Clear vision is the result of light rays passing through the cornea, pupil and lens and focusing directly upon the retina. If the cornea is not round or it is too steep or too flat in relation to the length of the eye, light rays focus either in front of or behind the retina. This results in ' refractive errors' such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism. Refractive surgery refers to the various surgical procedures, which can be used to correct these vision problems. Refractive Surgery works by altering the shape of the cornea so that light rays can be focused directly on the retina, and in many cases the patient's need for glasses or contact lenses is eliminated or dramatically reduced.

The Rothchild Eye Institute has invested in highly sophisticated diagnostic equipment to help in assessing each patient's particular needs ' One such piece of equipment is a corneal topographer. This technically advanced instrument provides the most accurate eye measurement possible to determine the appropriateness of a candidate.Dr. Rothchild is an expert in all of the different refractive surgery techniques. Since each patient is different, a thorough exam must be performed so that Dr. Rothchild can determine which refractive surgery procedure is best suited to each patient.

Surgery.

On the day of surgery, patients may be given a mild oral sedative if desired, and anesthetic eye drops are used to numb the front surface of the eyes. All procedures are performed under a powerful surgical microscope for precision. The entire process takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Results.

A patient will typically experience improved vision immediately. To date, over five million people worldwide have undergone forms of Refractive Surgery with an astonishing 96%* of patients deemed "good candidates" achieving vision of 20/40 or better. Even better, candidates today can expect far more predictable results than just a few years ago, due to the highly improved instrumentation and surgical techniques available today.