San Francisco Bay Area LASIK Surgeon Comments on New Gene Test for Avellino Corneal Dystrophy
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 12, 2013 -- Each year, hundreds of patients looking for LASIK in the Bay area walk through the doors at LaserVue LASIK and Cataract Center in Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek, San Francisco and Mountain View, CA. Most of the patients Dr. Jay Bansal sees walk out with vision that’s 20/20 or even better. LASIK stands for “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis” and is a procedure that uses an excimer laser to permanently change the shape of the clear covering of the eye known as the cornea. However, not all patients are good candidates for laser vision correction surgery, especially those with a genetic condition called Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD).
Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD) is a genetic condition that causes white or grayish granular deposits to develop in the cornea. Those with ACD will see the spots develop over time, which causes a very gradual clouding of the vision. However, patients that have this condition are not only bad candidates for laser vision correction, but LASIK could actually accelerate the issue, causing eventual blindness. Now LASIK surgeons are able to do a new gene test for Avellino corneal dystrophy during the initial screening process to help identify patients who carry the ACD gene. The test is developed by Avellino Laboratory USA,
“This is a major breakthrough in laser vision correction evaluations. Patients who come in for LASIK, that carry the ACD gene, have usually begun to see the development of small white spots, and we can go ahead and disqualify them for LASIK. But there is always the chance someone comes in who is not showing signs yet, but this test helps surgeons know if they carry the gene for ACD” says Dr. Bansal. “
A recent study published in Ophthalmic Epidemiology found that 1 out of every 870 people carry the gene.
About Laservue Eye Center and Dr. Bansal: With four locations serving the Bay Area, LaserVue Eye Center sets the standard for excellence in eye surgery and vision restoration on a very patient entered, individual level. Dr. Jay Bansal and his staff are highly experienced in All-Laser LASIK procedures as well as cataract surgery using state-of-the-art lifestyle lens implants. With over 20,000 surgeries performed, Dr. Bansal is a nationally recognized refractive surgery, LASIK, and cataract surgery expert.
Contact:
Phone: 1-800-527-3745
Main Office: Santa Rosa, 3540 Mendocino Ave., #200 Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Website: http://www.laservue.com
Stacy Schiel, Stubenbordt Medical Marketing, +1 (682) 831-0900, [email protected]
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