The Book
Laser Eye Surgery Treatments and Procedures
Comparison Matrix: Laser Treatments*
| Feature | Conventional | CustomVue |
| Sharpness of Vision | + + + + | + + + + + |
| Quality of Vision | + + + + | + + + + + |
| Night Vision | + + + + | + + + + + |
| Cost | $$$ | $$$$ |
Comparison Matrix: Procedures*
| Feature | LASIK | PRK |
| Initial Procedure Recovery Time | 1 day | 2-4 weeks |
| Recovery Time After Retreatments | 1 day | 2-4 weeks |
| Postoperative Discomfort | minimal | moderate |
| Future Eye Trauma Concern Level | some/mild | none |
| Preservation of Future Options | usually good | sometimes better |
| Both Eyes Treated at Once | yes | no |
| Haze | negligible | mild/moderate |
*These matrices are for comparison only. Individual results may vary.
Future Technology
At Hale Vision Laser & Implant Center, it is our obligation to provide our patients with the safest and most effective technology available. To that end, we are excited to announce the addition of Intralase to our state-of-the-art surgical facility SIGHTLab. In LASIK, a handheld, mechanical, bladed device called a microkeratome has been used for over thirty years to complete the first stage of the procedure, the creation of the corneal flap. The Intralase FS femtosecond laser is a ultra-fast laser that creates a corneal flap by using plasma energy delivered through the placement of thousands of tiny energy dots. It has been shown to produce a safer, more precise corneal flap that enhances the ability of our excimer treatment lasers to perform the ultimate task of reshaping the cornea. For more information on the Intralase system please click here. There are also advancements in the field of implantable lens for the correction of myopia. In September 2004, the FDA approved the first phakic IOL for the correction or reduction of myopia (neasightedness). A phakic intraocular lens is an implanted lens that is placed inside the eye in the continued presence of the natural lens, unlike an implant placed inside the eye after the natural lens (phakos) is removed for the treatment of a cataract, etc. We expect more approvals of phakic IOLs in the next few months, an eventually phakic IOLs designed to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. We will continue to research all future technologies that impact our field of vision correction. Presbyopia, the process known as aging vision, is being investigated by various groups, and many different approaches have been proposed to solve this universal problem. The first implantable lens that attempts to restore the eye’s ability to focus at near was approved in November of 2003. Dr. Hale is approved to implant this lens but is observing the early results as there are several other lens that will be released in the near future. There are other methods available such as corneal laser techniques, scleral laser techniques, and scleral implants. For more information regarding implantable lenses in refractive surgery see our Implants section in Technology. In five or ten years, we may see a revolution in cataract surgery that can be adapted to vision correction surgery for those without significant cataracts. There are lenses under development that can be implanted in the eye, measured for accuracy, tested for wavefront aberrations, and then adjusted while inside the eye by treatment with light of a specific wavelength that causes a change in the shape of the lens and improves the vision. Please sign up for our newsletter so that we can keep you up-to-date on all these exciting advances in our field as they develop. Next (Am I a Candidate?)...At his state-of -the-art LASIK eye surgery Milwaukee facility, Dr. Hale offers a range of advanced refractive procedures, including LASIK, CustomVue LASIK and PRK. In addition, he specializes in the implantation of sophisticated intraocular lens implants (IOLs). Renowned as a highly experienced Crystalens and ReStor Milwaukee specialist, he offers these IOLs for patients who desire to reduce their dependence on glasses but cannot undergo LASIK.
