The high-tech devices your ophthalmologist uses have truly revolutionized eye care. From laser surgery to lenses implanted in your eyes, we’ve come a long way from Ben Franklin’s bifocals.
Leading ophthalmologists, like Dr. Andrew Shatz at SightTrust Eye Institute, use a combination of these tools to provide optimal eye care and vision correction. Patients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Boca Raton, Plantation, and Palm Beach can enjoy pain-free cataract surgery and permanent vision correction thanks to the skillful application of these cutting-edge technologies. Here is a short guide to help you understand two of the most modern tools your ophthalmologist may use, and the options available to you.
LenSx Cataract Laser: Precision Elimination of Cataracts in Plantation, Boca Raton, and Weston
Traditionally, steel or diamond blades were used to make incisions in cataract surgery. Today, your ophthalmologist can cut with even greater control and less disruption to the eye using the ultramodern LenSx laser.
Conventional cataract surgery dissolves cataracts with ultrasound energy. Although effective, this process can have undesirable side effects, such as temporary swelling or blurred vision.
A skilled ophthalmologist like Dr. Shatz can use the LenSx cataract laser to precisely open the capsule around the cataract, and then carefully carve the cataract itself into tiny pieces. This allows patients in Palm Beach and surrounding areas to avoid the unpleasant side effects of ultrasound energy.
Dr. Shatz also uses the LenSx cataract laser in conjunction with intraocular lenses for permanent astigmatism correction. After years of seeing life through spectacles, residents of Miami and Fort Lauderdale can clearly enjoy the spectacle of life without glasses.
Phakic Intraocular Lenses: A LASIK Alternative in Palm Beach and Miami
LASIK surgery frees many people from wearing glasses or contacts. However, your ophthalmologist may have told you that you are not a candidate for LASIK. Whether you are extremely nearsighted, or your corneas have been thinned out by an earlier LASIK or PRK procedure, you may be looking for an alternative way to dispense with your corrective eyewear.
Dr. Andrew Shatz uses phakic intraocular lenses (P-IOLs) in patients with astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Unlike LASIK surgery, implanting P-IOLs does not require corneal reshaping. If your vision ever changes drastically, P-IOLs can be replaced to accommodate those changes. That said, the lenses themselves will not wear out. These types of lenses are extremely safe, having been used for decades.
Dr. Shatz was one of the first ophthalmologists in America to implant the Artiflex Toric Lens, a type of P-IOL which improves both astigmatism and nearsightedness. In cases where patients were unable to undergo LASIK or PRK surgery, he’s gotten FDA approval to provide these state-of-the-art lenses.
As you can see, your ophthalmologist can offer you many choices for vision correction that weren’t available just a few short years ago. Call SightTrust Eye Institute at (877) 878-7890 to learn more about how these vision correction technologies can enhance your life.
