There are many paths to better vision. At Will Vision and Laser Centers, we realize that a one-size-fits-all approach to improving vision doesn’t work. Our patients all come to us with vision complaints, but that is where the similarity ends. Some struggle with nearsightedness, others astigmatism. We help patients to resolve dry eye and age-related vision changes, too. Dr. Will is one of the most successful refractive surgeons in the Pacific Northwest and uses a customized approach to help each patient achieve their best vision. 

LASIK is certainly the most popular vision correction surgery in the U.S., but it isn’t the only option. Some patients will achieve better results by choosing one of these LASIK alternatives.

Wavefront Guided Bladeless LASIK

Technically a type of LASIK surgery, our Wavefront-guided bladeless LASIK procedures blow traditional LASIK results out of the water. This procedure builds on the vision-improving benefits of LASIK surgery by incorporating the latest technologies in refractive surgery to achieve a better result. 

How is Wavefront-guided bladeless LASIK better than traditional LASIK? 

• Gold Standard in Laser Vision Correction– We use the latest technologies available in refractive surgery to provide our patients with the gold-standard approach during every treatment. The Wavefront technology we’re currently using is the only type of LASIK trusted by the U.S. military. 
• Pre-treatment Mapping for Enhanced Results– Dr. Will prides himself on creating some of the best refractive surgery results in the Pacific Northwest. We use iDesign mapping technology to create a pre-treatment plan for your procedure. This extra step helps us to achieve better-than-expected results for many of our patients. 
• More Accurate- The Wavefront-guided technology that we’re currently using at Will Vision and Laser Centers is five times more accurate than previous generations of Wavefront technology and twenty-five times more accurate than glasses or contact lenses. 
• Less Injury and Trauma- A bladeless LASIK procedure means less damage to the eye and reduced trauma. For many patients, this means a shorter recovery period and less postoperative dry eye. 

Trust your vision to Wavefront-Guided bladeless LASIK, a superior alternative to traditional LASIK procedures.

Wavefront Guided PRK

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is the original vision correction surgery. It was performed long before LASIK and offers some patients unique benefits. This procedure can be performed on patients with a thinner cornea, including those that do not qualify for traditional LASIK surgery. PRK is also a superior option for patients who are at risk for direct trauma to the eye. This procedure is popular amongst patients that participate in contact sports like boxing.

PRK recovery is longer than LASIK recovery, but the results are just as good as LASIK.  With a few specific advantages, some of our patients benefit greatly from having this option for vision enhancement.

Learn more about these LASIK alternatives by contacting Will Vision and Laser Centers. With offices in both Salem, OR and Vancouver, WA, we can conveniently serve patients throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The post 3 Lesser-Known LASIK Alternatives that Could Be Better for You appeared first on Will Vision.

LASIK surgery has come a long way since the first LASIK procedure was performed in the early 1990s. At Will Vision and Laser Centers we focus on offering the best in laser vision correction to our patients. Today, let’s learn about some of the technologies we use to enhance your vision through LASIK surgery, including Wavefront technology.

Better Technology, Better Results

Even if you’re not a math expert, we’ve got a formula for better vision that is pretty easy to understand: Best Technology, Best Results, Best Vision. By using the best available technologies, we can deliver surgical outcomes that are far superior to the vision results and safety metrics of glasses and contacts. We take technology seriously and strive to always bring the best to our patients. We are pioneers in the field of refractive surgery, adopting new technologies that we carefully vet using peer reviewed data. If it is the best, we bring the technology into our practice. If not, we simply don’t use it. Our technology is one of the reasons that we’re the premier LASIK provider in the Pacific Northwest.

iDesign- 25 Times More Accurate and 100% Objective

One of the most nerve-wracking parts of LASIK surgery is the eye exam before the procedure. Many patients worry that they’ll make a mistake when choosing the clearer picture between two images. With iDesign, we can achieve measurements that are 25 times more accurate and 100% objective. It also helps us measure and treat sources of vision loss that are not correctible using glasses or contact lenses.

iDesign is a newer technology, introduced in 2013, and isn’t seen in most laser centers. Its sensitive sensor technology is identical to that in the James Webb Deep Space Telescope to be launched by NASA in 2018.  It’s accuracy is truly “out of this world”. Many LASIK providers still use older CustomVue technology. iDesign is 5x more accurate than CustomVue and is very robust and capable of measuring more complex focusing errors. Its advanced treatment algorithms are based on years of data, enabling us to produce a superior visual result. You may get great results with CustomVue, but don’t you want the best possible results?

Bladeless LASIK- The Gold Standard in LASIK Surgery

We introduced “Bladeless LASIK”, also known as all-laser LASIK to the Pacific Northwest in 2002, shortly after its FDA-approval. Bladeless LASIK is the gold standard in laser surgery, recognized around the world as the safest and most advanced method for LASIK surgery. With Bladeless LASIK, only laser energy is used for the entire procedure. In traditional LASIK, a steel microkeratome was initially used to cut open the eye’s surface and laser energy was used to shape and refine the eye.

Bladeless LASIK provides safer, more accurate LASIK results. Most of the severe, sight threatening LASIK complications are eliminated with Bladeless LASIK and we are able to achieve high levels of vision correction. Virtually all patients achieve 20/20 vision after surgery, with the majority of patients achieving even better results. Many patients enjoy 20/15 and even 20/12.5 vision after surgery. Using a laser to cut the corneal flap prepares the eye surface for the second portion of the procedure by creating a smoother corneal bed.

The U.S. Military only allows Bladeless LASIK for its pilots because it is the best. It is safer, more effective, and carries fewer risks.

Wavefront Guided LASIK- Because No Eye Is Perfect

In a perfect world, all eyes would be completely round. In reality, most eyes are football shaped, with some degree of simple or complex aberrations. This causes vision to appear smudged or blurry, rather than crisp and clear. Wavefront technology was created to help us visualize the aberrations in your eyes. We use the iDesign system to visualize any wavefront aberrations and Bladeless LASIK to correct those aberrations. The result is Wavefront guided Bladeless LASIK – the best vision correction option available.

Before Wavefront technology was available, LASIK surgery could only correct simple refractive errors, providing a similar effect to wearing glasses or contacts. By using Wavefront technology and advanced vision correction options like iDesign and Bladeless LASIK, we can do much more than just correct vision. We can improve vision, often beyond naturally occurring levels. We can produce LASIK results that are superior to results that can be achieved using glasses or contacts.

Before your LASIK procedure, we’ll create a 3-D Wavefront map of your eye. This map will show the areas where you have refractive errors. By using this map, we can treat each refractive error individually.

We are proud of our leading edge technology! Come in and let us show you the possibilities for better vision. Schedule your consultation today at Will Vision and Laser Centers, the premier LASIK provider in the Pacific Northwest.

The post Discover Better Vision with Wavefront Technology appeared first on Will Vision.

“Don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes.” We’ve all been told a time or two that sitting too close to the TV can ruin vision. Does it really? How close is too close to the TV? Find out below.

Does Sitting Close to the TV Damage Your Vision?

When you watch TV, sit where you like, close or far. Although you’ve probably heard that sitting too close to a TV can damage your eyes, this isn’t based in science or reality. The truth is, you can sit close to the TV without any permanent eye damage. Sitting close to the TV isn’t dangerous to your health or your vision.
If your child is sitting close to the TV, this could be a sign of a vision problem. Often children with nearsightedness sit close to TVs and computers, or hold books right in front of their eyes. If you see your child struggling to see, take them to an eye doctor and get their vision checked. The TV didn’t cause the damage, but it may help you to discover the problem and get your child the help they need.

Do TVs Cause Eye Strain?

Although TVs don’t cause permanent eye damage, they can cause eye strain, a common condition that can lead to eye pain, blurry vision, and headaches. Eye strain often occurs after too much screen time, but is more frequent when you’re sitting close to the TV or watching from an odd angle. Eye strain can be irritating, but don’t worry, it’s only temporary.
If you do get eye strain, the treatment is simple. Most eye doctors recommend resting the eyes. Turn off the TV, step away from the computer, and let your eyes rest. The problem should resolve within a few hours or after a good night’s sleep.

My Vision Is Declining. What Can I Do?

If you’ve experienced changes in your vision, come see us. The problem isn’t your TV, but odds are, it’s very treatable. We can treat virtually all patients with near or farsightedness and astigmatism. Imagine the freedom of being able to enjoy life without the need for glasses or corrective lenses! If your vision isn’t where it should be, don’t blame your TV. Come and get state-of-the-art Lasik instead.

Contact us today and discover your best vision.

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