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The Perfect Storm

Intralase SBK coupled with a Wavefront Procedure makes it a great time to consider Laser Vision Correction.

“The biggest benefit of Intralase SBK is the decreased complications compared to LASIK.”

“This isn’t just about treating eyes…it’s about treating people.”

When is the right time to undergo elective surgery? Clearly, it’s when you get to decide when to have the procedure, choose the specific type of procedure, and then get to select the surgeon who will perform the surgery. You couldn’t ask for much more than that.

Unless you add: a procedure that is extremely safe.

This, say experts, is the case with Intralase SBK.

“We were getting very good results before,” says Dr. David Edmison, Medical Director at Focus, “but Wavefront and [Intralase] SBK together have taken things to a whole new level.”

In the broad scheme of things – namely, advancements in the refractive surgery field – there’s never been a better time to consider Laser Vision Correction. A Wavefront Procedure (which allows for treatment to be customized to those corneal imperfections unique to each patient) coupled with Intralase Femtosecond technology represents the medical equivalent of the ‘perfect storm’: a moment in time at which technology and treatment have combined to create the potential for magnificent outcomes.

Indeed, at Focus many patients enjoy a post-operative level of vision that exceeds what they had with either glasses or contact lenses.

“A lot of people are also taking about an improved quality of vision” in terms of “crispness and clarity of vision”, says Dr. Edmison, adding that Intralase SBK patients achieve a faster visual recovery than with PRK and experience less risk than with a standard Lasik procedure.

The safety of an Intralase SBK procedure is due to the fact that corneal structural integrity is maintained. This in turn translates into a faster visual recovery than people experience with PRK and added benefits in terms of a patient’s overall visual outcome.

Intralase SBK has been widely heralded by the U.S. military and surgeons at work in private practice across America and Europe. Its introduction, approximately four years, ago was akin to the day air travel moved from propeller planes to jet engines: old technology still existed and performed adequately, but the roar of the future was impossible to ignore.

“The trend in LVC has definitely shifted and the technology been refined to the point where patients can achieve excellent outcomes in minimal periods of time,” says Dr. Angela Malik a staff Optometrist at Focus Eye.

“Patients who had otherwise been avoiding having LVC because of lengthy recovery times or expected discomfort are understandably excited by Intralase SBK,” Dr. Malik adds.

The safety and efficacy of Intralase SBK is highlighted by the fact that it has become a Standard of Care at Focus. But the greatest endorsement of Intralase SBK comes from people who depend on their vision for their livelihoods and are undergoing the procedure in increasing numbers – and with unprecedented levels of patient satisfaction.

Focus’s list of happy patients includes Olympians, firefighters, RCMP officers, military men and women (including fighter pilots), doctors and many others for whom ‘their eyes are their life’.

“I think the biggest benefit of Intralase SBK is the decreased complications compared to that of LASIK,” says Dr. Sara Anstey, a co-managing Optometrist and Focus Eye patient. “It has the safety of PRK but minimal recovery time, which is what patients should want.”

Anstey is one of hundreds of Ontario and Quebec optometrists (ODs) who recommend Laser Vision Correction to their patients.

Dr. Alexandra Buttle is another.

“My mother had LVC at Focus long before I was an optometrist so it wasn’t a foreign concept to me,” says Dr. Buttle, who had her own procedure – Intralase SBK – last year and experienced an improvement in her vision that teeters on the miraculous. “I went from being worse than 20/400 to 20/20,” explains the OD and avid athlete. “It’s been liberating, to say the least.”

Focus provides a Continuum of Care that begins when a prospective patient undergoes a series of important diagnostic tests while getting educated on the procedures available. After this, it’s a matter of determining if and how LVC can benefit a patient, while explaining the limits of a given procedure as well as potential issues around healing.

“It’s imperative that patients have reasonable expectations,” says Jennifer Kearns, RN, Manager of Focus Eye. “Every patient has specific concerns and these deserve to be addressed directly, one-on-one.”

“We are committed to working with patients to help them achieve the best result based on the best procedure for that person,” explains Kearns, who has had numerous members of her immediate family undergo procedures at Focus. “The process starts when we greet people by name and immediately make sure that their care is personalized and professional – from the moment they walk in the door to well after they leave the clinic.

“This isn’t just about treating eyes, or even patients,” she adds. “This is about treating people.”

Is there any pain?
What about the need for reading glasses (presbyopia)?
What are the risks?
What can I expect after Vision Correction?
What do I do with my glasses or contacts if I get one eye at a time?
Who is a good candidate?
Will both eyes be treated on the same day?
Will I become nearsighted again?

Is there any pain?

There is no pain during the procedure. Freezing drops are instilled before the procedure to alleviate any discomfort. The majority of patients will experience some irritation in the first 12-24 hours immediately following the procedure. You may experience a scratchy sensation and will be sensitive to light for the first couple of days. Should you have any discomfort, pain relief medication is available. Do I need to take time off work? Every person’s healing rate is unique. Patients who have PRK will normally return to work in three to five days after the procedure. Normal activities including sports may be resumed at this time. With Intralase SBK, some patients will see well enough to return to work the next day! Yet, others may need 2-4 days to see clearly.

What about the need for reading glasses (presbyopia)?

Presbyopia is part of the normal aging process where the eye’s natural lens hardens and loses its flexibility. Almost everyone between 40 and 50 years of age will need extra help focusing for reading. The Excimer laser treats the corneal surface layers only, but can compensate for presbyopia. During the consultation, this option which is called monovision, will be discussed with the Ophthalmologist.

What are the risks?

Laser Vision Correction is considered to be very safe. As with any surgical procedure, there can be complications and these will be described by your eye doctor. Serious complications causing partial loss of vision are extremely rare. It is important to note that individual results may vary due to each person’s healing rate. For this reason, a small percentage of patients will need to undergo a touch-up procedure following their initial, primary treatment.

The data on patients who have had Laser Vision Correction supports stable results with little, if any regression. No one can definitely say what will occur in twenty years, however specialists are confident that nothing will change over the long term. This view is based on a decade of study on results with the Excimer laser, and a century of continued research on corneal wound healing.

The risks and complications for both PRK and Intralase SBK will be discussed in detail with the Eyecare Practitioner on the day of your consultation.

What can I expect after Vision Correction?

After a laser procedure you can expect to see as well as you did with your glasses or contact lenses. For many patients the procedure means freedom to participate in sport and leisure activities without the hassles of corrective lenses or glasses. Others are motivated by the ability to see the alarm clock first thing in the morning. Whatever your motivation, the procedure offers new-found freedom.

In a recent study of 400 low to moderate myopes (less than -9), over 99% of our patients obtained 20/40 vision or better after their initial treatment. This means that over 99% of our patients were able to drive a car legally without the requirement of corrective lenses.

What do I do with my glasses or contacts if I get one eye at a time?

Patients will either wear a contact lens on their untreated eye, or their old glasses with a plain lens over the treated eye. Most patients have little difficulty accommodating the refractive differences. However, a slight unbalanced feeling might occur depending on the degree of difference between the two eyes.

Who is a good candidate?

Most people who are nearsighted (myopic) or farsighted (hyperopic), with or without astigmatism, are eligible for the procedure. To be considered a good candidate, your prescription must be stable (i.e. less than one diopter of change over the course of a year). Normally, once you have reached your twenties, your prescription will have stabilized. If you undergo the procedure when your prescription is unstable, you may regress from the desired result. Also, women who are pregnant or who are nursing, are not recommended for the procedure.

Will both eyes be treated on the same day?

The majority of patients opt for a bilateral procedure — both eyes treated at the same time. Other patients will elect to have only one eye treated at a time. Your second eye may be treated as early as one week after the first eye provided healing is normal. During your consultation, the Ophthalmologist will discuss with you which option is best suited for you.

Will I become nearsighted again?

PRK and Intralase SBK procedures are essentially permanent corrections. Studies have shown results to be stable once healing is completed, three to six months after the procedure. However, small amounts of regression can occur in less than 10% of cases.