LASIK is available and performed in Rome, Kennesaw and Atlanta for the convenience of our patients by Dr. Paul Harton.
 |
 Out of over 800 surgeons, Dr. Paul J. Harton has been named one of the 2007 LaserVision Top 100 Surgeons! This award honors distinguished leaders in refractive surgery for providing exceptional patient care and achieving LASIK excellence. |
LASIK or Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis is the most popular form of laser vision correction available in the world. LASIK is perhaps the most revolutionary advance in ophthalmology in decades. This procedure has provided millions of people in the United States with greatly reduced dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
LASIK can treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
The VISX Star Laser
LASIK is actually a combination of two procedures. First, an instrument called a keratome is used to create a protective flap on the surface of the cornea. In the second step, this flap is retracted and a computer-controlled laser is used to correct the refractive error. This laser is a “cool” beam and does not burn, but instead gently reshapes the cornea based on measurements done in a consultation prior to surgery.
Microkeratome
While
Conventional LASIK treatments have been highly successful and
precise
for years, we now have the ability to even further customize laser
treatments
for an individual patient. This is referred to as a
“Wavefront-guided”
treatment or “Custom LASIK”. The CustomVue treatment available
through the Harbin Clinic is one such Wavefront-guided Custom LASIK
treatment.
What
is the difference between “Conventional” and “Custom”
LASIK? Basically the surgical procedure is the same. The difference
is in how your eye is measured. In a Conventional LASIK procedure,
your
prescription is measured in the typical fashion by your doctor in
the
office with an instrument called a phoropter. This prescription
information
is fed into the laser’s computer and is the basis for your
treatment.
In Custom LASIK, an additional piece of information is added into the laser. This is called a wavefront profile and, in our practice, it is made on the VISX WaveScan instrument. This Wavefront measurement gives a more detailed profile of how light travels through an individual eye that is also fed into the laser for your treatment. Thus, providing a custom profile or “fingerprint” of the eye.
click for larger view
WaveScan wavefront printout
Afterwards, in either type of LASIK, there are no deep cuts or burns and images entering the eye are focused more clearly on the retina restoring vision without the aid of corrective lenses. Most patients can return to work or normal activities the day after surgery.
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions about LASIK