LASIK Archives

How Does The Visian ICL Compare To LASIK?

Paul Stubenbordt on March 18, 2022

Many people who want to reduce their dependence on glasses or contacts turn to LASIK for vision correction. However, LASIK isn’t the only option for permanent vision correction.

There are alternative options like the advanced technology of the Visian ICL. Keep reading to learn how the Visian ICL compares to LASIK!

LASIK

LASIK is a permanent laser vision correction surgery that can allow people to reduce their dependency on contact lenses and glasses. During the LASIK procedure, your LASIK surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea.

LASIK can correct your refractive error whether you have astigmatism or are nearsighted or farsighted. First, your LASIK surgeon will use numbing drops on your eye.

Next, they will use a laser to create a flap on the front surface of your cornea. Your cornea is the clear, round window at the front of the eye.

After making the flap, your LASIK surgeon will use another laser to reshape the cornea underneath the flap. The reshaping of the cornea allows the light coming into your eye to fall directly on the retina.

This reshaping corrects your refractive error and produces a clear image for you to see. Then, your LASIK surgeon will reposition the flap, and it will heal naturally on its own.

LASIK is a very effective procedure to improve vision with modern tools and equipment. LASIK also offers a quick recovery time.

Visian ICL

The Visian ICL is an implantable collamer lens that helps reduce dependency on contact lenses and glasses, similar to LASIK. The Visian ICL can be implanted to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Visian ICL procedure is also relatively quick, lasting only about twenty to thirty minutes. First, your eye doctor will give you numbing drops for your eyes.

Then, they make a small incision in the cornea. After that, your eye doctor will insert the Visian ICL and position it correctly.

The incision will heal quickly without the need for stitches. Most people notice vision improvement right away and recover quickly, within a few days to weeks.

LASIK vs. Visian ICL

Both LASIK and Visian ICL procedures are minimally invasive. Although both offer short recovery times, the Visian ICL often has a quicker recovery time due to the time needed for the LASIK flap to heal.

LASIK can offer correction for those with all three refractive errors. However, the Visian ICL can only improve vision in those with nearsightedness or astigmatism.

If you are considering having a permanent vision correction procedure, your eye doctor will first require you to come in for a consultation. At this visit, they will determine if you are a good candidate for either procedure.

Your eye doctor will perform tests and measurements on your eyes during your consultation. Certain factors may make you a better candidate for one procedure over the other.

You may not be a good candidate for the LASIK procedure if you have thin corneas. In this case, your eye doctor may recommend other types of permanent vision correction, like the Visian ICL.

If you have chronic dry eye, your eye doctor may say that the Visian ICL procedure is a better fit for you. Since there is no flap needed to implant the Visian ICL, it may be a better option for those who are active or participate in sports.

If you qualify as a candidate for either procedure, it is best to consider the pros and cons of both options to help you decide which is best for you. You can discuss your options with your eye doctor, and they will work with you to determine which is best.

Are you interested in learning more about your options for permanent vision correction like LASIK or the Visian ICL? Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA today!

4 Things You Should Know Before Having LASIK

Paul Stubenbordt on February 23, 2021

LASIK is a great option for so many people who otherwise have to rely on contacts or glasses. It’s also become more popular in recent years as the technology has become more widely available.

If you’re considering LASIK for yourself, great! You could be in for an amazing experience and the best vision of your life. But before you make any decisions, keep reading for 4 things you should know before having LASIK!

1. LASIK is a Low-Risk Procedure

Every surgery, even minor ones, has some degree of risk. But the risks with LASIK are minimal.

The most recent technology allows surgeons who perform LASIK to be extremely precise. That means they are able to avoid damaging any part of your eye that isn’t part of the procedure.

While complications do happen on rare occasions, you can’t go blind because you had LASIK. That’s just a silly urban legend and you should ignore it.

The procedure has been around for over 25 years and in that time it’s only become more safe and effective. Even the earliest LASIK patients have a high rate of long-term satisfaction with their results.

If you have safety concerns, know that they may not be as big an issue as you think. Do be sure to talk to your LASIK surgeon, as there are still some risks. You should also know that LASIK may not be safe for everyone.

2. Not Everyone Can Get LASIK

While most people with refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism make good LASIK candidates, it’s not right for everyone. Around 85% of people who seek out LASIK end up qualifying.

The rest are screened out either because the surgery wouldn’t be effective for them or because it would be dangerous.

Generally speaking, if you’re over 21 and in good health, you should qualify for LASIK. But there are some things that can make LASIK unsafe, like if your cornea isn’t thick enough or you have dry eye syndrome. But even if you don’t qualify for LASIK, there are still options.

3. There are Surgical Alternatives to LASIK

If you don’t qualify for LASIK, you may still be able to have vision correction surgery. While LASIK is the most popular option, there are alternatives that are safer for certain people.

For example, PRK is great for people who want LASIK but don’t qualify because their corneas are too thin. PRK is almost exactly like LASIK, but it doesn’t need a corneal flap, meaning your cornea doesn’t need to be a certain thickness.

There are plenty of other procedures, too, including SMILE, Visian ICL, RLE… the list goes on. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, talk to your surgeon about what other options they have available.

4. Clearer Vision is Likely, but not Guaranteed

The majority of LASIK patients come out of LASIK with 20/20 vision or better. But not everyone achieves clearer or the perfect vision they’ve always wanted.

Some people do need a follow-up procedure for touch-ups. But you can maximize your chances for success by choosing a reputable practice and a skilled surgeon.

Think that LASIK could be right for you? There’s only one way to find out: a LASIK consultation. Schedule yours at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA, today!

Who hasn’t dreamed about waking up with clearer vision for the rest of their life? LASIK can help make that dream a reality!

Is LASIK as Safe as Doctors Claim?

Paul Stubenbordt on October 15, 2019

LASIK sounds like it could be a surgery of the future. A laser used to change the shape of your eye to fix your vision?

It’s a little far-out. But LASIK is very much a modern technological advancement. In fact, the procedure is almost 25 years old now.

There’s very little that’s new or experimental about LASIK surgery. Recent advancements make it more effective than ever. Risks associated with surgery have also gone down.

Still, you may have concerns that LASIK isn’t as safe as many doctors claim. Keep reading to learn why LASIK is as safe as doctors claim it to be!

The Surgery

How is LASIK done? You might be aware of the general idea, where lasers reshape the cornea. But this doesn’t involve simply using a laser on the direct surface of the eye.

PRK removes the cornea’s thin protective layer and then shapes the surface of the cornea. PRK is another kind of laser correction procedure that’s like LASIK.

But LASIK is more advanced and safer than PRK. During LASIK, surgeons create a flap in the cornea and reshape the tissue underneath.

This is done using a laser. Then the flap is replaced, acting like a natural bandage as your eye heals. This makes recovery a lot faster and easier and minimizes risks.

LASIK is a Low-Risk Procedure

Any surgery carries some risks. But as far as surgeries go, LASIK is very low risk. It also has a very high success rate. With patients who have had LASIK, it has a 96% success rate!

Part of what makes LASIK a low-risk procedure is its extensive candidacy process. To undergo LASIK, you must qualify as a candidate first.

The only way to do this is to have a LASIK consultation. A good LASIK surgeon will only accept qualified candidates to perform LASIK on.

There’s No Risk of Blindness

What many people don’t realize is there’s no chance of going blind if you get LASIK. This is because it doesn’t involve any vital centers of the eye.

LASIK only reshapes the cornea, which refracts light onto the retina. The retina and optic nerve see and relay images back to the brain.

Since the retina or optic nerve isn’t near where LASIK is performed, they are completely safe. This makes the risk of blindness almost zero.

Actual Risks

Going blind or experiencing vision loss from LASIK is unlikely. Though LASIK is a low-risk procedure, there are some risks to consider. These include infection, dry eye syndrome, decreased night vision, halos, and a dislocated corneal flap.

These complications are rare, but they are slightly more common than visual loss. These complications are treatable.

Most can be completely avoided by caring properly for your eyes before and after LASIK. Essentially, if you follow your doctor’s orders, you have a very low chance of having any problems.

Thinking about getting LASIK yourself? Contact Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Sherman Oaks, CA to schedule a LASIK consultation! If you want visual freedom, LASIK is the best gift you can give yourself this season!

The 4 Best Things About Getting LASIK This Summer

Paul Stubenbordt on August 16, 2019

LASIK— we’ve all heard of it, and most of us may know at least one person who’s had it. Some of us have even thought about getting it ourselves.

If you’ve ever wanted to see without glasses or contacts, having LASIK can make that dream come true. So why put off that dream any more?

Get LASIK this year. Have it this summer! Summertime is the perfect time of year to have LASIK.

Why wouldn’t you want to experience visual freedom for the first time in the summer? Keep reading for some of the best things about having LASIK this summer!

Easier Vacations

Traveling as someone who wears glasses or contacts can be a struggle. Whether you’re off to a beach resort or a backpacking trip, glasses and contacts can cause a lot of stress.

If you’re camping, there’s no good way to safely change your contacts. If you have glasses, you risk losing or breaking them and leaving yourself blind for the rest of your trip.

When you have LASIK, you cut out an entire avenue of stress when you travel. Enjoy your vacations more by never having to worry about how you’ll be able to see.

More Opportunities for Sports and Recreation

Summer is a great time to go outside and get active. Whether you’re part of a sports team or you’re playing frisbee in the park, having LASIK can make it all easier.

You can be active without worries. That means no worrying about breaking your glasses or your contacts drying out. With LASIK, you can focus more on having fun.

More Summer Fashion Options

Sunglasses can be difficult if you wear glasses. Your options are pretty limited to clip-on sunglasses, transitions, or prescription sunglasses.

With LASIK, you can wear whatever sunglasses you want. Try out new, funky styles. Coordinate your outfits to go with a pair of big statement sunglasses.

And your fashion options extend beyond sunglasses! Hit the town at night with a killer look thanks to some intricate eye makeup. Have LASIK and stop restricting your style this summer!

Being Prepared for the Fall

If you have LASIK early in the summer, your eyes will be almost healed within a couple of weeks. It takes several months before your eyes have completely healed.

In a few months, your vision will also improve. While the results of LASIK are immediate, final results aren’t achieved until your eyes heal.

Over the summer, you’ll see your eyesight improve more and more each day until you’ve reached your best vision. If you have LASIK at the right time, this will happen right as fall is starting.

If you’re a college student or teacher, this means coming to class prepared. You can use your new and improved eyesight to have the best school year ever.

You’ll also be prepared for dry, cold weather without having to worry about your contacts. You’ll be able to see the leaves change and appreciate the beauty of fall without glasses or contacts.

Why wait any longer? Schedule a LASIK consultation with Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Sherman Oaks, CA!

Why LASIK Makes A Great Graduation Gift

Paul Stubenbordt on June 24, 2019

Graduation is an exciting time for young adults, but it can also be a bit daunting. If you have a child who’s about to graduate from college, they have plenty to worry about.

As a parent, you want to be supportive and set them off on the right path. There are a lot of ways to do this, but one great way to start is with the perfect graduation gift. You want something that will start them off on the path to adulthood with confidence.

So why not give them LASIK? This may sound like an unconventional gift, but it’s the gift that keeps giving!

Not convinced? Well, here are a few reasons why LASIK is the perfect graduation gift.

LASIK is Best When They’re Young

You can get LASIK at any age, but it’s most effective while the patient is still a young adult. At 21, most people have stable vision as the eyes have stopped developing.

This is a perfect time to have LASIK. You can give your child a better quality of life, just like that! No more glasses or contacts.

You Can Make Sure They See the Best Surgeon

One of the best parts about giving LASIK as a gift is being able to arrange who will perform the surgery. Your child may be grown up and ready to go out on their own, but you still want the best for them.

If you give LASIK as a gift, you can research available practices and pick the most reputable surgeon. And your kid will be more than happy to leave the paperwork to you!

You Can Save Them Expenses on Glasses and Contacts

Besides giving your child a better quality of life, you’ll also be saving them a lot of money. Since LASIK is permanent, you can save them more than the cost of the procedure!

After a decade or so, most LASIK procedures pay for themselves. How? Thanks to LASIK, there’s no more buying contacts, solution, or glasses to worry about.

College graduates aren’t exactly wealthy when they first get into the real world. Saving money in any form after graduating from college is a big deal!

LASIK Can Help With Their Career

After graduating, your child will start focusing on their long-term career goals. Maybe they’re lucky enough to already have a job lined up, or they might still be looking.

Either way, LASIK is a great way to give them an edge in the workforce. Many careers are better off because of LASIK.

This is the case whether you’re an athlete, marketer, or anything between. A keen eye is always appreciated in the workplace. And not having to worry about their vision can give your grad the confidence they need to succeed.

Thinking this sounds like the perfect gift? Contact Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA today to schedule an appointment! Give your new grad the edge they need to get ahead!

PRK VS. iLASIK Vision Correction

Paul Stubenbordt on February 8, 2019

If you’ve ever heard of LASIK, you know it’s a medical procedure that uses a laser to correct your vision. But LASIK is not the only kind of laser vision correction procedure there is. There’s also photorefractive keratectomy or PRK.

PRK was the first laser surgery designed to improve vision by correcting the shape of the eye. There’s also iLASIK, which is an even more advanced LASIK procedure.

Both PRK and iLASIK are offered at Berg-Feinfield Vision Correction. But what’s the difference between them?

Laser Vision Correction

With both LASIK and PRK, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea. Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism occur through light refraction.

When light refracts through the eye, it’s meant to hit one spot on the retina. Refractive errors occur if the shape of your cornea is incorrect.

By using a laser, a surgeon can remove areas of the cornea and reshape the cornea. By reshaping the cornea, any refractive errors are permanently corrected.

PRK

With PRK, the protective layer of the cornea called the epithelium gets removed. After the epithelium removal, the surgeon uses the laser to reshape the cornea.

Afterward, the eye heals and regenerates the epithelium. While the epithelium heals, your eye is vulnerable and needs great care.

iLASIK

Instead of removing the epithelium, LASIK reshapes the cornea by making a flap. This flap is made with a femtosecond laser. After flap creation, the flap is then lifted up.

This allows the area under the flap to be reshaped with the excimer laser. After the procedure, the flap is replaced and left to fuse back to the rest of the cornea. Because the flap acts as a natural bandage, the recovery time for LASIK is faster than PRK recovery.

Because Berg-Feinfield Vision Correction uses iLASIK, innovative wavefront technology maps your eye. This is a custom map of your eye, allowing the most precise measurements.

Like your fingerprint, your eyes have a prescription that’s unique to only you. iLASIK is more accurate, with most patients ending up with better than 20/20 eyesight!

Why Would You Get PRK?

If iLASIK exists, why get PRK? To get LASIK, your cornea must be thick enough for creating a flap. When creating the flap, a small amount of corneal tissue gets removed.

If your corneas are too thin, removing corneal tissue could result in complications. LASIK is an amazing procedure, but it’s not safe or right for everyone.

This is why procedures like PRK are so important! With PRK, the thickness of your cornea doesn’t matter. This is because the cornea doesn’t get reshaped.

Instead, the epithelium layer of the cornea is removed. If you don’t qualify for LASIK because of corneal thickness, you could qualify for PRK instead!

Considering LASIK? Find out if it’s right for you by contacting Berg Feinfield Vision Correction! We can schedule an evaluation at one of our locations in the Beverly Hills area.

Don’t you owe it to yourself to have the vision you’ve always dreamed of? With a LASIK consultation, you can start a visual journey and be on your way to clear vision!