locations, including San Jose, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, and Oakland.

Turner Eye Institute performs cataract surgeries and other vision corrective procedures in San Leandro, CA (South of Oakland and north of Fremont). The surgical center provides a sterile environment to provide the highest level of safety for our patients.

Crystalens Available in San Jose

Administrator — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:02:05 +0000

People in San Jose often wonder what the newest procedure is that is available. San Jose residents ask if there is a way to get rid of reading glasses. They also want to know if science will have cure the need for cataract surgery. Crystalens is one option that many people don’t know about.

Previous to crystalens, vision correction surgery (including cataract surgery) did not assist a patient in focusing at both near and far. LASIK would allow near vision if the patient was young enough (under 40) or if a technique called monovision was used. Unfortunately, not everyone can have LASIK and in cases where cataracts are a problem, LASIK cannot fix a person’s vision problems.

With Crystalens, San Jose patients have a better option. Crystalens has a hinge which allows for the patient to focus naturally at near and far. This unique construction is FDA approved and has been used for years to help patients suffering from presbyopia or cataracts. It is also used for patients with near-sightedness or far-sightedness when safety is a concern and when LASIK may not be the best choice.

Dr. Turner was the first to perform the Crystalens procedure in San Jose and is among the most experienced in the Bay Area. San Jose patients realize that choosing an experienced surgeon with a long record of successs is important. If you are a San Jose or San Francisco Bay Area resident and are interested in LASIK or Crystalens, contact Turner Eye Institute.

Our surgery consultants can provide valuable information about LASIK and Crystalens. With our new state-of-the-art facility in the San Jose area, we can offer the highest level of service. Call now to start your journey to better vision at both near and far.

Oakland LASIK Surgeon

Administrator — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 05:01:23 +0000

After having been awarded the people’s choice for LASIK and Laser Vision Correction in Oakland, California by the Oakland Tribune, Dr. Stephen Turner M.D. returned to LASIK surgery with renewed vigor. Dr. Stephen Turner has been performing eye surgery in the Bay Area for Oakland residents for more than 25 years and there aren’t many eye doctors with greater experience, certainly not in Oakland, California.

In addition to LASIK, Dr. Turner, is specialized in other forms of laser vision correction as well as advanced treatments for vision including Restor, Crystalens, ReZoom, Intacs, and Visian. These methods of vision correction are all FDA approved and very effective. Dr. Turner will help you choose the best method after a complete eye exam.

If you live in Oakland California and are interested in LASIK eye surgery, contact Turner Eye Institute in San Leandro California just minutes from Oakland California.