LASIK is a two-stage process. The initial stage involves the creation of a “corneal flap,” a hinged tissue layer that is lifted back like opening the hood of a car. Stage two is the laser treatment utilizing the VISX Star S4 to reshape the corneal tissue beneath this flap and thereby improve the patient's vision.

Stage 1 historically has been performed with an instrument called a microkeratome, which consists of a handpiece and a surgical blade oscillating rapidly. The surgeon uses this instrument to make a very fine incision beneath the surface layers and create the corneal flap. This process is and has been a very successful one and flap complications in this office are extremely rare. However, on a national scale, when complications do occur in LASIK, many times they are related to the microkeratome and creation of the corneal flap. This is a very delicate process which requires extreme precision and extensive surgical experience. Even in the most experienced surgeon's hands, a degree of flap variability still exists with the microkeratome

As with all technology, the process of LASIK has evolved and changed since it started. Dr. Eisner is proud to offer the safest and most precise flap creation method available in the world today. The Intralase FS Laser System is a revolutionary technology that reduces the variability of flap creation with the manual microkeratome by using a computer-guided laser beam specifically designed for the corneal flap. There are two main advantages that have been shown thus far with Intralase:

• Safety. Although no procedure or technology is completely free of risk, by replacing the traditional approach with a silent, tiny beam of laser light, the Intralase FS laser dramatically reduces the variability and potential risk of flap complication historically associated with the microkeratome, creating an obvious benefit for all LASIK patients. In fact, more patients may now be candidates for laser vision correction due to the increased level of precision that was previously unavailable.
  
• Visual Outcomes. Because of the precision associated with the computer-guided beam and the consistency of flap dimensions, studies have shown and will continue to show that visual outcomes of LASIK, enriched with Intralase, exceed those of procedures performed with previous methods. At follow-up exams, patients prefer their vision and see better following laser vision correction with Intralase than with other technologies.

Intralase is rapidly becoming the KEY ingredient to predictably better vision. Dr. Eisner is proud to be in the select group of surgery centers nationwide that offer LASIK enriched with Intralase. It is also important to realize, though, that all technology is a tool in a surgeon's hand. It's important that technology is backed up with extensive experience. Dr. Eisner offers Central Georgia the most advanced technology options, which, most importantly, are backed up with his experience of over 11,000 procedures performed.