LASIK

Visual Disorders

At Westwood Ophthalmology, we treat all types of visual disorders:

Myopia or nearsightedness

Myopia or nearsightedness occurs when an eye is too long for the cornea's curvature. Instead of focusing on the back of the retina, light rays focus further forward, producing a blurred image. "Nearsighted" people can see near objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the most common refractive condition, and occurs to some extent in most eyes. Astigmatism occurs when the curvature of the cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball. Images appear distorted or tilted because of unequal bending of light rays. Astigmatism can occur alone or in conjunction with myopia and hyperopia.

Hyperopia or farsightedness

Hyperopia or farsightedness occurs when an eye is too short for the cornea's curvature. Light rays focus behind the retina and, as a result, a blurred image is produced. With hyperopia, distant objects are seen more clearly than near objects.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is part of the normal process of aging. With time, the natural lens of the eye loses some of its flexibility. This usually occurs between ages 40 and 50. Everyone experiences presbyopia; for some it is sooner, some later. Those who never needed glasses before may require reading glasses. Laser surgery cannot correct presbyopia. However, monovision can be achieved with laser correction which is one successful option to deal with presbyopia.

Of these visual disorders, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism can be effectively corrected with LASIK surgery at our leading New Jersey practice, Westwood Ophthalmology. Serving the entire Pascack Valley region of northern New Jersey, each LASIK surgeon at our vision correction center is a skilled professional committed to your safe, effective experience. If you live in the northern New Jersey area and believe you are a LASIK surgery candidate, contact Westwood Ophthalmology in beautiful Bergen County, New Jersey.

Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery is an effective way to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses and improve or completely rectify a refractive error. With the tremendous advancements in laser technology and procedures over the past decade, there are now many different laser eye surgery options available to patients with visual disorders. Our doctors routinely perform the most effective modern refractive surgeries, including PRK, LASIK, iDesign Refractive Studio, and Bladeless/All Laser LASIK at our Westwood, New Jersey, practice, serving Bergen County and beyond.

Sometimes the jargon used in laser vision correction can be very confusing. LASIK, iDesign Refractive Studio, PRK, LASEK, “flying spot” and “all laser LASIK” are all terms you may have come across. We will try to clarify some of the more common terms here.

LASIK

LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is a laser surgical procedure effective for correcting all ranges of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, except extremely high degrees. LASIK combines corneal flap surgery with excimer laser reshaping for dramatic results and rapid visual recovery.

To perform LASIK, an eye surgeon at our Bergen County, New Jersey ophthalmology practice first anesthetizes the eye with eye drops. The LASIK surgeon then creates a flap of tissue on the surface of the eye using a precise femtosecond laser called the Intralase.  This clear, hinged flap is lifted up and folded open, to the side or the top of the eye, exposing the inner corneal tissue.

Our New Jersey LASIK surgeon then positions the patient's eye under the excimer laser which is computer programmed to remove microscopic layers of tissue from the internal part of the cornea under the flap. During LASIK surgery the cornea is reshaped to allow the light rays to focus more clearly on the retina. After the tissue has been removed, the surgeon places the flap back in its original position where it heals into place with no stitches. The edges of the flap heal over in 12 to 48 hours, with the entire flap gaining adhesive strength as it continues to heal in the following weeks and months. For each eye, the laser application time is usually less than one minute and the whole LASIK procedure is around 15 minutes.

It is important that LASIK surgery candidates maintain realistic expectations about the outcomes of the procedure. Not all patients will achieve 20/20 vision after the operation. As with any surgery, the success of the procedure directly correlates with the skill of the surgeon. Each talented LASIK surgeon at Westwood Ophthalmology in Bergen County, New Jersey performs hundreds of successful procedures annually. If you live in or near northern New Jersey, trust a LASIK surgeon at our vision correction center to give you the best vision possible.

If you believe you are an ideal LASIK candidate and live near the Pascack Valley region of northern New Jersey, contact a qualified LASIK surgeon at Westwood ophthalmology to find out if LASIK surgery is right for you. We are as committed to your optimal vision as you are.

Intralase, Bladeless or All Laser LASIK

Using advanced femtosecond laser technology, the Intralase laser "cuts" a corneal flap in LASIK surgery. This technique offers increased precision and safety over traditional microkeratome or blade technology. Some data has demonstrated that visual results may be superior with the Intralase. Contact us to see if Intralase LASIK can help give you the best results possible.

iDesign Refractive Studio

In addition to the skill and experience of your LASIK surgeon, the technology used during the surgery can also have an effect on the success of the procedure. The eye surgeons at our northern New Jersey LASIK vision correction practice have access to the most advanced LASIK technology available.

Using today's state-of-the-art-technologies, Westwood Ophthalmology offers iDesign Refractive Studio.  This is the latest refractive surgery technology designed by Johnson and Johnson that integrates corneal topography and wavefront guided information to correct vision in a very personalized manner.  Corneal topography and custom wavefront scans are performed with a special scanner that provides 25 times more precise visual assessments than conventional measurements. High precision is important since everyone has corneas that are uniquely shaped.  All of these features result in a higher percentage of patients achieving 20/20 vision after laser vision correction.

Iris Registration

In order to provide optimal results, iDesign Refractive Studio is often combined with Iris Registration technology. This technology allows the computer to identify certain landmarks on an individual's iris and align the treatment accordingly. By "locking in" on the rotational position of the eye, our surgeons can treat your prescription with increased precision. High levels of astigmatism and iDesign Refractive Studio benefit the most from this technology.

PRK

Not every patient is an ideal LASIK candidate. When a prospective LASIK surgery patient first comes to our Pascack Valley area office in northern New Jersey, a qualified LASIK surgeon meets with the patient to discuss all feasible options and determine what procedure will give the patient the best results while minimizing risks. Generally, if any of the following conditions apply, the patient may not be an ideal LASIK candidate:

• Thin Cornea
• Irregular Cornea
• Scarred Cornea

If the eye surgeon at our northern New Jersey practice decides LASIK surgery is not an appropriate procedure, he may recommend Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). PRK is an effective laser vision correction surgery that involves sculpting the surface of the cornea to effect improvement in vision instead of cutting a hinged flap in the surface and reshaping the inner corneal tissue as with LASIK.

PRK is an effective alternative to LASIK for many people. Although visual acuity returns more slowly with PRK than with LASIK, PRK ultimately produces the same improvements in vision. PRK also significantly reduces the risk of flap complications.

If you live in or near the Pascack Valley region of northern New Jersey, we invite you to contact our LASIK vision correction center to find out if you are eligible for vision correction surgery.

What To Expect

At Westwood Ophthalmology, our primary concern is patient comfort and safety. We strive to make every patient feel comfortable and relaxed throughout all stages of the procedure. We promise to do anything within our power to make your experience a positive one.

The Surgical Experience

Once you have been determined to be a good candidate for laser vision correction, you will be scheduled for preoperative testing. If you have been wearing contact lenses, you will asked to stop wearing them for at least two weeks prior to this exam; this period may be longer if you wear rigid lenses or if the doctor feels it is necessary to ensure a good result.

All our procedures are conveniently performed at our office in Westwood, NJ. You will be given a scheduled time to arrive at the laser center where the staff will take additional measurements and prepare you for your procedure. You will have an opportunity to ask any final questions prior to being brought in to the laser suite. You will receive anesthetic eye drops so that you will be comfortable during the procedure. The entire process takes approximately 8-10 minutes per eye. Your surgeon will then have you rest with your eye closed and re-examine you prior to being discharged from the laser center. You will need to make arrangements for transportation, as you will not be allowed to drive home.

If you have any other questions regarding what to expect before, during, or after laser vision correction, contact our renowned LASIK center in Bergen County’s Westwood, New Jersey, serving the entire Pascack Valley region.

LASIK FAQ

Laser vision correction is a life-changing decision that can effect positive changes in every area of your life. At Westwood Ophthalmology, we want each patient to feel confident and secure in their decision to have a vision correction procedure, which is why we emphasize patient education and direct, honest communication between the surgeon and the patient.

Here's some of the more common questions posed to our doctors and staff about laser vision correction:

Testimonials

"I love it…The entire experience of having laser vision correction at Westwood Ophthalmology was great.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!"

J.R.

"Westwood Ophthalmology is simply a class act. The best around."

I.Z., MD Woodcliff Lake

"Dr. Chin and the staff at Westwood Ophthalmology made the whole LASIK experience very pleasant for me."

M.D.

"Dr. Chin made this scary procedure into a relaxing event. He was very caring and attentive, which made everything run smoothly. I am absolutely thrilled with my 20/20 vision."

G.S.

"The staff was wonderful and Dr. Chin was fabulous, professional yet caring and a perfectionist when it came to the surgery. This is a wish come true."

D.R.

"Thank you Dr. Chin and staff for correcting my vision and making my quality of life much better."

S.A.

"Thank you, Dr. Lee, for getting me out of contacts and glasses after LASIK.  It's so awesome to see 20/20 right when I wake up each morning."

C.L.

"Getting laser correction was the best decision that I’ve made…This is the first time I remember really “seeing” life since the first grade. Thank you."

B.P.

"Dr. Chin is so meticulous that it gave me confidence that everything would proceed with the highest standards."

S.F.