News Release 

Custom-Vue LASIK in Monterey

Recent approval of wavefront guided laser treatments (Custom-Vue), has created new options and some confusion for the prospective LASIK patients. I hope this brief summary will aid you in making your decision which procedure to chose at the Friedman Eye Center.

LASIK, the most popular form of laser vision correction was begun in 1988, as a procedure that evolved from roots of vision correction technology as far back as 1953! It was approved for use in the U.S. in 1996, and over 5 million Americans have had the procedure. In its present form, it yields excellent results; provided you are a carefully selected candidate, and the pre- and post-operative care is meticulous. The equipment we use, the VISX S4, has evolved since 1996, both in the hardware of the laser (e.g. eye-tracking device, variable spot size), and the software (e.g. large optical zones, blend zones). Despite these evolutions, patients treated in 1996 got excellent results from their treatments. Many of the improvements have simply permitted us to treat a larger pool of patients than we were able to in 1996.

You might consider Custom-Vue or Wavefront guided treatment, as the next upgrade. However, this upgrade differs from the others, as it uses a wavefront analyzer (WaveScan) to generate a special map of your eye's optical properties. It then allows the physician to create a laser treatment that is specific for your eye. This treatment is programmed into the laser, and the LASIK procedure is then performed in an identical way to standard LASIK. This process of generating the custom treatment is very time consuming and requires the added technology of the wavefront analyzer. The clinical studies that led to the FDA approval of this technology have shown superb results from this technology, with many patients obtaining final visual acuities better than 20/20. A very high percentage (93%) had at least 20/20 vision without glasses! In addition, the results have shown better night vision in many patients.

While all this sounds great, similar results are obtained with standard LASIK, and in fact, many patients might not notice the difference between the two types of LASIK in their final outcomes. Furthermore, due to the specific indications of FDA approval, not all patients can have the custom cornea treatment. During your consultation with Dr. Friedman, he will determine if you are a candidate for the newer custom treatment. In some cases, customized treatments can be done on eyes that have had previous LASIK, as an enhancement. In addition, we have several technical articles discussing this technology-but beware-they include a whole new language of technical terms such as: Zernike polynomials, trefoil, coma, prolate, etc. We at the Friedman Eye Center are excited to offer this advanced technology to patients, and will assist you in selecting the best procedure for your eyes.

For more information about Custom-Vue Lasik and its benefits for your
vision, see www.personalbestvision.com/patients

A New Option for Baby Boomers who struggle with life's details:

CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) in Pacific Grove  

Dr. Ronald A. Friedman introduces a new, non-laser procedure to correct vision. 

“CK is a safe, fast alternative to laser procedures, and can significantly reduce farsightedness, and your dependence on reading glasses.” 

If you’re over 40, your vision is inevitably changing. Many people who never wore glasses before are suddenly faced with corrective lenses to do things like drive at night, work on a computer or read a menu. It can be a frustrating encounter with the signs of aging. You’re not alone, though. 

Until now, laser procedures have been your only corrective option to reduce your dependence on glasses. However, many older patients may not be good candidates for laser treatment. That’s why Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is such an exciting option for patients. It’s a new procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy instead of a laser. 

How CK works

Farsightedness or hyperopia occurs when the shape of your eye is too flat. Light cannot be focused correctly on your retina, which results in blurry vision. CK builds upon 20 years of research into using heat to change the shape of your eye and correct “refractive errors.” With CK, controlled RF energy heats and shrinks the corneal tissue, which steepens the cornea. This steepening results in the desired refractive effect. RF energy has actually been used in medical practice since the 1950s, with current applications including treatments for prostate cancer or sports-related joint injuries. 

Simple, three-minute procedure

Because CK does not involve the cutting of your cornea, the procedure can be conveniently performed in the office using only a topical (eye drop) anesthesia. It can take as little as three minutes to perform. FDA Phase III Clinical Trials demonstrated an excellent safety profile, and high patient satisfaction.

Dr. Ronald A. Friedman has been performing vision correction procedures in Monterey since 1991.  “CK is very safe procedure, and will be a great option for many patients over the age of 40 who have enjoyed good distance vision their whole lives, and are now frustrated by their readers!”

For more information about CK, please click here.

Laser Vision Correction Seminars in Sand City

Learn about the latest laser techniques in vision correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Dr. Friedman uses the VISX Star4 laser; the only Excimer laser approved to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.