San Antonio, TEXAS (PRWEB) November 06, 2014
A breakthrough in laser technology is now allowing cataract patients throughout the greater San Antonio access to an all-laser, blade-free method of cataract surgery that is revolutionizing one of the most common procedures performed in medicine today, according to eye surgeon Gregory D. Parkhurst, MD, Medical Director and Founder of Parkhurst-NuVision, who recently performed the first official LENSAR laser cataract procedure in San Antonio, TX.
“Our LENSAR laser procedure is truly a technological breakthrough in precision, accuracy and safety for today’s cataract patients,” said Dr. Parkhurst, who performed the first LENSAR laser cataract procedure on Daniel Von Brown on Friday, October 24, 2014.
“When I returned to work two days after my LENSAR laser cataract procedure, I needed no corrective lenses and could see better out of the operated eye than I ever remember,” said Brown, who was seeing 20/20 long-distance and reading without the aid of reading glasses at his recent posts-op cataract evaluation according to Dr. Parkhurst. “I look forward to having the other eye done this week using the same technique and would recommend it to anyone considering cataract surgery,” Brown said.
Femtosecond laser cataract surgery using the LENSAR laser system offers a reproducible, noninvasive technique to replace the least predictable - and most technically demanding - steps for surgeons during conventional cataract procedures.
“What has been most impressive with the LENSAR system,” said Dr. Parkhurst, “is the advanced imaging this technology gives surgeons. For the first time in medical history, we’re able to precisely image the exact location, contour and density of the cataract. LENSAR’s augmented reality technology allows us to build a sophisticated 3-D model of the true anatomy of each individual patient’s eye.”
In addition to performing the first LENSAR procedure in San Antonio, Dr. Parkhurst and Parkhurst NuVision were recently named at the first LENSAR ‘Center of Excellence in Texas.’
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Parkhurst and Parkhurst-NuVision as one of our Centers of Excellence,” said Nicholas Curtis, CEO of LENSAR, Inc. "As the fastest growing femtosecond cataract laser company, we are looking for young, talented ophthalmologists like Dr. Parkhurst to help the next wave of LENSAR Laser cataract surgeons integrate this technology into their practice. Now, not only will patients in San Antonio have an opportunity to receive the most advanced blade-free cataract procedure, but ophthalmologists worldwide will have the benefit of visiting Doctor Parkhurst’s best-in-class practice to observe the LENSAR Laser in action.”
Some of the reasons Parkhurst-NuVision was selected as The San Antonio LENSAR Center of Excellence include the following:
- Dr. Parkhurst has been performing laser cataract surgery since 2012
- He is a recognized international thought leader in laser refractive cataract surgery
- Dr. Parkhurst spent a full year training with the first surgeon in the United States to perform laser cataract surgery
- Dr. Parkhurst wrote the text book chapter on Laser Cataract Surgery for the Digital Manual of Ophthalmic Surgery and Theory
The LENSAR combines a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser, non-applanating patient interface, sophisticated software and a host of other unique features that allow Dr. Parkhurst to provide patients a gentle, highly customized cataract surgery with unprecedented precision and accuracy.
“The LENSAR allows me to perform a more gentle method of cataract surgery because of a more efficient way of fragmenting the cataract and reducing the amount of energy needed to remove the cataract,” he said. “This results in less overall surgical time and a much healthier post-operative eye in general.
“This femtosecond laser technology allows us to take an already safe procedure and make it even better by adding a new level of precision and predictability that is simply not possible with traditional manual cataract surgery,” said Dr. Parkhurst.
Dr. Parkhurst is among the top 10% of surgeons in the world to offer patients the safety, precision and accuracy of the LENSAR Laser System. The LENSAR also makes laser correction of astigmatism now possible with more precise and predictable laser-guided application. In the post-operative recovery period following laser cataract surgery, there is less incidence of swelling and inflammation than with traditional cataract surgery.
The LENSAR laser procedure is surgeon-directed, computer-controlled and allows for added precision during surgery. This means patients can return to their normal activities sooner. Cataract development is simply part of the natural aging process and is quite common in everyone over age 50. Cataracts occur when the natural clear lens of the eye becomes progressively cloudy, causing colors to become less vibrant and normal vision to become blurred. The only method to treat a cataract is through surgical removal of the body’s natural lens and implanting an artificial lens.
According to Dr. Parkhurst, cataract surgery has evolved over the years from a procedure with less than certain outcomes, to an advanced no-patch, no-shot, no-stitch, 10-minute procedure with a swift recovery time: “The LENSAR Laser is a perfect match with our state-of-the-art lifestyle lens implants that help reduce or eliminate dependency on prescriptive eyewear following cataract surgery."
The LENSAR Precision Laser System allows Dr. Parkhurst to perform cataract surgery with accuracy up to 10 times greater than is possible with a manual cataract procedure. The reproducibility and accuracy of the LENSAR enhances the positioning of the artificial replacement lens.
Cataract removal and lens implantation is one of the most common – and successful medical procedures performed today. Each year, more than two million people in the United States have their vision restored through cataract surgery.
Dr. Parkhurst is recognized nationally as an expert and leader in cataract surgery and LASIK vision correction who has helped pioneer new trends in refractive surgery worldwide. He was recently named as the first eye surgeon in Texas to meet the criteria to serve as a Certified VisionLock surgeon. Less than 5% of eye surgeons nationwide meet VisionLock requirements and provide patients with insured outcomes reimbursement up to $1,000,000.
The Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA) has also recently announced that Dr. Parkhurst has been awarded the RSA President’s Award for best-exemplifying the values and mission of the organization at the semi-annual RSA meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
Parkhurst NuVision is one of San Antonio’s fastest growing LASIK and cataract centers. For additional information about this press release, please contact Laura Jackson at 210-615-9358.
