Woolfson Eye Institute works closely with an elite group of optometrists and ophthalmologists, like Clemson Ophthalmology who form an affiliate network.  Together, we provide patients with the absolute best treatment options available anywhere and ensure they have the necessary follow-up treatment vital to their overall vision health.  

At Clemson Ophthalmology, we offer FREE CONSULTATIONS ($200 value) to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK.  If you are a candidate then we manage all of your pre and post-operative care as well as assist you with payment options.  Your LASIK surgery will be performed at the Woolfson Eye Institute’s Greenville Center. 

The ideal candidate for LASIK is over 18 years old with normal eye health and a prescription that has not increased significantly in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant may not be good candidates for LASIK.

Refractive Errors:

Myopia (Nearsightedness) occurs when light rays are focused in front of the retina instead of directly on the retina.  

Hyperopia (Farsightedness) occurs when light rays are not bent enough to focus on the retina.
 
Astigmatism occurs when light rays are focused at more than one point on the retina.
   

The Procedure:

The Excimer laser removes microscopic layers of corneal tissue to change its shape, allowing light rays to focus more directly on the retina.

 After your eye has been completely numbed using "eye drop" anesthesia, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to prevent you from blinking. Next, an instrument known as a microkeratome makes a protective flap in the cornea. During this process you may feel a little pressure, but no discomfort. You will be asked to look directly at a target light while the laser reshapes the cornea, usually in less than a minute. The cornea is reshaped under a protective flap.

 To treat nearsightedness, the cornea must be made flatter. This is accomplished by removing tissue from the center of the cornea.

 To treat farsightedness, the central cornea must be made steeper. This is accomplished by directing the laser beam to remove tissue from around this area.

 To treat astigmatism, the cornea must be made more spherical. By changing the pattern of the beam, tissue is removed in one direction more than the other.

 Then, the protective flap is folded back in place where it bonds securely without the need for stitches. After LASIK, some patients report a slight discomfort that usually goes away within twelve to twenty-four hours. The cornea is closed without the need for stitches.

”The most important factors in the successful outcome of your LASIK procedure are the skill and experience of your surgeon. But a surgeon needs state-of-the-art equipment to give you the best possible results.”

 

Clemson Ophthalmology is a corporate affiliate of the Woolfson Eye Institute which uses only the most recently FDA-approved excimer lasers and combines them with the diagnostic precision originally invented by NASA for use in high-powered precision telescopes, called Wavefront technology. Our Wavefront technology measures the way light travels through your entire optical pathway and compares it to the way light travels through an optically perfect eye. This creates a 3-D map of your vision that is as unique to you as your fingerprint and 25 times more precise than conventional equipment. This customized "fingerprint" is then transferred electronically to the laser.