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For Jeri Goldstein everything was a blur. Without her contact lenses she couldn't distinguish people, the scenes on television, the stars at night, and, generally, the world at large. Then, in March 1998, the 49-year-old California resident had eye surgery, and all that changed.

"After wearing contact lenses for 35 years, you can't imagine the freedom I felt," says Goldstein.

Goldstein underwent refractive eye surgery, an elective procedure intended to correct common eye disorders, known as refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (distorted vision). Although there are several types of surgical techniques being performed today to correct refractive errors, laser refractive correction is fast becoming the most technologically advanced method available, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco. Doctors say it allows for an unparalleled degree of precision and predictability.

"Laser surgery is the most exciting advancement in ophthalmology," says James J. Salz, M.D., clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the doctor who performed Goldstein's surgery. But surprisingly, he says, despite its sudden popularity, "only 20 percent of ophthalmologists in the United States today are trained in its operation."

The Food and Drug Administration first approved the excimer laser in October 1995 for correcting mild to moderate nearsightedness. With that approval, the agency also restricted use of the laser to practitioners trained both in laser refractive surgery and in the calibration and operation of the laser. Currently, the excimer laser has been approved for use in a procedure called photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), and, as of November 1998, for a procedure called laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).

LASIK PROCEDURE

LASIK has quickly become the procedure of choice by leading eye surgeons around the world for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Patients in record numbers all across the US enthusiastically embrace the LASIK procedure because of the dramatic results they enjoy, and their rapid visual recovery.

The word LASIK is actually an acronym that stands for Laser Assisted in-Situ Keratomileusis. It is also sometimes referred to as Laser Intra-Stromal Keratomileusis.

The dynamic LASIK procedure combines the precision of the Excimer laser with the benefits of Lamellar Keratotoplasty (LK), a procedure Dr. Tylock first introduced to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1993. Dr. Tylock performs the LASIK procedure by folding back a microscopic layer of the cornea, which allows him to use the Excimer laser to reshape the inner layers of the cornea without damaging the outer layer.

Once the Excimer laser treats the inner surface of the cornea, the protective flap of the cornea is gently replaced. No stitches or shots are used during the LASIK procedure, and most patients enjoy improved vision as soon as one day after the procedure.

LASIK is proving to be the most effective procedure available today for treating a wide range of myopic and astigmatic conditions. It is extremely surgeon dependent and requires extensive training and experience with the use of the microkeratome - the mechanical device used to create the protective flap under which the laser portion of LASIK is performed.

LASIK takes only minutes to perform and is virtually painless, with most patients reporting little or no discomfort during the procedure. At the Tylock Eye Care & Laser Center, LASIK is performed in the added comfort, safety and convenience of Dr. Tylock's on-site laser suite.

The Tylock Eye Care & Laser Center is proud to be among the first clinics in the United States to have offered its patients the expanded treatment capabilities of three Excimer lasers. Dr. Tylock is also proud of his extensive work with the FDA in conducting clinical trials on his custom Excimer laser designed specifically for the LASIK procedure. He has recently completed his clinical trials on his custom laser and is currently performing LASIK on the VISX Star Excimer Laser System.