Technology
Dr. Vitale and LASIK Surgery
Dr. Vitale has an interest in Lasik eye surgery and is certified to co-manage pre and post-op Lasik Patients, having undergone the procedure himself. L A S I K is a procedure that uses cool laser energy to reshape the cornea. LASIK candidates should be in good general health & present with a normal ocular health evaluation. The surgery, takes about five to ten minutes, with the laser application taking less than two minutes The cornea is a part of the eye that helps focus light to create an image on the retina. It works in much the same way that the lens of a camera focuses light to create an image on film. The bending and focusing of light is also known as refraction. Usually the shape of the cornea and the eye are not perfect and the image on the retina is out-of-focus (blurred) or distorted. These imperfections in the focusing power of the eye are called refractive errors.
There are three primary types of refractive errors: They are myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Persons with myopia, or nearsightedness, have more difficulty seeing distant objects as clearly as near objects. Persons with hyperopia, or farsightedness, have more difficulty seeing near objects as clearly as distant objects. Astigmatism is a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens of the eye. Combinations of myopia and astigmatism or hyperopia and astigmatism are common. In LASIK surgery, precise and controlled removal of corneal tissue by a special laser, reshapes the cornea changing its focusing power. LASIK is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, by using an excimer laser. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced.
optomap®
In our continued efforts to bring the most advanced technology available to our patients. JAMES R. VITALE O.D. is proud to announce the inclusion of the Optomap retinal exam as an integral part of your eye exam today.
Dr. Vitale is concerned about retinal problems including macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal holes or detachments, and systemic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure. These conditions can lead to serious health problems, including partial loss of vision or blindness, and often develop without warning and progress with no symptoms.
An Optomap exam provides:
- An eye wellness scan.
- An in depth view of the retinal layers (where disease can start).
- The ability for you to view your Optomap retinal image with Dr. Vitale during your exam.
- An annual, permanent record for your medical file, which gives Dr. Vitale comparisons for tracking and diagnosing potential eye disease.
The Optomap exam is fast, easy, and comfortable.
Insurance typically does not cover any advanced screening technology beyond the general eye exam. Dr. Vitale highly recommends the Optomap retinal exam for all patients. He will be performing the Optomap Retinal Exam as an enhancement to the general eye exam for a fee of $33.00.
The Optovue RTVue
This is an ultra-high speed, high resolution scanner used for Retina imaging and analysis. OCT machines are revolutionizing ocular scanning. Best uses include diagnosis of retinal edema, macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Zeiss Humphrey Field Analyzer
HFA 750. This machine is the gold standard of visual field analysis. Uses include detection of blind spots, glaucoma field defects, and most recently to measure a visual field loss caused by “drooping” eyelids or sagging lid tissue.