Although bladeless is the more recent technique and has become the first choice with many surgeons, it doesn’t mean traditional Lasik is obsolete. Both forms have their pros and cons, and whichever you and your surgeon choose, you should expect an excellent outcome.

What Is Bladeless Lasik?

With so many different technologies and brandings, Bladeless Lasik comes in multiple names, including Intra-Lasik, iLasik, and Z-Lasik.  At Will Vision & Laser Centers, we offer Wavefront Guided Bladed Lasik, Custom Intralasik, and Bladeless Lasik, all performed by board-certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Will.

There is much information online about Bladeless Lasik, and if you do some online searching, you will discover that the procedure is defined by the use of a femtosecond laser to create a thin corneal flap.

What is a Bladed Lasik?

Bladed Lasik employs a microkeratome instrument to create the corneal flap. During your consultation, one goal for Dr. Will is to determine which device will be best suited for your eyes. Although many surgeons use only the more advanced bladeless technology, there are actually instances when a microkeratome instrument is a better approach than a femtosecond laser.

Blade vs. Bladeless Lasik Effectiveness

Both types of LASIK are useful for improving vision. The femtosecond laser can generate a slightly enhanced quality of vision with fewer complications, but this is not true for everyone. It is important to know that the best choice for each person depends on various factors, like their general and visual health.

One study suggests bladeless Lasik may be the best choice. By exploring clinical results, researchers have determined that 68 percent of the bladeless patients achieve 20/16 vision on the first day after the procedure. The study concluded that the results remained similar at one-week and one-month after surgery.

Which Treatment is Best For You?

From a medical viewpoint, all Lasik procedures are safe and highly effective. Dr. Will’s objective is to match you with the Lasik technique best suited for your eyes. We believe it’s vital to maintain as many options as possible so we can offer our patients treatments that are customized to their unique circumstances.

A one size fits all solution doesn’t exist with LASIK surgery. It is the purpose of your eye exam and consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for one of our multiple options.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey to better vision, contact Will Vision & Laser Centers today. We’re excited to welcome you into our practice and for you to “See the Difference.”

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Wearing glasses can be cumbersome, expensive, and an overall annoyance when you are dependent on them to simply see clearly. This has led many to seek a more permanent solution to correct their vision, with LASIK being the most appealing alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses. 

Your vision correction may be a bit more complicated, having also been diagnosed with astigmatism; a condition that causes you to your vision to be blurry or distorted regardless of how close or far they are.  Thankfully, Lasik can fully correct astigmatism in addition to farsightedness or nearsightedness. 

What Is Astigmatism?

While not a disease of the eye, but rather simply a refractive error caused by having an asymmetrical shape of the cornea; the translucent dome-shaped part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil and anterior chamber. The cornea is responsible for most of your eye’s focusing power by, but has a fixed focus and relies mostly on the lens of the eye to change how clearly you see objects that are close or far away. 

Astigmatism commonly accompanies traditional myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) that glasses or contact lens wearers are typically diagnosed with. Astigmatism is an added blurriness to your vision that is similar to the aforementioned eyesight conditions but is not due to the size or shape of the eye itself but rather an irregular shape of the cornea, creating multiple points of focus at the back of your eyes leading to objects not being in focus at all distances.

Understanding Vision 

To better understanding how astigmatism affects our vision, we have to first understand how our eyes are affected by various changes to its shape and the passing of light through eye structures.

Light enters the eye through the pupil and works much like the shutter of an automatic camera to better allow us to adjust to brighter or darker conditions. In dark environments, our pupils open wider to allow more light to reach our retina, and conversely our pupil contract smaller in brighter environments to allow less light to reach the retina. In addition to this, light rays entering the eye also need to be bent into a precise point of focus on the retina found in the inner back of the eye, and if this doesn’t happen correctly, our vision is blurred. 

The use of eyeglasses or contact lenses sharpens the focus by bending light and changes the way it enters the eye. The following are the most common eye conditions affecting vision.

Hyperopia: Occurs when the eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat, causing light rays to reach a point of focus just beyond the retina. This causes you to see blurry images when up close and you are considered farsighted; only able to see images clearly when far away from you. 

Myopia: Occurs when the eyeball is too long or when the cornea curves too sharply, causing light rays to achieve a point of focus before they even reach the retina. This causes you to see blurry images at a distance and you are considered nearsighted; only able to see images clearly when they are close to you. 

How LASIK Corrects vision

LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileuses) is a type of laser refractive surgery that can precisely cut and change the shape of the cornea to better bend the light entering the eye and improving vision. 

By altering the shape of the cornea you can effectively reduce the use or completely eliminate the need for glasses or contact lens.  

There are several different types of LASIK surgeries, including Custom IntraLASIK, Wavefront-Guided Bladeless LASIK, and Bladeless LASIK. All LASIK procedures are performed with a specific type of laser, with how they are used and complementary procedures implemented being the main differentiator. If you are ready to stop wearing glasses or contact lenses, LASIK may be just what you are looking for. To schedule a personalized consultation in the Vancouver, WA or Salem, OR areas, look no further than Will Vision & Laser Centers, Call (877) 542-3937 today!

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Pregnancy is a time of change, not just for your body, but for the eyes too. Is LASIK safe during pregnancy? Is it best to wait for your refractive eye surgery until after baby arrives? Learn about pregnancy’s impact on vision and how LASIK surgery fits in. 

Pregnancy and the Eyes

No need to question your sanity if your vision starts to get a little fuzzy during pregnancy. Vision changes are a common and well-known symptom of pregnancy. One reason for vision changes is fluid retention. Hormones cause the body to retain more water, thus the bloating, puffiness, and swelling of pregnancy. Fluid retention can also happen within or behind the eyes, slightly changing the shape of the cornea, and modifying how light passes through the eye. This change in shape leads to a change in vision. 

Pregnancy causes dry eyes, usually due to a decrease in tear production. Many women struggle with wearing contact lenses during pregnancy and revert to using eyeglasses. Pregnancy also causes light sensitivity in some women. Sunglasses can help. 

If you have glaucoma, diabetes, or other health conditions that affect the eyes, talk to your doctor. Pregnancy can worsen the symptoms of these and other conditions. Regular visits with your eye care professional are recommended throughout pregnancy and after delivery. 

When Pregnancy Vision Changes Indicate a Problem 

Distorted or fuzzy vision during pregnancy isn’t usually a problem. Most women will return to their pre-pregnancy eyesight shortly after delivery. Some vision changes can indicate a more serious problem. Here’s what to watch for:

• Temporary vision loss
• Blurry vision
• Seeing flashing lights, spots, auras, or other visual distortions
• Light sensitivity

These symptoms could be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can cause death if left untreated. Let your doctor know about all vision changes, and if you experience a dramatic shift or vision loss, emergency medical care may be needed.  

Why We Don’t Recommend LASIK During Pregnancy

Changes to the cornea’s shape are one of the biggest causes of pregnancy related vision problems. Interestingly, LASIK surgery also changes the cornea’s shape. While pregnancy causes the cornea to become misshapen, LASIK smooths and rounds it to restore clearer vision. 

Let’s think of the eye as a ball. Ideally, the eye is round, shaped like a baseball. A rounded eye allows light to pass through and reflect without error, creating a clear picture. Round is ideal, but if you wear glasses or contacts, your eye is probably shaped more like a football. The way your brain interprets vision relies on an a perfectly rounded eye, so when the shape is off, so is the vision. We call these vision distortions refractive errors. 

LASIK changes the shape of the cornea, rounding off the front of the eye, and restoring that ideal baseball-like shape. 

Things get tricky during pregnancy though. The extra fluid in the eyes has changed their shape. We could perform LASIK and create a rounded eye, but after pregnancy, the eye will change again, as fluid dissipates and the eye reverts to its usual shape. If we alter the eye during pregnancy, your vision may be negatively affected after pregnancy. LASIK is best suited for permanent vision changes, on patients with stable vision. Pregnancy is a time of change and not ideal for eye surgery. 

There is also the issue of the medications used during and after LASIK surgery. Developing fetuses are so sensitive. Due to the risk of birth defects, many medications aren’t tested on pregnant women, and the effects of these medications on a growing baby are often unknown. During pregnancy it is best to play it safe and avoid medications that aren’t necessary, including the medications used for LASIK surgery.  

If you’re pregnant, LASIK can wait. Wear glasses or contacts during your pregnancy and then contact us after baby is born to learn more about LASIK surgery in the Pacific Northwest.

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Close your eyes for a minute and imagine a life free from glasses or contacts. Odds are, if you wear glasses, you’ve imagined this very thing hundreds of times. At Will Vision and Laser Centers, we create clear vision for our patients throughout the Pacific Northwest, turning LASIK dreams into reality. Clear vision is just the start. After your procedure, you may be surprised by the many ways that LASIK can improve your quality of life.

Today we’re sharing ten ways that LASIK changes lives for the better. This list is long but is in no way exhaustive. What unexpected benefits will you discover after your laser vision correction?

See the Numbers on Your Alarm Clock at Night

Even something as simple as knowing the time in the middle of the night is more difficult when you rely on glasses and contacts for vision correction. LASIK makes it possible to roll over, look at the clock, and fall right back asleep, no late-night fumbling needed.

Easily Participate in Water Activities

Water and contacts don’t mix. Contact lenses can be dangerous when swimming or participating in other water sports activities. Glasses and water can be a real pain. Our patients love being able to fully enjoy swimming, water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, and all the other water activities that were once a challenge.

Get Active

Living an active lifestyle can feel impossible when you’re struggling to see clearly. LASIK gives our patients the freedom to climb mountains, play basketball, dance boldly, lift weights, run marathons, and so much more. Live the active lifestyle you’ve always to live, without slipping glasses or contacts that pop out unexpectedly.

Save Money

LASIK is an investment, but it is one that pays off in time. You’ll save money when you no longer need to buy glasses, contacts, contact lens solution, etc. And who can put a price tag on clear vision? We think it’s priceless.

Enjoy Rainy Weather

We experience all four seasons here in the Pacific Northwest, and with LASIK, you can actually enjoy them. No more foggy glasses on a cold winter day or rain-spattered spectacles. Rain, sun, or snow, enjoy the weather!

Travel with Ease

LASIK makes jet setting easier. Catch some ZZZs on the plane or pack light without worrying about contact cases and cleaning supplies. With LASIK, there are no worries about broken glasses overseas or lost contact lenses. See the world with crystal clear vision after your refractive surgery procedure.

Enjoy Cheap Sunglasses

Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures that bring a lot of joy. While we love designer shades, there’s something special about an inexpensive bargain pair. No worries about losing them, breaking them, or replacing them. When your shades don’t have to be prescription, you can wear what you like.

Get Ready in Minutes

Speed up that morning routine. Cleaning glasses and putting in contacts takes precious time, and on a busy morning, every second counts. LASIK can cut down your get ready time, and your wind down time at night too.

Reduced Allergy Symptoms

Contact lenses have been known to increase allergy symptoms, especially eye allergy symptoms. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, LASIK can provide must needed relief during allergy season.

Achieve Your Best Possible Vision

Using the most advanced technologies available, Dr. Will is often able to achieve better vision correction using LASIK than is possible with glasses or contacts. Many of our patients enjoy 20/20 vision after their procedures and some experience even better results. Glasses and contacts can help you achieve good vision, while LASIK can create great vision.

Live your best life with LASIK surgery. Call Will Vision and Laser Centers at 877-542-3937 to schedule your consultation at our Salem, OR or Vancouver, WA location.

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What’s the greenest choice for vision correction: glasses, contacts, or LASIK surgery? If we had to choose, we would vote LASIK. Learn why laser eye surgery is a green choice and get our best tips for improving vision while saving the planet.

Why LASIK Is a “Green” Choice

Glasses and contacts create waste, waste that piles up in our landfills and is rarely biodegradable. Think about those daily contact lenses. They may be small, but 1 pair a day plus packaging over 365 days, can equal a lot of trash. And that’s just in a year. Imagine how much trash a lifetime of contact lenses can create.

With LASIK, there are no packages and there is no trash, just better vision. Will Vision and Laser Centers use the latest technologies available and we have one of the most skilled LASIK surgeons in the Pacific Northwest. This means better results for our patients. Many will no longer require glasses or contacts.

See the Beauty of Our Earth, No Glasses Necessary

Many of our patients are outdoor enthusiasts. Living in the Pacific Northwest, it’s easy to understand why. Oregon and Washington are two of the most beautiful states in the country, and our patients can easily get to the mountains or the beach on any given weekend. Our beautiful summer weather makes it a pleasure to hike, climb, bike, swim, and explore. And LASIK makes it easier to enjoy all of these activities.

Let’s face it, glasses and contacts make life more difficult. A hike on a misty morning means foggy, spotted glasses. Sweaty glasses slip off the nose. Water sports are nearly impossible with corrective lenses. LASIK eliminates the hassle of glasses and contact lenses, allowing our patients to get out and enjoy our beautiful planet. We can’t think of anything greener than that.

LASIK Surgery in the Pacific Northwest

Will Vision and Laser Centers are proud to be one of the top laser vision centers in the Pacific Northwest. We have offices in both Vancouver, WA and Salem, OR, conveniently serving patients throughout the area.

We offer some of the best technologies available including:

• Wavefront-Guided LASIK
• Bladeless LASIK
• Objective vision testing with iDesign

Additionally, we use some of the best lasers available including the Advanced iFS Laser and the Zeiss VisuMax Femtosecond Laser. Our technology combined with Dr. Will’s experience and expertise creates some of the best LASIK results in the area. We are able to treat patients that are not eligible for LASIK at other practices and achieve 20/20 vision or greater for many patients. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, call us at 877-542-3937 to learn more about your options for laser eye surgery.

Make the green choice this year and trade those glasses in for better vision. In many cases, LASIK surgery can eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses. LASIK surgery is a better choice for you and for our planet too.

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What qualities should you look for in a LASIK surgeon? Price? Convenient location? Popularity? These qualities are big selling points for many people, but they shouldn’t be the primary factors guiding your LASIK decision. Learn how to choose a LASIK surgeon below.

What Qualifications Should I Look for in a LASIK Surgeon?

Choosing a LASIK surgeon is a big decision, one with lasting effects on your vision. How do you choose the right surgeon? We encourage patients to take their time investigating potential surgeons. Look for the following qualifications.
• Experience- It takes time and practice to hone the art of refractive surgery. Dr. Will has performed more than 65,000 laser refractive procedures. He has had the opportunity to lecture at every major scientific meeting on laser vision correction and is a respected instructor in the U.S. and throughout the world.
• Proven Technology- Laser technology has come a long way in the last few decades. Top surgeons need to adapt to the changes, bringing the best technology into their practices. We evaluate each technique we use, using peer reviewed studies, and only bring the best options to our patients. As a result, our results are often superior to the level of correction patients could receive using glasses or contacts. We can help many patients that have been told LASIK isn’t possible by other providers.
• Superior Care- We work with each patient, listening to concerns and answering questions. You, the patient, are our priority.
• Patient Education- What do you hope to achieve through LASIK? When you meet with us, we’ll discuss your goals, your concerns, and your questions. We’ll provide you with essential clinical and procedural information so you can make an informed choice about your care.
• Affordability- Don’t choose your LASIK provider based on price alone. Many surgeons offer cheap LASIK, but you get what you pay for. To make LASIK affordable for every patient, we offer 0% financing, payment plans, and one set price for your entire procedure. The price you pay will include all fees and any needed pre or post-operative appointments. If you find any of our advanced vision correction solutions delivered with comparable modern technology at a lower price, let us know and we’ll match it. When you average the cost of your LASIK procedure over the next decade, you’ll be paying less than a dollar a day.
Improve Your Vision with LASIK
If you’re thinking about LASIK, come see Dr. Will, a leading refractive surgeon and one of the best options for LASIK surgery in the Pacific Northwest. Say goodbye to glasses and contacts! Call today.

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