Colorado LASIK, LASEK or EpiLASIK
Hundreds of thousands of people have had their vision corrected with LASIK. Denver Lasik surgeon Paul Cutarelli, M.D. has successfully performed more than 50,000 LASIK procedures, primarily in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. He performs his LASIK exclusively at the Colorado LASIK Vision Institute in Glendale, Colorado, in the center of Denver.
Prior to your procedure
To ensure you're a good candidate for LASIK, LASEK or EpiLASIK you'll need a comprehensive eye exam by Denver LASIK surgeon Paul Cutarelli, M.D. or a referring doctor who will:
- Examine your eyes to make sure they're healthy.
- Measure the curvature of your cornea and pupil size.
- Map the topography of your eyes and measure corneal thickness.
- Ask you to sign an informed consent form after a thorough discussion of the risks, benefits, alternative options and possible complications.
To optimize your outcome, Dr. Cutarelli will perform your diagnostic testing at the Denver LASIK center using the Bausch & Lomb Orbscan II and/or VISX CustomVue Wavefront technology.
During your procedure
Your eyes will be numbed with anesthetic drops. A device will be placed around your eye to keep you from blinking.
In the LASIK procedure, a device called a microkeratome will be used to cut a hinged flap of thin corneal tissue off the outer layer cornea. The flap will then be lifted out of the way.
For LASEK, instead of using a microkeratome, the most superficial layer of the cornea is loosened and moved aside like a sheet. LASEK can often be performed on people whose corneas are too thin for LASIK. PRK is similar to LASEK.
EpiLASIK uses the EpiEdge epikeratome to separate the superficial epithelium into a thin sheet, which is moved aside.
Dr. Cutarelli will use the VISX Star4 Laser or the Nidek EC-5000 to gently reshape the underlying corneal tissue. He'll then replace the flap, which will quickly adhere to the eyeball. There are no stitches.
The surgery takes 5 to 10 minutes for each eye. Generally, both eyes are treated on the same day
After your procedure
You'll want to rest of the remainder of the day. Healing is relatively fast; most people return to work the day after their surgery. Temporary side effects may include dryness, scratchiness, sensitivity to light and haloes or starbursts around light. These effects diminish over time.
Risks and possible complications
LASIK is a very safe procedure, but as with all surgery, there are some risks. Learn more about LASIK risks from the Food and Drug Administration.
Denver LASIK Surgeon Paul E. Cutarelli, M.D. has improved the vision of more than 50,000 patients in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas.
Call 303-2020 PLUS to schedule an appointment at our Denver or Colorado Springs office.
| Procedures |
| LASIK, LASEK, EpiLASIK |
| Refractive Cataract Surgery |
| Pterygium Surgery |
| Intraocular Lens Implants |
| NearVision CK |
| Intacs Prescription Inserts |
| Corneal Transplant |
| DSEK |
