Dr Boothe and the LASIK procedure
Since 1987, noted cornea specialist William A. Boothe, M.D., has brought the world into focus with more than 82,000 LASIK laser vision correction procedures. Dr. William Boothe has personally performed more VISX Custom 3-Dimensional Wavefront Customized laser vision correction procedures than any other surgeon in the world and w A native Texan, Dr. Boothe received his undergraduate degree from
LASIK (Laser in-situ Keratomileusis) is used to correct or reduce moderate to high levels of nearsightedness (myopia), astigmatism and farsightedness (hyperopia). The traditional LASIK procedure is relatively simple: a keratome is used to gently create a flap in the cornea. In IntraLASIK, the flap is created by a computer-controlled, precision laser. The flap is lifted and an excimer laser is then used to shape the remaining tissue. The flap is then carefully set back into place, forming an occlusive seal by osmopic pressure. Osmopic pressure holds the flap in place and allows it to heal very quickly, without stitches!
You may be a good candidate for laser vision correction if you:
- Are at least 18 years of age with - 1 to - 12 diopters of nearsightedness.
- Have healthy eyes that are free from severe retinal disorders, corneal disorders, or any eye disease that would make the surgery contraindicated.
- Have had stable vision for the past year.
- Have no abnormalities that could affect healing (such as severe diabetic eye disease).
- Are fully informed about the risks and benefits of laser surgery compared with other available treat without your glasses or contact lenses. Do you think that you’re a good candidate for Dr Boothe LASIK laser vision correction but still want to learn a little more and get a professional opinion? To help determine if LASIK is right for you,
“The interesting thing about Dr. William Boothe is the fact that he spends so much time with you as a patient. He really seems to care about you; he talks to you and walks you through the procedure. He wants you to feel comfortable and afterwards, he wants you to know that he cares about you as a patient and as a person.”
Dewey Leggett, Attorney
Dr. Boothe believes that the groundwork for a successful LASIK procedure begins during a patient’s initial consultation. During your screening, we will gather general information about your eyes.
We will need to know about your lifestyle: a history of glasses and contact lens wear, the physical activities you participate in, your experiences and limitations with glasses and contact lenses; how you expect your life to change after the LASIK procedure. We will discuss expected results with you and answer any questions you may have about your eyes, LASIK, IntraLASIK or other corrective laser procedures. Dr. Boothe will need to know if you’ve had any prior surgical procedures on your eyes, what type they were and when they were performed.
THE LASIK & INTRALASIK PROCEDURE
Every day when surgical procedures are scheduled, Dr. Boothe personally calibrates the VISX Star S4 and the Alcon LADARVision 4000 excimer lasers before the first patient arrives. He continuously re-calibrates the equipment throughout the day to ensure its accuracy.
On the day of your surgery, you should arrive about half an hour before your appointment. Dress comfortably.
Step by Step:
- After your eye has been numbed with local “eye drop” anesthesia, Dr. Boothe gently places an eyelid speculum to hold your eyelids open. You will remain awake and comfortable throughout the procedure.
- Dr. Boothe will then begin the first step of any LASIK procedure by creating a corneal flap. A Hansatome microkeratome (a surgical blade) is used to create the corneal flap in traditional LASIK. For IntraLASIK, the IntraLase FS laser is used in lieu of the microkeratome for this first step.
- The flap will be pulled back gently from the center of the cornea to allow the excimer laser access to the underlying tissue.
- To begin the second step of the LASIK or IntraLASIK procedure, Dr. Boothe will ask you to look at a target light. The cool light of the excimer laser will reshape the corneal tissue, correcting your vision as you look into this light. You will hear clicking sounds as each microscopic layer of tissue is vaporized. Every excimer laser system Dr. Boothe uses for laser vision correction has an eye tracker that ensures the accurate placement of each laser pulse. This process will last from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the amount of correction necessary.
- When the procedure is complete, Dr. Boothe will meticulously replace the corneal flap and gently smooth it into place.
- You will be given medicated eye drops, and instructed in their use.
You may notice that your vision will be a little blurry immediately following your LASIK or IntraLASIK procedure. This bluriness will gradually clear in the next few hours. We suggest that someone drive you home so that you may relax for a while. Once you arrive home, it is preferable that you stay awake and continuously put in artificial tears to keep your eyes moist.
Will the procedure hurt?
The LASIK procedure causes little or no discomfort and no needles are used. Instead, Dr. Boothe uses anesthetic drops to numb the eye just before surgery begins. After a LASIK procedure, the patient may feel a slight gritty sensation for a few hours, but should be quite comfortable after taking a short nap. Dr. Boothe can prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort during recovery.
Results vary with each individual. In a recent study, 98 percent of patients treated for nearsightedness and/or astigmatism with the VISX STAR Excimer Laser System saw well enough to pass a driving test without glasses almost immediately. The patient’s vision should be improved immediately after treatment. Some patients may experience small vision changes during the first several months, which is a normal occurrence as the cornea reaches its stable state. After the patient's eyes have stabilized, Dr. Boothe will evaluate the results. If they are less than optimal, the patient may be eligible for an enhancement at no additional charge within three to five months of the initial procedure.</p>
How soon can I return to work?
Some people go back the day after treatment. Two days are suggested. Most of Dr. Boothe’s surgeries are performed on Friday so that patients can return to work on Monday.
Are there any risks or side effects with LASIK?
Yes, as with any surgery, laser vision correction involves a degree of risk. Dr. Boothe gives patients the information regarding those risks and answers any questions that they may have. Results of clinical studies indicate that the chances of having a vision-reducing complication are less than 1 percent. There have been no reported cases of blindness resulting from LASIK.
Is it expensive?
Compared to the cost of glasses, contact lenses and lens care over the course of 10 years, LASIK is a cost-effective alternative. Patients have clear, natural vision with reduced (or eliminated) dependence on glasses and contacts. While some medical plans may cover the cost, most still consider this an elective treatment and therefore do not pay for the procedure.
“I cannot express to you in words what a dramatic difference vision correction has meant to me in life. I have been in glasses or contact lenses for roughly 20 years and I cannot tell you what a pain it is to be as active of an athlete as I am and wear corrective eyewear. Just waking up in the morning is a whole new experience now that I don’t trip over four pieces of furniture and a couple of toys trying to find my glasses. As for the golf course, my vision is now better after vision correction that it was before my corrective eyewear. I will probably never be as great as Tiger Woods on the golf course but my vision correction will allow me to make my own little dent in
“The personnel in your office is second to none and should be constantly commended. They are very professional and knowledgeable about a topic that would frighten most people. After all, we have only one set of eyes that must last a lifetime. Your professional staff made me feel extremely comfortable about the entire procedure. My hats off to them!
“As for you, YOU ARE THE MAN! It has been a pleasure being one of your patients as well as getting to know you and your family. I wish you continued success in your business as well as with all your endeavors. I’m sure it must be a neat feeling going home at night (probably very late!) knowing you have touched so many lives with your professionalism and talents. Thanks again for everything.”
Bruce Smith,
PGA Golf Pro
2000 NTPGA Player of the Year
Why should I consider IntraLASIK?
Traditional LASIK is an excellent procedure. In fact, Dr. Boothe has performed more than 80,000 LASIK procedures with the traditional approach and technology. While the risks of complications are very minimal, all surgery carries some degree of risk. Now, an advanced laser technology is available that significantly reduces the risk of complications. It is known as IntraLASIK. This is the first all-laser, blade-free LASIK procedure. It further reduces the risk of complication and gives patients a new level of confidence in vision correction surgery.
How is IntraLASIK different from traditional LASIK?
LASIK surgery is actually a two-step process. First, a flap of corneal tissue must be created and then folded back. The cornea is the transparent, dome-like structure that covers the iris and pupil of the eye. By creating a flap in the cornea, Dr. Boothe is able to perform the laser vision correction treatment on the inner layer of the cornea, which practically eliminates any patient discomfort and allows for rapid visual recovery.
Traditionally, Dr. Boothe created the corneal flap with a handheld mechanical device that has a metal blade called a microkeratome. Although this method worked well, the performance of these devices could be unpredictable. Although LASIK complications are extremely rare, this mechanical device is frequently the source for many of the reported complications.
With IntraLASIK, Dr. Boothe uses the precision laser to create the corneal flap. The accuracy of the laser (+/- 10 microns) is unparalleled by any other technology in vision correction surgery. This advanced technology gives Dr. Boothe unprecedented control, and even allows him to customize the corneal flap for each individual patient. Because of its consistent accuracy, IntraLASIK now makes it possible to treat many patients who were once dismissed as candidates for laser vision correction due to thin corneas.
Is IntraLASIK safer?
IntraLASIK is considered by many to provide a safer approach to laser vision correction surgery. This is a result of the superior precision of a computer-controlled laser as compared to that of a handheld mechanical device. The mechanical device houses a metal blade, which cuts across the cornea to create the flap. IntraLASIK accomplishes the flap procedure with a laser instead of a blade. Plus, it does not travel across the cornea. These features reduce the possible risk of complications.
IntraLASIK’s precision was documented in studies conducted for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the laser, where the accuracy of flap thickness was demonstrated at plus or minus 10 microns. Precise flap thickness is essential to a successful LASIK outcome, and flaps created by IntraLASIK feature a consistent thickness from edge to edge. Again, this degree of accuracy is unprecedented in flap creation technology to date. Finally, greater flap stability was also demonstrated with IntraLASIK flaps in studies for the laser’s FDA submission. Although the incidence of flap slippage is rare in LASIK, the consequences can be problematic. The assurance that the IntraLASIK created flap will be securely repositioned without incident provides added peace of mind for many patients.
Is traditional LASIK unsafe?
No, but IntraLASIK seems to reduce the risk of complications reported with traditional LASIK.
Is IntraLASIK new? How is Dr. Boothe able to offer IntraLASIK when other doctors in the area do not?
The IntraLase FS Laser has been cleared by the FDA and became commercially available on a limited basis in 2001. The IntraLase FS Laser is the only laser that provides IntraLASIK. Dr. Boothe is among an elite group of key opinion-leaders in ophthalmology who continually evaluate advanced technologies and adopt them into practice as soon as they become available.
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