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LASIK-LASER VISION CORRECTION PROCEDURE
AVAILABLE FROM LOCAL OPHTHALMOLOGY PRACTICE
By Melanie Metheny
Lasik (Laser Assisted Insitu Keratomielosis) laser vision
correction treatment has taken the nation by storm and is
now available through REGIONAL EYE ASSOCIATES. Ophthalmologists
Dr. Mark Mayle and Dr. Edgar Gamponia perform the procedure.
"The LASIK procedure process allows the reshaping of the
cornea in a 15 minute procedure that can be done at one
setting," said Dr. Mayle. "A flap is made in the cornea
tissue rather than scraping the front surface of the cornea.
With the flap lifted, the laser is used to correct the cornea,
then the flap is lowered to again cover the cornea."
The disadvantage of scraping the front of the cornea (PRK,
or photo-refractive keratectomy) is that the patient experiences
moderate to severe discomfort for 24-72 hours and if the
tissue re-grows too aggressively, the laser effect can be
lost. Where as, with the LASIK procedure, patients may experience
minimal to moderate discomfort, and the effect is permanent.
"The Federal Food and Drug Administration approved LASIK
surgery a few months ago although, the actual procedure
has been around for a while," continued Mayle. "LASIK corrects
nearsightedness and low degrees of farsightedness. It will
not correct the need for reading glasses, and for people
who fall outside treatment levels, there are other procedures
available."
He added, "The success rate is, 90% of those receiving the
surgery get to 20/40 or better. This rating means that those
people will be able to drive without glasses (or have an
acceptable rating), 70% reach 20/20 vision rating."
REGIONAL EYE ASSOCIATES is a full service provider in the
area of surgery for cataracts, crossed eyes, diabetic lasers,
plastic surgery of eyelids, and glaucoma surgery. REGIONAL
EYE ASSOCIATES is located in Morgantown at 1255 Pineview
Drive 598-3301 and can be found on the World Wide Web at
www.readocs.com.
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