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LASIK, LASEK or EpiLASIK

Refractive eye surgery (LASIK) utilizing excimer lasers has become one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people have had their vision corrected with LASIK. Surgeon Paul Cutarelli, M.D. has successfully performed more than 60,000 LASIK procedures, primarily in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Our patients represent all careers and lifestyles - health care workers, teachers, engineers, retirees, athletes, students - and all have found their lives made easier without dependence on contact lenses or glasses.

Are Your Eyes Suitable for LASIK?

For most people with healthy eyes, normal corneas and mild to moderate vision correction can be helped by LASIK surgery. People with mild to moderate nearsightedness (-1.00 to -12.00 diopters), farsightedness (+1.50 to +4.00 diopters), and astigmatism make the best candidates. Even if this is not the case, there are often other alternatives to consider.

This is an advantage of having your surgery done at Cutarelli Vision in Denver or Fort Collins, Colorado, in that your full examination and procedure is performed by a fellowship-trained corneal specialist specifically trained in diseases of the cornea.

Your LASIK Evaluation

If, after your screening, you are found to be good candidate for LASIK, LASEK or EpiLASIK, we will schedule you for a full evaluation with Dr. Cutarelli.

If you wear contact lenses, they must be removed prior to your evaluation with the surgeon, so that the cornea is allowed to relax to its natural shape prior to contact lens wear. Soft daily-wear contact lenses should be removed seven days prior, soft toric contact lenses should be removed 21 days prior, and rigid gas permeable contact lenses should be removed three weeks per decade of years prior. This process, though inconvenient, is a critical step in preparing for LASIK. If your corneas are not allowed sufficient time to return to their original curvature before LASIK, they will do so after the procedure, possibly altering the final results. Dr. Cutarelli will verify that your cornea curvature is stable before proceeding. During his exam, he will:

• Examine your eyes to make sure they're healthy.
• Measure the curvature of your cornea and pupil size.
• Map the topography of your eyes and measure corneal thickness.
• Ask you to sign an informed consent form after a thorough discussion of the risks, benefits, alternative options and possible complications.

To optimize your outcome, Dr. Cutarelli will perform your diagnostic testing using VISX CustomVue Wavefront technology.

Your LASIK procedure

Your eyes will be numbed with anesthetic drops. A device will be placed around your eye to keep you from blinking.

In the LASIK procedure, a device called a microkeratome will be used to cut a hinged flap of thin corneal tissue off the outer layer cornea. The flap will then be lifted out of the way.

For LASEK, instead of using a microkeratome, the most superficial layer of the cornea is loosened and moved aside like a sheet. LASEK can often be performed on people whose corneas are too thin for LASIK. PRK is similar to LASEK.

EpiLASIK uses the EpiEdge epikeratome to separate the superficial epithelium into a thin sheet, which is moved aside.

Dr. Cutarelli will use the VISX Star4 Laser to gently reshape the underlying corneal tissue. He'll then replace the flap, which will quickly adhere to the eyeball. There are no stitches. The LASIK surgery takes 5 to 10 minutes for each eye. Generally, both eyes are treated on the same day

After your LASIK procedure

You'll want to rest of the remainder of the day. Healing is relatively fast; most people return to work the day after their surgery. Temporary side effects may include dryness, scratchiness, sensitivity to light and haloes or starbursts around light. These effects diminish over time.

Risks and possible complications

LASIK is a very safe procedure, but as with all surgery, there are some risks. Learn more about LASIK risks from the Food and Drug Administration.

Schedule your LASIK, LASEK or EpiLASIK appointment at our Denver or Fort Collins office.

303-486-2020

Procedures

LASIK, LASEK, EpiLASIK

Refractive Cataract Surgery

Pterygium Surgery

Intraocular Lens Implants

NearVision CK

Intacs Prescription Inserts

Corneal Transplant

DSEK

Offering two convenient locations to serve you in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Paul Cutarelli and his refractive team guide patients through the most appropriate and effective procedures for their individual situations. Please call the following phone numbers for inquires, requests for further information, a brochure, or to arrange your free consultation: