NorthEast Laser Center
LASIK is the eponym for Laser-In-Situ-Keratonileusus. The process
consists of two steps. The initial step is to create an ultra-thin
flap on the surface of the cornea, the outer "window" of the eye.
This is done in order to access the cornea. The safest and most
precise method to create the flap is by using an Intralase laser.
This is sometimes referred to as IntraLasik. The microkeratome or
blade was used for decades prior to the introduction of all laser
surgery.
The second step is the actual vision correcting measure. Utilizing
Eye-Q, wavefront technology, Dr. Frangie sculpts the corneal surface
of the eye with the utmost accuracy. Perfect Pulse Technology™
ensures safe and precise work at high speed. The high-speed
eye-tracker follows the eye's fastest movements checking the eye's
positions 100 times per second while ensuring an accurate placement
of each laser pulse on the cornea. In addition, an integrated
crossline projection provides the surgeon with an exact alignment of
the eye's position, making the Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q one of the
safest, most effective optical lasers currently available.
One must be very careful two weeks post operatively not to rub the
eyes. Doing so could cause a wrinkle in the flap. We ask that
patients do not go swimming or in a hot tub for two weeks. No eye
make-up for one week. Limit lifting to below 30 lbs. for three days
after the procedure.
John P. Frangie, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist
specializing in Cornea and Refractive Surgery. He received his
medical degree from the University of Kansas and served his
ophthalmology residency at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Following residency training, Dr. Frangie performed a fellowship in
Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the University of Rochester School
of Medicine and Dentistry, where he participated in research with
the Excimer laser and laser vision correction.
www.northeastlaser.net
1132 Westfield Street
West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
413-781-6352
toll free 866-733-6352
Balin Eye and Laser Center
LASIK has been used for years to treat nearsightedness,
farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure is known as laser
vision correction and has been extremely successful at treating a
wide range of visual disorders. LASIK surgery is performed in our
state-of-the-art laser suite in Western Massachusetts.
During a LASIK refractive surgery consultation with Dr. Balin, a
WaveScan device is used to measure imperfections in the individual’s
vision with the greatest precision possible. A detailed map of the
patient’s entire visual track is created. Like a fingerprint, this
map is completely unique to each individual. The information on the
map is then transferred into the laser and used by Dr. Balin to
customize the LASIK procedure.
In the past the surgeon was responsible for marking the patient’s
eye and aligning the laser treatment to the eye at the time of the
procedure. Now with Iris Registration, the laser is able to read the
eye and more accurately align the treatment during the procedure. A
more accurate alignment means a better visual outcome. Iris
Registration is only available from VISX, our laser manufacturer.
Prior to performing CustomVue Dr. Balin needs to first create the
corneal flap. The Hansatome is a device that uses a surgical blade
to glide across the surface of the eye and back again to create a
flap of cornea tissue.
Dr. Balin also offers the Intralase Femtosecond laser to create the
LASIK flap. Intralase is a 100% blade-free approach to flap
creation. The Intralase Femtosecond laser creates the flap by
emitting ultrafast pulses of laser light into the cornea. The laser
light passes harmlessly through the cornea creating rows of
microscopic bubbles at a precise and uniform depth. These bubbles
separate the corneal tissue and enable Dr. Balin to gently lift the
flap for laser treatment. Because of the superior accuracy of
Intralase, certain patients who were ineligible for LASIK may now be
able to have the treatment.
www.balineye.com
1268 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Phone: 1-800-436-EYES (3937)
LASIK surgery
Currently, LASIK is the most commonly performed surgery for
refractive errors. The procedure takes between 10 and 15 minutes for
both eyes. It can correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia),
and astigmatism. As in radial keratotomy, the cornea is reshaped to
correct the refractive error.
After the eye is anesthetized with drops, the surgeon makes a
corneal flap, a raised thin layer of the cornea, with an instrument
called a microkeratome. This part of the procedure is a keratectomy.
The flap is lifted and moved to one side. Using a
computer-controlled laser, and on newer systems, an eye tracker,
which follows the patient's minute eye movements, the surgeon
removes tissue under the corneal flap to reshape the cornea.
To treat myopia, the cornea is made flatter by removing tissue from
its center. For hyperopia, the cornea's center is made steeper. To
treat astigmatism, the cornea is made rounder. The flap is replaced
when the necessary tissue has been removed.
Elizabeth A. Ryan, O.D., and staff members are dedicated to serving
the vision and eye health needs of West Springfield, Massachusetts,
and the surrounding communities. We provide eye exams, vision
correction, Lasik surgery, and state-of-the-art diagnosis and
treatment of ocular conditions.
www.laser4i.com
1132 Westfield Street
West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
Tel: 413.781.6352
Fax: 413.781.0222
Litscher Eye Center
LASIK is the most common refractive procedure done worldwide. It has
proven to be a safe, reliable, and painless way to improve vision by
correcting refractive errors. With this procedure, drops of an
anesthetic are placed on the cornea so it is not painful. An
instrument is used to gently hold the eyelids open under the laser
beam. A device called a microkeratome is used to cut a thin flap of
central corneal tissue. In some cases, another laser rather than a
microkeratome is used to create this flap. The flap is then lifted
to expose the underlying cornea. The excimer laser then reshapes the
corneal curvature by steepening it for hyperopia or flattening it
for myopia. The flap is then closed and seals in place in a few
minutes. The procedure may take 5 to 10 minutes per eye. After the
surgery, a clear, protective shield is placed over the eyes until
the next day. Eyedrops are started to prevent inflammation or
infection. Vision may be somewhat hazy and the eye a bit scratchy
for the first 12 to 18 hours, but this improves rapidly after that.
Most people are comfortable enough to drive or return to work the
next day. Full recovery may occur gradually over a few weeks.
The cornea is the clear covering on the front of the eye, which
bends, or refracts, light rays that focus on the retina in the back
of the eye. A certain corneal curvature is required in order to
focus the rays exactly on the retina for the sharpest vision. If
this curvature is not proper for the lens of the eye, a refractive
error results and causes blurred vision. Refractive errors, which
include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and
astigmatism, are the most common causes of blurry vision.
Glasses and contact lenses are common treatments for these
refractive errors. An excellent alternative treatment is refractive
surgery. Modern refractive surgery utilizes an excimer laser to
permanently alter the shape or curve of the cornea to eliminate or
greatly decrease the need for glasses or contacts to achieve
excellent vision. In a matter of minutes, the gentle ultraviolet
laser pulses can precisely reshape the cornea to match the eye's
refractive error. The following types of laser vision correction are
available.
Dr. Litscher has been in private practice in several locations over
nearly 25 years. After practicing for several years in North
Carolina and Pennsylvania, he began his practice in Springfield,
Massachusetts in 1987 as the area's first corneal specialist. As
such, Dr. Litscher is an expert on treating infections, ulcers, and
injuries of the cornea. He is one of the few eye surgeons in western
Massachusetts to perform corneal transplant surgery. He was the
first eye surgeon in western Massachusetts to perform corneal
refractive surgery in 1990, and the first in Springfield to perform
laser vision correction. He was featured on a local television news
cast in 1991 to introduce the technique of no-stitch cataract
surgery to the media. He is the first Springfield surgeon to be
certified in the new technology Crystalens® implant. He is a VISX™
and Allegretto Wave™ certified LASIK surgeon. During the course of
his practice, Dr. Litscher earned an MBA from the University of
Massachusetts and was named to the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
www.litschereye.com
300 Stafford Street
Suite 112
Springfield, MA 01104
Tel: (413) 593-0020
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