I’ve been asked recently for several Lasik surgeons in the New York City area that have been recommended to me.
The list below is only a small sampling of the available surgeons in this area…

		Pamel Vision and Laser Group™	(800) 805-2010 (212) 355-2215	115 East 61st Street #1B (Between Lexington and Park) New York, New York 10021
		The Laser Vision Center of Weill Cornell	(212) 486-2020	121 East 61st Street New York, New York 10021
		The Cornea & Refractive Surgery Practice of New York	(212) 838-1053	425 Madison Ave Suite 1501 New York, New York 10017
		LASIK Center of Manhattan, New York	(800) 984-2020	345 East 37th Street (Corner of First Ave) Suite 301 New York, New York 10016
			(888) I-WANT-2020 (888) 492-6820 (212) 741-8628	69 West 14th Street (& 6th Ave.) 2nd floor New York, New York 10011
		Michelle Rhee, MD	(800) 926-2015	420 Lexington Ave New York, New York 10170
		Chief of Refractive Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital	(800) 503-EYES (800) 503-3937 (212) 744-6370	750 Park Avenue (at 72nd Street) New York, New York 10021
		Drs. Mark G. Speaker and Jodi L. Abramson	(877) LASIKNY (877) 527-4569	115 East 57th Street 10th Floor New York, New York 10022

How would you compare the visual outcomes using IntraLASIK with those of traditional LASIK?
While Intralase was developed to reduce flap-related complications and bring reassurance to patients, surgeons also noticed that Intralase provided better quality of vision. In a 2004 study conducted by Dr. Dan Durrie, MD, 97% of patients achieved 20/20 after IntraLASIK, versus 78% with traditional LASIK. A Diamond Vision study also showed that four times less IntraLASIK patients needed enhancements as compared to traditional LASIK patients.

How does Intralase create a flap?
Intralase delivers pulses of infra-red light at the precise depth and location needed by the surgeon. Each of these spots creates a “bubble”, which together carve an ultra-precise corneal flap.

I have seen several advertisements for “bladeless” or “all Laser LASIK.” Is this IntraLASIK?
The INTRALASE FS Laser is the only laser that provides IntraLASIK. And only IntraLASIK combines the versatility and convenience of LASIK with the safety and micron-level precision of a truly all laser surgical approach. IntraLASIK should not be confused with surface ablation procedures such as PRK, LASEK or LTK. Patients should ask for Intralase by name.

What is the new FS30 Intralase upgrade?

Diamond Vision is one of a handful of practices around the country to offer the new FS30 Intralase upgrade. It is only natural for Diamond Vision to upgrade earlier than other practices, because it was the first to offer CustomVue Intralase in the New York metropolitan area in 2003, and therefore already has the most experience with Intralase.

The new FS30 Intralase upgrade brings:

• a faster treatment, increasing comfort for the patient
• smaller spots placed more tightly together, resulting in an easier flap lift
• more spots that each carry a lower level of energy, resulting in less temporary inflammation of surrounding tissues, for a more comfortable post-operative experience
• even more pinpoint precision in the formation of the corneal flap, for even clearer vision.

Is IntraLASIK more expensive?
Advanced technologies are usually more expensive for surgeons to employ in their practice. Most patients agree that the added level of safety and assurance offered by IntraLASIK is well worth the marginal, additional cost.

Original article provided by Diamond Vision of New York - a highly respected lasik practice with many celebrity clients

Like any surgery, LASIK has its risks. But new research suggests that in the long run, LASIK may be safer than wearing contact lenses.

William Mathers, M.D. and colleagues at Oregon Health and Science University’s Casey Eye Institute (Portland OR) reviewed several large studies of complications from contact lens wear and LASIK surgery.

The results of their study, published in the October 2006 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, include:

• Contact lens wearers have approximately a 1-in-100 (1.0%) risk of developing a serious contact lens-related eye infection over 30 years of use.
• Contact lens wearers have about a 1-in-2,000 (0.05%) chance of experiencing significant vision loss as a result of a contact lens-related eye infection over the same period.
• The chance of LASIK surgery causing a significant loss of vision is about 1-in-10,000 (0.01%).

The researchers admit that a direct comparison of the risks of contact lens wear and LASIK are difficult because surgical complications are almost immediate whereas the risks associated with contact lenses accumulate over years of wear. The risks associated with long-term use of contact lenses also increase when lenses are worn overnight or are not cleaned and disinfected properly.

“Almost everyone who wears contact lenses violates some principal of proper use at some point,” says Dr. Mathers. But contact lens-related infections can occur even when proper lens wear and lens care guidelines are followed, he warns.

The researchers acknowledge that their risk estimates of contact lens wear and LASIK surgery are “approximate and subject to change.” They also point out that further advances in laser surgery and contact lens technology should make both approaches to vision correction even safer in the future.

Currently, about 20 to 25 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses. Approximately 1 million Americans each year choose to have laser vision correction surgery.

New York Lasik Eye Editor’s Note: Proper lens care and avoiding overnight wear or excessive hours of daytime lens wear are key factors in managing the risks associated with contact lenses. But several studies have shown that most contact lens wearers wear their lenses too long and/or don’t care for them properly. For these individuals in particular, LASIK may indeed be a safer vision correction option.

Source article:

1. Mathers W, Fraunfelder FW, Rich LF. Risk of LASIK surgery vs contact lenses. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006; 124:1510-1511.