Chicago Ophthalmologists

Do You Recommend ICL or PRK For Thin Corneas?

I am 28, have a prescription of -3.0 (right) and -2.0 (left) and a central corneal thickness of 470 in both eyes which I understand too thin for Lasik. I have been to two separate eye clinics and one advises PRK and one ICL. The surgeon recommending ICL says they believe my corneas are too thin even for PRK and that ICL would be much safer. ICL does sound like the more pleasant option but is twice the price! Any advice?

Your two options of PRK or ICL are both reasonable.  Personally, I would want PRK as you have a relatiely low prescription.  I usually reserve ICL for prescriptions over -7 or so.  With respect to risk, the chance of blindness from PRK is about 1 in ten million vs 1 in ten thousand for ICL.  PRK is dependent on your having a completely normal cornea.  Many surgeons who recommend ICL at such a low prescription do not perform PRK.  If you are still concerned, seek one more opinion from someone that you know does a lot of laser vision correction.  LASIK is also a possibility, depending on your LASIK surgeon's skill and technology.

Mark Golden, MD

Chicago Ophthalmologist

Is PRK Recovery Longer for Those with Nystagmus?

I've been approved for PRK surgery, my doctor sent me to the eye center for additional testing to make sure the laser could track my eyes because of the movement. My question is, will my recovery time be longer because of the constant movement of my eyes? It's imperative that I be able to drive and be able to work on the computer the week after the surgery.

I have treated many people with nystagmus that had excellent results.  Fortunately when the eye moves one direction, it also moves back and the movement balances itself out.  The added benefit that I have seen on many, but not all patients, is that their nystagmus is less after surgery.  Your healing time should be about the same as anyone else.

I strongly disagree with Dr. Chynn that laser volume is an indicator of a competent surgeon.  Certainly there is no reason to have surgery from a surgeon who has only done a few hundred cases as there are so many experienced surgeons available.  On the other hand, probably the worst surgeon in the history of laser vision correction did a tremendous amount of surgery and harmed hundreds of people.

I suggest that you go to a surgeon who you trust, who takes care of you personally and answers all of your questions.  Will he/she be available for postoperative care and for problems?  I think that it was fine that your surgeon consulted others.  It shows a doctor who cares more about his patients than his reputation.

Mark Golden, MD

Chicago Ophthalmologist

What is the Most Advanced Eye Surgery Tech Currently on the Market?

What is the most advanced eye surgery tech currently on the market?

This is a broad question, but I believe that Custom WaveFront technology is the most interesting technology in ophthalmology.  It measures the visual aberrations across thousands of points on the cornea.  The image is then processed by a computer so as to treat each area of the cornea distinctly giving the best possible vision.

Mark Golden, MD

Chicago Ophthalmologist