New LASIK Technology Featured With the First WaveLight Refractive Suite in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - May 15, 2014) - On May 2, 2014, Darcy Wolsey, MD -- Director of LASIK Services at The Eye Institute of Utah -- was the first surgeon in the state of Utah to perform custom wavefront guided LASIK using the latest state-of-the-art WaveLight® Refractive Suite (Alcon, Inc.), the fastest refractive surgery platform in the United States. Doctors at The Eye Institute of Utah have been providing advanced vision care to Salt Lake City and the Intermountain West for more than 30 years. With the introduction of the advanced laser technology system to the practice, the team of refractive surgeons in Salt Lake City will be able to better predict outcomes and further customize surgical treatments for each patient.

The advanced laser system combines the EX500 Excimer Laser and the FS200 Femtosecond Laser, connected by a swiveling patient bed and advanced internal data sharing network to increase speed, precision, and patient comfort during laser vision correction surgeries such as LASIK and PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy). Not only is the WaveLight® Refractive Suite faster than any commercially available laser system on the market, it also integrates advanced data transferring technology that allows the lasers to communicate patient specific data so the surgeon can utilize the information real-time, during surgery.

Some of the advanced features of the WaveLight® Refractive Suite include:

• Multi-dimensional eye-tracking technology allows for precise and dynamic pupil tracking, helping reduce the risk for patient fixation fatigue¹
• Online Optical Pachymetry for increased safety -- measuring corneal thickness in real-time while laser is working
• PerfectPulse Technology® allows for a larger treatment zone, which can reduce the potential for nighttime glare after surgery²
• Networked lasers allow for a higher degree of customization and efficiency
• Innovative engineering reduces the potential for stromal dehydration of the cornea, flap shrinkage, and sensitivity to eye movements.²
  
  

"We are excited for the increased level of precision, speed, and patient comfort that the WaveLight® Refractive Suite will bring to our LASIK and PRK patients. With some of the advanced treatment profiles available, our team of surgeons will now be able to further customize treatments to ensure patients receive the best possible vision outcomes," explains Darcy Wolsey, MD, corneal and refractive surgeon at The Eye Institute of Utah.

Future enhancements with the WaveLight® Refractive Suite include the much anticipated ability to perform topography-guided LASIK custom treatments for patients who would benefit from an even more customized treatment technology. This technology was cleared by the FDA in September of 2013 and an article published by Eyewiretoday.com on 11/14/2013 stated:

"WaveLight users will be able to perform individualized ablations based on the unique topography of patients' eyes, according to a company news release.

Unlike wavefront techniques that address aberrations in the entire optical path, corneal topography utilizes topographic measurements based on a patient's corneal irregularity. This is beneficial for patients and for surgeons who want to provide a more personalized treatment than with conventional LASIK systems, according to Alcon. The treatment incorporates refractive error of the eye and corneal irregularities into the custom laser ablation for myopia and myopic astigmatism."

¹ Mrochen M, Wüllner C, Krause J, Klafke M, Donitzky C, Seiler T. Technical aspects of the WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser. Journal of Refractive Surgery. 2010;26(10):S833-S840.

² Table 16 RMSH rates of decrease FDA PO20050/S004 7/26/06 Section i Patient Satisfaction via QOV.

About The Eye Institute of Utah

The Eye Institute of Utah is a comprehensive eye care facility in Salt Lake City, serving the Intermountain West for more than 30 years. The world-class doctors at The Eye Institute of Utah offer clinical and surgical treatments in a variety of specialties including standard and custom cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, advanced glaucoma treatment, corneal transplants, ICL surgery, retinal disease, dry eye therapies and eyelid and facial plastics. The Eye Institute of Utah was one of the first and largest office-based surgical centers in the state of Utah and continues to be a leader in the eye care industry. The Eye Institute of Utah physicians are available for interview upon request.

To learn more about The Eye Institute of Utah, please visit theeyeinstitute.com or facebook.com/theeyeinstitute.

To view the original source of this press release, click here: http://www.theeyeinstitute.com/press-release/new-lasik-technology-featured-with-the-first-wavelight-refractive-suite-in-utah/