Laser Vision Correction - Western Massachusetts
Millions of people worldwide have reduced or eliminated their need for corrective lens through laser vision correction. Laser vision correction is the most advanced technology available today to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Dr. Balin performs the laser vision correction procedures CustomVue™, PRK, LASIK, and iLASIK™ at her Western Massachusetts office in Northampton.
For many individuals the decision to undergo refractive surgery is a quality of life issue. For years they have struggled with the many limitations both physically and professionally imposed upon them by their corrective lens. Laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK give them the freedom to experience life in a whole new way.
Dr. Balin was the first ophthalmologist in Western Massachusetts to perform laser vision correction. To date, Dr. Balin has performed thousands of successful procedures. Of those treated with laser vision correction by Dr. Balin, 99 percent have achieved 20/30 vision or better with no reported complications. Dr. Balin performs the refractive surgery treatments CustomVue™ customized LASIK, PRK, traditional LASIK, and iLASIK™ in Western Massachusetts at her state-of-the-art laser suite.
For more information on laser vision correction surgeries, please select "LASIK", "CustomVue™", "PRK", or "iLASIK™".
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iLASIK™ - Advanced Technology At Every Step.
 The Balin Eye & Laser Center is the only facility in Western Massachusetts to offer iLASIK™. This unique combination of CustomVue with Iris Registration and Intralase offers an all laser procedure that is precise and accurate to your eyes. When you have the iLASIK™ procedure, you get a completely integrated, completely personalized procedure based on advanced vision correction technology at every step.
- Step 1 – Creating Your Personal Vision Profile
The first step in the iLASIK™ procedure is to perform a series of tests including the WaveScan to determine the individual characteristics of your vision. The WaveScan system creates a 3-D map of the unique imperfections of your eyes. Then our Advanced CustomVue process uses the digital information from that map to design a custom treatment for each of your eyes.
- Step 2 – Making The iLASIK™ Flap
The iLASIK™ procedure exclusively uses an advanced technology called the Intralase Method. The Intralase Method is a 100% blade-free approach to creating your corneal flap, the thin flap of tissue that the doctor folds back in order to perform your iLASIK™ procedure. The Intralase Method delivers outstanding visual results.
- Step 3 – Your Laser Vision Correction Procedure
The Advanced CustomVue procedure is performed using your Personal Vision Profile. The Advanced CustomVue process has earned FDA approval to treat the broadest range of vision imperfections possible, including mild-to-severe nearsightedness, farsightedness and all types of astigmatism.
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LASIK (Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis) Refractive Surgery
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.
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LASIK is a two-step process. The first step is the flap creation. Patients are given a choice of two methods of flap creation. Traditionally the flap was created using a Hansatome. This device contains a surgical blade, which glides across the surface of the eye and back. The flap is then lifted and the laser applied for treatment.
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.
Once the flap is created and lifted, Dr. Balin applies laser light to reshape the internal cornea with accuracy up to 0.25 microns. The flap is put back in its original place and bonds naturally within a few minutes. Since only the edge of the flap needs to heal, corrective vision is restored within 24 hours and there is less risk of corneal haze as with other methods.
The entire refractive surgery usually takes about 15-20 minutes with only 30-60 seconds of actual lasering. You will not experience any discomfort since numbing drops are applied to the eye prior to the surgery.
Immediately following LASIK refractive surgery, a clear eye shield will be placed on the eye to protect your new vision. Medications will be prescribed for the next several days. Since most patients experience little or no discomfort they usually return to work within a few days. |
Remember that laser vision correction is not for everyone; please seek the advice of an experienced ophthalmologist and LASIK surgeon on your personal eye care needs. Contact us today for a free LASIK refractive surgery screening in Western Massachusetts in Northampton, Springfield, or Ware.
For more information on what LASIK can do for you, contact us today.
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CustomVue™ Laser Vision Correction
CustomVue™ Laser Vision Correction with Iris Registration was developed by VISX. This Refractive surgery is considered to be the most precise form of LASIK available.
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.
Once the flap is created, laser light is directed at the cornea to alter the shape of the cornea. The laser is guided by the WavePrint map to ensure the greatest degree of precision and accuracy. The cornea flap is then put back in its original place and bonds naturally within a few minutes.
The laser vision correction surgery usually takes about 20 minutes with only 30-60 seconds of actual lasering. Numbing drops are placed in the eye prior to the refractive surgery so that the patient does not experience any discomfort. A clear eye shield is placed over the eye and medication will be prescribed for a few days. Most patients return to work within a few days.
Remember that laser vision correction is not for everyone; please seek the advice of an experienced ophthalmologist and LASIK surgeon on your personal eye care needs. Contact us today for a free LASIK refractive screening in Western Massachusetts. Your appointment can be booked in Northampton, Springfield, or Ware.
For more information on what CustomVue™ can do for you, contact us today.
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PRK Laser Vision Correction
PRK was the first laser vision correction surgery to be performed in the United States and can treat moderate amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Arrow shows the area of cornea being treated. |
In performing this refractive surgery, the epitheal layer of the cornea is removed and the laser light applied directly to the surface of the cornea. Microscopic amounts of tissue are removed to alter the shape of the cornea. The laser does not penetrate the cornea and leaves the iris, lens, and retina intact. |
This type of refractive surgery takes only 15-20 minutes with only about 30-60 seconds of actual lasering. Numbing drops are applied to the eye prior to PRK so that the patient does not experience any discomfort. Following the laser vision correction surgery, a thin non-prescriptive contact lens is applied to the eye to provide comfort and protection for the first several days of healing. Medication will be prescribed for two to three months or more. Most patients experience minimal discomfort and usually return to work within two to three days following the surgery.
Remember that laser vision correction is not for everyone; please seek the advice of an experienced ophthalmologist and LASIK surgeon on your personal eye care needs. We offer free laser vision correction screenings in Western Massachusetts. Your appointment can be booked in Northampton, Springfield, or Ware.
For more information on what PRK can do for you, contact us today.
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Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens Implant
The Verisyse™ lens is used to treat moderate to extreme cases of nearsightedness in patients. The lens is implanted inside a patient’s eye where it acts like a pair of glasses or contacts to refocus light rays onto the retina to correct the patient’s vision. The Verisyse™ lens is considered a good option for patients who were previously not good LASIK candidates due to higher refractive errors or thin corneas. These patients now have a way of correcting their vision without the burden or hassle of glasses or contacts.
The Verisyse™ lens may be used in patients who are over 21 years of age with between 5 and 20 diopters of nearsightedness with up to 2.5 diopters of astigmatism. In order to know if you are a good candidate for the lens, you will need a thorough eye exam with Dr. Balin. At this appointment Dr. Balin will assess the general health of your eye and determine if you have adequate space inside the eye to receive the lens.
Dr. Balin implants the Verisyse lens at the Cataract & Laser Center in West Springfield on an out-patient basis under local anesthesia. One eye is treated at a time. The lens is made out of a hard plastic material. It is the same material that has been used to make cataract lens for over 50 years. During the procedure Dr. Balin will make a small incision inside the eye. The Verisyse™ lens is inserted and positioned in front of the natural lens of the eye. Because the natural lens is not removed during the procedure the patient will not experience any loss of intermediate or near vision after the surgery. The entire procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.
If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for the Verisyse lens, contact the office at 1-800-436-3937 or 413-584-6666. We will be happy to schedule your refractive consultation with Dr. Balin.
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Refractive Lensectomy
A Refractive Lensectomy is a procedure that treats nearsightedness and farsightedness by removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an Intraocular Lens with the appropriate corrective power. The procedure is similar to cataract surgery, however; there is no cataract present.
The procedure is performed at the Cataract & Laser Center in West Springfield under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. A small incision is made in the eye in order to remove the natural lens and insert the IOL. The entire surgery takes about 30 minutes. Dr. Balin can perform a procedure known as AK at this time to treat any astigmatism that may be present in the eye.
Refractive Lensectomy is available for patients who are over 40 years of age and those patients who may not be good LASIK candidates. There are different IOLs available for patients to choose including the multifocal lens implants – ReSTOR®, ReZoom™ and Crystalens™. Most patients who choose a multifocal lens will not need glasses for near vision following the procedure.
In order to know if you are a good candidate for a Refractive Lensectomy, you will need a Refractive Consultation with Dr. Balin. At this appointment Dr. Balin will perform a thorough eye exam and a series of specific tests to determine if you are a candidate. As with all eye surgery, there are risks. You should be educated to the benefits and risks prior to the procedure.
Please contact the office at 800-436-3937 or 413-584-6666 if you would like to make an appointment for a Refractive Consultation.
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