LASIK is the most common form of laser vision correction.  It is a rapid, effective way to dramatically improve your vision. It is the most commonly performed elective surgery in the United States. Millions of people worldwide have had Lasik laser vision correction including professional athletes, airplane pilots, military personnel, and medical personnel.

Dr. Yoon also performs Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) a no cutting alternative to Lasik.  It is a safer alternative in some patients who are not good Lasik candidates due to thin corneas, dry eye, or asymmetric astigmatism. 

Rockford Eye and Laser Center is the first area practice to offer All Laser LASIK which has distinct advantages over a mechanical blade. Dr. Yoon also uses the VISX S4 excimer laser with active tracking to perform all our laser vision surgeries. The VISX S4 laser is a sophisticated state of the art laser. It is the dominant and most widely used excimer laser in the United States. With its incredibly smooth ablations and accuracy, it brings tremendous results and safety. Its pupil tracking system adds another level of safety to the procedure. The tracking system will follow the small movements of your eye so that the laser is continuously aimed in the center of your pupil.  We also utilize the latest iDesign aberrometer which is the first and only topography-integrated, wavefront-guided treatment to reduce optical imperfections resulting in superior quality of vision with less risk for glare and haloes and better night vision. 

 ALL LASER LASIK

Our practice offers all laser, blade-free LASIK for superior safety and the utmost in outcomes. 

Some of the advantages of all Laser LASIK: 

 The first Rockford area practice to offer this blade-free option. 

Reasons to consider LASIK: 

The Procedure

Using an excimer laser, Dr. Yoon re-shapes the cornea (the stationary refractive element at the front of the eye) so that images are focused to the correct spot on the retina (the light receptor of the eye).  The success rate with this procedure is excellent, with many patients achieving 20/20 vision or better upon completion. 

The LASIK procedure itself involves little or no discomfort (or pain) both during the procedure and through the recovery process.  Also, eyesight improvement is almost immediate, and maximum vision is typically achieved within a few days.

During the procedure, Dr. Yoon first administers a local anesthetic via eye drops, so the patient will feel no pain during the surgery.  A speculum is then placed over the eye to prevent the patient from blinking.  Next, Dr. Yoon creates an extremely thin flap from the outer layer of the cornea, using a femtosecond laser.  The flap is folded to the side, and the excimer laser, programmed with the individual map of the patient’s eye, removes excess tissue with quick pulses of concentrated light.  This process usually takes less than a minute.  Once this is done, Dr. Yoon folds the flap back into place and surgery is complete.

The Recovery

The patient may go home shortly after the procedure; however, someone else must drive or alternate transportation must be arranged.  Patients will be asked to get lots of rest on the day of surgery and avoid eye rubbing.  There are follow up appointments with Dr. Yoon one day after surgery and periodically over the following weeks and months.  Vision should dramatically improve in the first few days following surgery.  The patient often may return to work in a day or two, though it is best to take a few days off to ensure a smooth recovery.   

Reasons to consider PRK: 

Disadvantages of PRK: 

The Procedure

In preparation for patients undergoing PRK surgery, anesthetic eye drops are administered.  Next, a speculum is placed in the eye to keep the eyelids open, which is normally not uncomfortable.  While the patient fixes his or her gaze on a target, the laser reshapes the cornea by removing tissue (a process called ablation), which is controlled and closely monitored by the doctor.  The laser is actually guided by a detailed map of the patient’s eye which has been programmed into a computer beforehand.  The ablation usually takes less than a minute for each eye, depending on how high the patient’s vision prescription is.  Most patients feel no pain during the procedure.  After the procedure is complete, a bandage contact lens is placed on the eye.  The patient may go home shortly after the procedure; however, someone else must drive or alternate transportation must be arranged.

The Recovery Process

For PRK recovery, Dr. Yoon may prescribe pain medication for recovery; however, most patients don’t require it since only minor discomfort is experienced.  Dr. Yoon will also schedule several check-up appointments to monitor the healing process, followed by periodic visits over the next several months.  Visual recovery is slower in PRK when compared to Lasik.  It takes about 3-6 days post op for vision to become clear with final stabilization after 2 months.    

 Custom LASIK/PRK

The advantages of custom wavefront technology versus conventional treatment are:​

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!