Imagine what it would feel like to open your eyes to a new, clearer world. A world where a beautiful white rose glistens in the sunlight, wet with the morning dew; every velvet petal and every lush green leaf bursting with the vibrant beauty of life. Imagine seeing your world through new eyes...

Imagine the feeling of soaring down the winter slopes, the wind in your face, your heart pounding, the adrenaline rushing through your body as you take on each curve and jump with grace and ease. Experience the freedom of soaring on the wind like a bird in flight, unhampered and unteathered, the world far below and nothing to stop you from going where you want to go. Imagine all this in a new clarity and vision... Imagine your world in a new light.

A new life on the horizon...

With Laser Vision Correction, you don't have to imagine anymore! Millions of people across the country and around the world in all walks of life have made the decision that has changed their lives forever. People in nearly all professions have chosen Laser Vision Correction -- firemen, police, teachers, athletes, military recruits, artists, lawyers, physicians, construction workers, airline pilots, computer programmers, celebrities, sports stars, college students -- and the list could go on and on!

Millions of Americans live with the constant burden of wearing glasses and contact lenses every day of their lives. Whether it's driving the car to work in the morning or watching a baseball game from the grandstand, good eyesight is essential to get the most out of life. Without clear vision, even performing simple everyday tasks can suddenly become difficult or even impossible.

A technological revolution...

The rapid advance of technology over the last twenty years has brought about a revolution in eye care, drastically changing the way we think about vision problems and the ways to restore clear vision. With computer-controlled precision down to the molecular level, the technology behind Laser Vision Correction is truly a scientific breakthrough.

Using a "cool" beam of ultraviolet light, the Excimer Laser literally breaks the bonds between molecules of corneal tissue, gently reshaping the cornea to allow light to focus clearly on the retina. This beam is so precise that the excimer laser can actually remove less corneal tissue than the width of a single human hair!

Now the safest, most predictable, and most widely accepted form of vision correction aside from glasses and contacts, Laser Vision Correction has completely revolutionized refractive surgery treatment. People are now living lives free of glasses and contact lenses everywhere around the world. Over 30 million people worldwide have had Laser Vision Correction with astounding results. In fact, in the United States around 1.5 million Laser Vision Correction procedures will be performed this year alone.

Convenience and affordability...

All of us can remember frustrating and embarrassing situations we've been in because of our glasses or contact lenses. Whether it's having to get through the day with blurry vision because of broken frames, or crawling around on the carpet searching for that nearly invisible contact that just popped out, glasses and contacts can at times be a big hassle. But the problems associated with contact lenses can go far beyond mere inconvenience. From the serious risk of dangerous infections associated with extended wear contacts to the astronomical cost of constantly replacing old lenses and cleaners, Laser Vision Correction may be safer and far less expensive than contact lens wear in the long run. In fact, you could pay several hundred dollars per year on proper contact lens care, adding up to thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

Now there is finally an affordable way people all around the world can start living life less dependent on or completely free from glasses and contact lenses. Just imagine all the things you have wanted to do all your life where your dependence on glasses has stopped you from fulfilling those dreams.

For the sports enthusiast, nothing can compare to the freedom of riding on the wind with nothing to hold you back. Or the feeling you get when you see that long drive land on the green with the first stroke. Scuba diving, rock climbing, hunting, tennis, bicycling -- whatever your game, you don't have to let your vision hold you back anymore!

Open your eyes to a new vision...

There are literally millions who today are living their lives in a newfound freedom. All these people were once like you -- wondering if Laser Vision Correction is the right choice. All of them made the decision and said "yes" to Laser Vision Correction.

Stop seeing the world through a veil -- open your eyes to a new vision! This breakthrough in technology, the culmination of decades of medical research, is finally a safe and effective alternative for millions of people around the world. Laser Vision Correction has changed so many lives in such profound ways, from improving one's self image to opening new opportunities never available before. Don't let anything hold you back from experiencing life as it was meant to be! You could join the millions who have already made the decision that has changed their lives forever.

Laser Vision Correction - LASIK and PRK...

Now that you've heard what a difference Laser Vision Correction has made in so many people's lives, we invite you to come along and discover how this amazing procedure works and how it could help you.

In order to understand how Laser Vision Correction could help you see better, let's first take a look at how your eyes work and what causes imperfect vision.

Or if you prefer, you can skip ahead to Laser Vision Correction - LASIK & PRK.

Someone once said that the eyes are the window to the soul. In the same way, it could be said that the eyes are a window for the soul -- the window between you and the world around you. Your eyes are your doorway to life.

You, like most people, depend on your eyes every single day. And in your busy life, you probably never stop to think just how important your vision is to you. How incredible it is to open your eyes and see!

You might be wondering, just how do your eyes, these marvels of God's creation, allow you to see? Let's take a look at the anatomy of your eye and discover how it all works.

The Human Eye...

How the eye works

Your eyes work on much the same principle as a camera. The iris, or colored part of the eye, acts as the shutter to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye. If there is too much light, the iris will cause the pupil (small hole in the center of the iris) to shrink; if there is too little light, the iris will enlarge the pupil to allow more light to enter. The cornea (the clear "window" at the front of the eye) and the lens, located behind the pupil, serve to focus light rays onto the retina in the back of the eye. The retina then transmits the "picture" to the brain, which is what actually "sees" the image.

Normal Eye Light rays focus on retina

Vision Problems...

Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with perfect eyes. For millions of Americans with vision problems, daily life can be difficult at times. If you have ever lost or broken your glasses or have lost a contact lens, you know how hard it can be just to get through the day without them. Even simple things we often take for granted can suddenly become difficult and can sometimes lead to embarrassing or even dangerous situations. Recognizing a co-worker or friend across a room, keeping an eye on your children at a playground, driving your car to work -- everyday situations that depend on your clear eyesight.

All of our eyes work the same, yet they can be different in many ways. The wide variety of color and shapes of eyes gives people variety and personality. But while some differences can be beautiful, others can lead to vision problems.

Myopia (Nearsightdness)

If the curvature of the cornea is too steep or the shape of the eye is elongated, light rays entering the eye come to a focal point before reaching the retina. Because the light is not focused directly on the retina, the resulting image is blurry and details are hard to make out, similar to taking a picture with a camera out of focus. To a nearsighted (myopic) person without glasses, objects viewed up close are more clear, but objects in the distance appear blurry. Myopia is an inherited condition usually starting in childhood and stabilizing in the late teens or early twenties.

Myopic Eye Light rays focus too early

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

If the curvature of the cornea is too flat or the eye is shorter than normal, light rays entering the eye are focused behind the retina instead of directly on it. The resulting image the retina sends to the brain is out of focus. However, most people do not notice vision problems with hyperopia until they start to get older -- around forty years of age. Although hyperopia is an inherited condition, children and younger people with hyperopia can usually see well up close and far away without glasses because the lens inside the eye can compensate for the misshapen cornea or eye. But with age, the muscles inside the eye can no longer make up for this focus problem. By their late thirties or early forties, most hyperopes have a hard time seeing things clearly both up close and far away and will have to use glasses or some other type of optical correction.

Hyperopic Eye Light rays focus too late

Astigmatism

When the curvature of the cornea is uneven (the cornea is more oblong instead of perfectly spherical), the eye cannot focus the light rays directly onto one point on the retina as a normal eye can; instead, the eye may focus the light rays on multiple points in front of and behind the retina. Because astigmatism makes it difficult for the eye to focus, the end result is blurred vision.

Presbyopia (Mid-Life Reading Crisis)

All people will eventually develop presbyopia. It's a natural process that your eyes go through as you age. Normally, as you reach your early to mid 40's you will start to have difficulty reading or looking at objects close-up with your glasses on. As your eye ages, the lens inside the eye has difficulty focusing, making it hard to read or see objects up close.

Presbyopia makes seeing near objects more difficult and also makes it more difficult to adjust from distance to near vision and back again. The word “presby” refers to something old or aging and “opia” refers to the eye or oculus. Many people refer to it as the "mid-life near vision crisis". In the past, presbyopia was believed to be caused by a general loss of flexibility in the crystalline lens (focusing lens) in the eye. More recently, however, ophthalmologists have begun to consider an alternate view of presbyopia. In the newer school of thought, the problem is thought to lie in the fact that the crystalline lens of the eye continues to grow (albeit very slowly) throughout our lives. As the lens grows, it crowds the surrounding ciliary muscles, making it more difficult for the lens to adjust itself for seeing near objects. Also, as we age the surrounding white coat of the eye (sclera) tends to stiffen and compress the underlying focusing mechanism resulting in restricted mobility.

A ray of hope...

If you are nearsighted or farsighted, with or without astigmatism, Laser Vision Correction may be able to help you finally see the world in a new light. Let's take a look at Laser Vision Correction at the Maddox Laser Eye Center and how it could help you.

Combining nearly three decades of experience with some of the most advanced computerized Laser Vision Correction technology available, we at the Maddox Laser Eye Center are committed to providing only the highest level of care to our patients.

Our excimer laser system has enabled us to expand our treatment parameters to most types of refractive error, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and mixed astigmatism. Read on to learn how Laser Vision Correction works and how it could help you.

Laser Vision Correction...

Since you're reading up on Laser Vision Correction, chances are you have to wear glasses or contacts to get around. You know how frustrating it can be to do even simple things like driving to work without your glasses.

There may be many reasons why your eye cannot focus images correctly. For most people who wear glasses, their vision problems are caused by the shape of the cornea (and sometimes the shape of the entire eye). The difference in shape prevents the light from being focused directly on the retina. (Please see How the Eye Works for more information.) By altering the shape of the surface of the cornea with the excimer laser, the light can be made to focus on the retina, thereby compensating for the misshapen cornea (or eye).

While many options have been available throughout the years, two methods have stood out to become the most effective and accepted ways of correcting vision -- LASIK and PRK.

LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis)

LASIK
Laser treatment is applied to
the bed of the cornea

LASIK is a relatively quick and painless procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism using the excimer laser. (Think of LASIK as PRK with a flap.)

First, a thin flap is made in the cornea using a device called a microkeratome. The flap is then carefully laid back and the excimer laser is applied to the corneal bed (flat surface of the cornea exposed after lifting the flap). The excimer laser gently ablates away a tiny amount of tissue from the bed of the cornea. (The amount of tissue removed can be less than the width of a human hair.) After the excimer laser ablation, the flap is laid back in place on the cornea. The flap will adhere to the bed of the cornea with a natural suction action. After about 24 hours the corneal flap edge will be sealed in place.

(To see LASIK in action, click on the image of the eye to the right - requires JavaScript)

Is LASIK painful?
The LASIK procedure itself is painless. There is also very little pain during recovery after LASIK in the majority of cases. LASIK patients are considered to be one of the most comfortable postop of all refractive surgery patients with most patients able to return to work the following day.

Can I have both eyes done at the same time?
More and more people are choosing to have both eyes done on the same day. Bilateral Laser Vision Correction has proven more convenient with less total recovery time than having each eye corrected weeks or months apart. Most people can have both eyes done on the same day.

How long will it take to notice a difference in my vision?
LASIK generally has much faster recovery time compared to PRK, with many patients receiving partial or full corrected vision within minutes to days after LASIK. Full stabilization of vision may take 6 weeks to 3 months or longer.

Are there any risks?
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur; but serious complications are rare.

Other questions?
If you have a question about LASIK or the Maddox Laser Eye Center that has not been addressed here, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Surface PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

Surface PRK
Laser treatment is applied to
the surface of the cornea

Surface PRK is a relatively quick and painless procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism using the excimer laser. PRK reshapes the cornea by ablating away tissue from the surface of the cornea. (Think of PRK as LASIK without a flap.)

First, a thin skin covering the cornea, called the epithelium, is removed. The excimer laser treatment is then applied to the surface of the cornea. The laser ablates away a very tiny amount of corneal tissue, reshaping the surface of the cornea. (The amount of tissue removed can be less than the width of a human hair!) This new shape to the cornea's surface changes the way light is focused onto the retina and should result in clearer vision.

(To see PRK in action, click on the image of the eye to the left - requires JavaScript)

Is PRK painful?
During the Excimer Laser PRK procedure, there is absolutely no pain. The majority of our patients have no significant discomfort or pain during the reepithelialization period (the period in which the corneal skin, or epithelium, grows back over the cornea). Often the only discomfort one has is the feeling of an eyelash in the eye. The few who experience pain say it can be from moderate to severe, and may last 2 to 3 days. We have found that with the use of oral pain medications, topical drops and a well fit soft bandage lens, the pain can be alleviated to a tolerable level for most patients.

Can I have both eyes done at the same time?
More and more people are choosing to have both eyes done on the same day. Bilateral PRK has proven more convenient with less total recovery time than having each eye corrected weeks or months apart. Most people can have both eyes done on the same day. However, if you do have both eyes done on the same day, it is recommended that you do not drive or do detailed visual work for several days after bilateral PRK.

How long will it take to notice a difference in my vision?
Because the thin corneal skin (epithelium) removed before PRK must grow back, it will normally take 1-4 weeks before vision becomes clearer following PRK treatment. Stabilization of vision may take 3 to 6 months or longer. The PRK procedure generally has an overall longer recovery time than LASIK, requiring the use of eyedrops for a longer period of time.

Are there any risks?
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur; but serious complications are rare.

Other questions?
If you have a question about PRK or the Maddox Laser Eye Center that has not been addressed here, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Next Step...

If you have decided that Laser Vision Correction might be right for you, or even if you just want to find out more about this revolutionary procedure, we'd be happy to help you along the way and answer any questions you have. We've compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions which may answer some of your concerns.

The Maddox Laser Eye Center...

We would like to be your choice for Laser Vision Correction. When choosing a surgeon to perform Laser Vision Correction, experience is of key importance. With over three decades of surgical experience and seventeen years of experience in Laser Vision Correction, including thousands of LASIK and PRK procedures, Dr. Bobby Maddox of the Maddox Laser Eye Center is recognized as one of the most highly trained and experienced Laser Vision Correction surgeons in the world.

If you would like to ask us a question about the services we offer, find out more about the Maddox Laser Eye Center, or schedule for an appointment, don't hesitate to give us a call at 915-881-8100 or send us an email.