o you wear contacts or glasses in order to see clearly? If you do, Excimer Laser Vision Correction from Dr. Jacobs may be able to open up a whole new world of clear, natural vision for you.

Thanks to advances in vision correction technology, it is now possible to treat a lifetime of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in a matter of seconds. By combining the accuracy of the Excimer laser with the precision of advanced computer technology, hundreds of thousands of men and women every year are discovering a world beyond glasses and contact lenses

Laser Vision Correction is right for many people, but it is not the right choice for everyone. If most or all of the following statements are true for you, then you may be a good candidate for this procedure.

	"My dependence on eyeglasses and/or contact lenses has always felt like a handicap."
	"I don't tolerate contact lenses very well."
	"My career opportunities would be improved if I did not have to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses for distance vision."
	"I am actively involved in sports and I feel my performance would be enhanced if I didn't have to wear glasses or contact lenses."
	"I sometimes worry that if an emergency arose when I was not wearing my corrective lenses, I would not be able to help others or myself."
	"I think I look better without glasses."
	"I would be happy with the results if it improved my vision significantly, even if I still had to wear corrective lenses for some tasks."
	"If laser vision correction can reduce the hassles of contact lenses or glasses and improves the quality of my life, it is worth the investment."

What is Normal Vision ?

When a person enjoys normal vision without glasses or contacts, light rays enter through the front, clear portion of the eye known as the cornea. From here, the light rays pass through the pupil and the lens of the eye, where they are precisely focused on the retina. The retina is the photosensitive membrane or "screen" at the back of the eye that transforms these light images into electrical signals. These impulses are passed through the optic nerve to the brain, which interprets them as images.

Refraction

Refraction, the term used to describe the way light is focused by the eye, depends on three elements: the curvature of the cornea, the power of the lens, and the length of the eye. When these elements are correctly proportional, light is properly focused on the retina and clear vision results. As with a camera, if light fails to focus properly on the retina, blurred or distorted vision can result and a refractive error exists.

There are four common types of refractive vision disorders:

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Nearsightedness (myopia) occurs when the curvature of the cornea is too steep causing light rays to focus in front of the retina. This results in near images being in focus, while distance images are blurred. The Excimer laser can be used to reshape, or flatten, the cornea to permit light to focus on the retina, instead of in front of it.

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Farsightedness (hyperopia) occurs when the cornea has insufficient focusing power because it has too flat a curvature, which causes light to focus behind the retina. This results in clearer vision for distant objects than objects that are near. The Excimer laser can be used to reshape, or steepen, the cornea to permit light to focus on the retina, instead of behind it.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism occurs when the surface of the cornea lacks a uniform, round shape, causing light images to focus on multiple areas within the eye. This can result in blurred or double images. Think of it this way: Normal corneas are round like baseballs, while astigmatic corneas are elongated, like footballs. Astigmatism is very common and is often present in individuals with nearsightedness or farsightedness. The excimer laser can be used to reshape the cornea of an eye with astigmatism to give it a more uniform surface.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia occurs as we get older and lose the ability to change focus from distance to near. This is a gradual change throughout life but is usually not noticeable until the mid-forties. As this occurs, people who have been nearsighted or farsighted begin to wear bifocals. People who have never worn glasses begin to wear reading glasses for close-up work. The Excimer laser is not used to treat this condition. However, an option called monovision is available.

Refractive Vision Correction from Dr. Jacobs.

Using a computer-controlled cool beam of laser light, Dr. Jacobs is able to reshape the surface of the cornea and thereby reduce or eliminate a person?s refractive error. For the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, Dr. Jacobs utilizes the advanced Laser Vision Correction procedure known as LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis).

LASIK: The Procedure

LASIK is virtually painless and takes only minutes. Before the procedure, your eyes will be anesthetized with eye drops.

Then a thin protective flap of corneal tissue is created with the IntraLase FS Laser.
	Next, the excimer laser is used for about 30 to 60 seconds to reshape the corneal surface.
The protective corneal flap is then folded back in place where it bonds without the need for stitches.

Immediately after the procedure, your vision will still be very blurry. Most patients experience significant improvement in vision within hours. You will be advised to rest for the remainder of the treatment day and will see Dr. Jacobs the day after your procedure.

Free Laser Vision Correction Screenings

If you or someone you know suffers from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism and would like to see clearly without glasses or contacts, we invite you to contact Dr. Jacobs? office for a FREE Laser Vision Correction screening. This screening normally takes less than 30 minutes to complete and provides an individualized assessment to see if Laser Vision Correction can help you see better. If you are a candidate, you will also be able to learn more about our convenient financing plan that makes Laser Vision Correction extremely affordable.

Would You Like Additional Information on
Laser Vision Correction ?

Dr. Jacobs is happy to provide potential candidates for Laser Vision Correction with additional information in the form of videotapes and printed brochures. Simply call one of our Laser Vision Correction specialists by phone at (619) 420-2111. We will be glad to help.

Another source of information is our Frequently Asked Questions and our Testimonials page, which answers commonly asked questions about Laser Vision Correction.