LASIK a Viable Option for U.S. Naval Aviators
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) July 16, 2014 -- A recent study has found that femtosecond-assisted wavefront-guided LASIK, a bladeless form of the popular eye correction surgery, results in fast and effective outcomes for Naval aviators. Previously, LASIK had not been approved as a procedure for Naval aviators, who instead had to undergo photorefractive keratectomy (also known as "PRK" or "surface ablation") for their refractive correction needs.
“Femtosecond LASIK, also known as ‘blade-free LASIK,’ is now available for aviators and other military personnel, and this may be a good option for some service men and women,” said San Diego ophthalmologist Dr. Michael Tracy of Carlsbad Eye Care. “Clear vision is especially important for pilots and other military professionals.”
During femtosecond LASIK, a flap is created in the cornea using the femtosecond laser, and an excimer laser then reshapes the underlying corneal bed, with treatment customized to the patient’s unique prescription. LASIK usually provides faster results than other types of laser-based vision correction surgery, but it can have additional long-term risks.
In the study, 330 Naval aviators with various eye conditions underwent femtosecond LASIK eye surgery. Researchers found that patients who had previously suffered from nearsightedness and astigmatism achieved visual stability within two weeks of the procedure, and those who were farsighted achieved stability within four weeks.
“As this study shows, results from femtosecond LASIK are usually quick, and even patients with visually-intensive jobs are usually able to return to their jobs in just a few weeks,” said Dr. Tracy. “However, many surgeons still consider PRK to be safer than LASIK, because it does not involve creating a flap in the cornea.”
LASIK and PRK work well for patients who suffer from certain degrees of myopia or hyperopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness and farsightedness, or astigmatism. Often, patients will go from not being able to see the large E on an eye chart to clearer, sharper vision just after the procedure. The majority of patients undergoing LASIK or PRK will achieve somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40 vision without the need for contact lenses or glasses.
Dr. Michael Tracy is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He completed his residency training in ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a fellowship in Corneal and Refractive Surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Tracy served as a medical director at TLC Laser Eye Centers. Dr. Tracy specializes in LASIK and PRK surgery at his private practice at Carlsbad Eye Care.
To contact Carlsbad Eye Care, please visit http://carlsbad-eye-care.com/ or call (760) 603-9910.
Risa Goldman, Goldman Marketing Group, +1 818-861-7092, [email protected]
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