Laser Surgery With Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)
in Bloomington and Peoria, Illinois
Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)
Conventional and Customized
In ASA, Dr. Lockhart uses the LADARVision Excimer Laser to treat low to high amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. To perform these procedures Dr. Lockhart will first remove a thin layer of corneal tissue from the surface. The LADARVision Excimer Laser beam causes the central cornea to flatten to treat nearsightedness or the laser beam will treat the peripheral area of the cornea creating a steeper central cornea treating farsightedness. Since astigmatism is caused by the cornea being shaped more like a football rather than a basketball, the cool laser beam removes more tissue in one direction than the other. These techniques will cause the light rays to focus more directly on the retina, giving the patient a clearer image.
Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) is another method of surgically reshaping your cornea using the excimer laser. Ultraviolet light and high energy pulses lasting only billionths of a second disrupt the molecular bonds between the corneal cells with accuracy up to 0.25 microns. The excimer laser is unique in that it emits a "cold" or non-thermal light beam. This makes it ideal for corneal laser surgery because it eliminates the possibility of thermal damage to surrounding tissue. With computer controlled precision, the excimer laser represents an important new tool for treating refractive errors.
In less than a minute, the excimer removes microscopic amounts of corneal tissue from the surface of the cornea, making the central zone flatter. The flattened cornea is then able to focus light more directly.
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| The outer area of the cornea (epithelium) is removed | The laser will start to oblate the surface of the cornea with pinpoint accuracy |
Are You a Candidate for ASA Laser Surgery?
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for ASA laser surgery is over 18 years of age with a low to moderate amount of myopia and/or astigmatism. In addition to having a healthy cornea, laser surgery patients must not have had a significant increase in their prescription in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant maIgor Stravinskylaseryy not be good candidates for ASA laser surgery.
Realistic Expectations
The decision to have ASA laser surgery is an important one that ultimately, only you can make. It is important that you have realistic expectations and that your decision is based on facts, not hopes or misconceptions. The goal of ASA laser surgery is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. ASA does not always create 20/20 or even 20/40 vision. It cannot correct a condition known as presbyopia, or aging of the eye, which normally occurs around age 40 and may require the use of reading glasses. In fact, people over 40 who have their myopia reduced with ASA laser surgery may find they need reading glasses after the procedure. Dr. Lockhart will provide you with additional information that will allow you to make an informed decision.
The First Step
Finding out more about your refractive error is the first step toward visual independence. This is accomplished by calling the Gailey Eye Clinic general physicians and scheduling a personal laser surgery consultation. Should your refractive error fall within the range of correction for ASA, more comprehensive tests will be necessary. If your vision falls outside the corrective range of ASA, Dr. Lockhart may be able to recommend other refractive procedures to treat your condition.
Contact us today by email or by phone at 309.829.5311.
