What are the Advantages of All-Laser LASIK? West Chester Eye Surgeon Explains

Dr. John J. DeStafeno uses Intralase^™ for his LASIK laser vision correction patients at Chester County Eye Care Associates as a way to enhance surgical precision.

West Chester, PA – According to an Eye Health Statistics report from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Americans spend over $15 billion in eyewear each year. For many individuals looking to reduce their dependency on contacts or glasses, LASIK surgery can present a solution. With recent technological advancements made to the field, many patients can undergo the procedure with less risks of side effects, explains John J. DeStafeno, MD, a cataract and LASIK surgeon at Chester County Eye Care Associates.

“Many patients do not tolerate contact lenses due to dryness, allergy, or repeated infections,” says Dr. DeStafeno. “In addition, glasses may reduce the field of vision or lead to image size differences that affect the quality of vision. Several, or all of these issues may be avoided after LASIK. LASIK has been shown to improve some quality of life measures due to the freedom from vision correction aids.”

At Chester County Eye Care Associates, Dr. DeStafeno offers vision correction procedures, as well as treatment options for eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and corneal disorders. According to Dr. DeStafeno, LASIK and other vision correction procedures surgically reshape the cornea to allow incoming light and images to focus on a precise point of the eye, resulting in improved vision for patients who have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

In a recent blog post titled, “LASIK Surgery: Which Method Will My Eye Doctor Use?” Dr. DeStafeno explains the two methods available to create the corneal flap: microkeratome, which uses a blade, or Intralase^™ (also known as all-laser LASIK), which uses a femtosecond laser. “Currently, I use the IntraLase^™ to create nearly all my corneal flaps,” says Dr. DeStafeno. “Femtosecond lasers have been shown to have an excellent safety profile, and are very accurate in creating the size and depth of the flap the surgeon desires.”

Femtosecond lasers work by focusing tiny pulses of light to produce precise surgical incisions. With the IntraLase^™ method, the pulses of light pass through the cornea to form a layer of microscopic bubbles at a preset depth and position determined by the surgeon.The corneal flap is then created when the surgeon separates the tissue from where the bubbles have formed.

As one of the latest surgical advancements in LASIK, Dr. DeStafeno says IntraLase^™ provides numerous advantages, including:

• Increased safety and comfort for the patient
• Increased precision for the surgeon
• Often suitable for patients with thin corneas
• Little risk of flap irregularities
• Corneal flap typically bonds more securely, resulting in faster healing and more resistance to injury

However, as with all surgical procedures, Dr. DeStafeno emphasizes that patients should fully understand the risks and side effects associated LASIK. “The most severe risks are infection, scarring, and corneal shape irregularities that can lead to a loss in correctable vision,” he says. “These risks are low but every patient needs to be informed. Side effects include dry eye, glare, and haloes. These [side effects] have been reduced with newer technologies and our greater understanding of the procedure.”

About John J. DeStafeno, MD
Dr. John DeStafeno, part of the eye care team at Chester County Eye Care Associates, earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at Long Island Jewish Hospital and a two-year Clinical/Research Fellowship in Cornea, Refractive, and External Disease at the Duke University Eye Center, Duke College of Medicine. A specialist in cataract, cornea, and LASIK surgery, Dr. DeStafeno is a certified surgeon for the VISX^™ Excimer laser, the Wavelight^® Allegretto Excimer laser, and the IntraLase^™ laser. Dr. DeStafeno is actively involved in clinical study, and has been recognized by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery for his teaching and research. He was also recognized as one of the “Top 250 Premium IOL Surgeons” by Premier Surgeon magazine.

For more information about Dr. DeStafeno and Chester County Eye Care Associates, visit chestercountyeyecare.com or facebook.com/ChesterCountyEyeCare.