What Happens in LASIK?

First, your eyes are anesthetized with drops. Then, using a highly sophisticated tool called an auto-shaper, the doctor creates an extremely thin natural cover on the front of your eye that will provide a protective layer for area reshaped by the laser.

The cover is lifted to allow the laser to gently reshape the front of your eye for about 30 to 60 seconds. Then the natural cover is placed back down, and within a few minutes, the eye's cells begin to re-adhere to the cover and healing begins.

^ Back to Top ^


How Long till I Can See (Healing time)?

Because the natural cover provides a protective layer for the area shaped by the laser, healing is very quick. (No stitches are needed!) Within a day or two, most patients see naturally more clearly than they ever have, without glasses or contacts.

^ Back to Top ^


What is PRK?

PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy is a procedure in which the front of your eye is reshaped so that you can see more clearly without glasses or contacts.

^ Back to Top ^


What Happens in PRK?

In PRK, first your eyes are anesthetized with drops. Then the doctor uses an Excimer Ultraviolet Laser to gently reshape the front of your eye for about 30 to 60 seconds.

^ Back to Top ^


Is there Any Pain?

After the procedure, the doctor will place a contact lens over your eye to protect it from the elements, unlike the LASIK procedure, with PRK the very surface of your eye is trying to heal, so there may often be pain for the first 24 to 48 hours. You will be given a regimen of drops to follow for a few weeks to help manage this. Finally, you will return for several post-operative visits.

^ Back to Top ^


How Long Till I See Clearly?

Because the very surface of your eye has been operated on, it may take any where from a week to several months before you achieve your final vision correction as your eye heals.

^ Back to Top ^


WHAT IS BOTOX?

It is a purified protein that relaxes the muscles that cause the facial wrinkles.

^ Back to Top ^


HOW LONG DOES BOTOX LAST?

The effects last up to 4 months. Treatments can be repeated every 3-4 months.

^ Back to Top ^


WHO CAN HAVE BOTOX?

Age: 18 - 65, both female and male. Older patients can have treatments, but the results may be less effective.

^ Back to Top ^


WHAT IS RADIESSE?

Radiesse is a synthetic, injectable implant. It is composed of nearly microscopic spheres made of calcium hydroxylapatite, or CaHA, in a water-based gel. It is injectable through very small needles due to the nature of the gel and the size of the spheres. Over time, the CaHA breaks down and is eliminated by the body. Like other dermal fillers, Radiesse is not a permanent treatment. Follow-up or maintenance procedures are required to maintain the anti wrinkle results.

^ Back to Top ^


HOW LONG DOES RADIESSE LAST?

Lasting an average of 12 to 15 months, Radiesse has superior longevity in comparison to other dermal filler substances used today. Recovery time after Radiesse injection is only minutes to hours. The most common complications are temporary redness and bruising. It is our opinion that Radiesse not be used in the lips, due to the potential for lumps when used in that area.

^ Back to Top ^


What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease process of the nerve of your eye. It is associated with certain risk factors, such as an elevated intra-ocular eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, myopia, hypertension, ethnic differences and eye injuries. New technologies, such as Opto-Coherent Temography (OCT) allows rapid and objective measurements of all the nerve fibers in your eye and is dramatically changing the way we understand and treat this disease.

^ Back to Top ^


What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease process of the nerve of your eye. It is associated with certain risk factors, such as an elevated intra-ocular eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, myopia, hypertension, ethnic differences and eye injuries. New technologies, such as Opto-Coherent Temography (OCT) allows rapid and objective measurements of all the nerve fibers in your eye and is dramatically changing the way we understand and treat this disease.

^ Back to Top ^


Who is most likely to get glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease process of the nerve of your eye. It is associated with certain risk factors, such as an elevated intra-ocular eye pressure, a family history of glaucoma, myopia, hypertension, ethnic differences and eye injuries. New technologies, such as Opto-Coherent Temography (OCT) allows rapid and objective measurements of all the nerve fibers in your eye and is dramatically changing the way we understand and treat this disease.

^ Back to Top ^


What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

At first, there are no symptoms. Vision stays normal and there is no pain. However, as the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. That is, objects in the front may still be seen clearly, but objects to the side may be missed. As the disease worsens, the field of vision narrows and blindness results.

^ Back to Top ^


How is glaucoma detected?

Many people may know of the "air puff" test or other tests to measure eye pressure in any eye examination. But this test alone cannot detect glaucoma. Glaucoma is found most often during an eye examination through dilated pupils. This means drops are put into the eyes during the exam to enlarge the pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of the eye to check for signs of glaucoma.

^ Back to Top ^


How can glaucoma be treated?

Although open-angle glaucoma cannot be cured, it can usually be controlled. The most common treatments are:

- Medications
- These may be either in the form of eyedrops or pills. Some drugs are designed to reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye. Others help to improve fluid drainage.
- For most people with glaucoma, regular use of medications will control the increased fluid pressure. But these drugs may stop working over time. Or they may cause side effects. If a problem occurs, the eye care professional may select other drugs, change the dose, or suggest other ways to deal with the problem.
- Laser Surgery During laser surgery, a strong beam of light is focused on the part of the anterior chamber where the fluid leaves the eye. This results in a series of small changes, which makes it easier for fluid to exit the eye. Over time the effect of laser surgery may wear off. Patients who have this form of surgery may need to keep taking glaucoma drugs.

^ Back to Top ^