We are committed to ensuring that you get the best possible treatment no matter the type of eye problem you have. Along with his extensive experience and training in eye care, Dr. Armin Vishteh has invested in the most state of the art technology available to ensure he has the tools to give you the utmost quality in vision.
LASIK Technology
Dr. Vishteh has used many types of lasers for performing LASIK and PRK, including VISX Star, the LADARVision 4000, the Bausch and Lomb Technolas, Wavelight Allegretto, and the Nidek EC-5000. He has selected laser platforms capable of performing highly accurate, wavefront-guided procedures, using three dimensional and torsional eye tracking that ensures you get exactly the correction designed for you, despite movements in your eye.
Our committment to technological advances includes incorporation of custom (Wavefront-guided) technology using special analysis to produce a detailed map of light rays as they travel through the eye creating a map of the optical system similar to a “fingerprint”. This is much more precise than standard measurements and can be directly programmed into the excimer laser customizing the surgery for each eye’s unique vision correction needs. Benefits include: higher likelihood of achieving better quality vision, lesser likelihood of having night vision difficulties i.e. glare, haloes, starbursts, and potential for improvement in vision over that possible with glasses or contact lenses
We are also committed to updating our laser technology regularly, with both software and hardware updates that ensure our laser continues to perform at the state of the art.
During your consultation, we can answer any questions about the equipment we use in treating your eye conditions.
LASIK
If you are unhappy with the hassle, discomfort, and cost of glasses or contact lenses, LASIK laser vision correction can help. With one short treatment you can permanently eliminate the nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism you have lived with all your life. Imagine life without sand in your contacts or fumbling for glasses to see clearly in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.
This page contains some information that can help you understand the LASIK procedure, but many people prefer to have the information explained in person. If you are interested in LASIK, please call 888-514-2020 or email Armin Vishteh, MD for a free LASIK consultation.
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is a procedure that uses a laser to improve the ability of your eye to focus on objects. Your eye is like a camera that uses two lenses to focus on images. The outer lens, called the cornea, is the clear part of the eye over your iris and pupil. The cornea has a fixed shape that it achieves in your late teens or early twenties. If it’s the right shape, you can see clearly, but if it’s the wrong shape, images can’t be brought into focus.
LASIK uses a laser to reshape the cornea so your eye can properly focus on objects. Because the cornea retains a fixed power throughout your life, once nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism is eliminated from the cornea, it’s gone forever.
LASIK Results
LASIK’s popularity is explained in part because the results are very good. According to clinical trials of the FDA-approved laser Dr. Vishteh uses, a large majority of patients (92%) achieve 20/20 or better vision, and almost all (99%) achieved 20/40 vision (the legal standard for driving) without glasses or contacts. Dr. Vishteh’s experience has been similar, and we are delighted with the results we are able to achieve for our patients.
Although almost all patients get great results from LASIK, like all surgeries, LASIK has risks. These risks are extremely unlikely, and the good news is that most complications from LASIK are temporary or treatable, especially by an experienced LASIK surgeon. Read more on our LASIK risks page.
Choosing a LASIK Surgeon
When you are choosing a LASIK surgeon, it’s important to select one that is dedicated to ensuring you and your vision are well cared-for. You want to find a LASIK surgeon who will be there, just to answer a question, put your mind at ease, and be prepared to treat you in the unlikely event that you have a complication. And you will want to select a surgeon who has experience treating complications.
Dr. Armin Vishteh has performed thousands of LASIK procedures and learned how to treat many different kinds of complications, including complications from LASIK performed by other surgeons. He believes that personalized care is an essential part of ensuring patients get the best results from laser vision correction. As a doctor, Dr. Vishteh’s dedication is to his patients’ health, and he knows that proper care of patients takes empathy, effort, and, above all, time. He is prepared to give you all three from your first consultation through your final follow-up and beyond.
We encourage you to read more about Choosing a LASIK Surgeon and take the time to talk to several surgeons before committing to one.
Our free consultation makes it easy for you to talk to us. To schedule your consultation at our Rancho Cucamonga, Burbank, or Santa Monica offices, please contact Armin Vishteh, MD today.
PRK
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is the first form of laser vision correction that was available. PRK uses the same excimer laser as LASIK to reshape the cornea and treat near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. Since no flap is generated, the procedure is carried out at a more superficial level making it safer for certain patients. With improvements in the modern PRK procedure, recovery times have improved and more people are able to undergo PRK. If you have been told you are not a candidate for LASIK because of irregular or thin corneas, if you’re concerned about the LASIK flap, if you’ve had previous LASIK or RK surgery, or if you suffer from severe dry eyes, you may benefit from the PRK procedure.
This page can help you understand the PRK procedure, but the only way to know if it’s right for you is to talk to an eye surgeon in person. Dr. Armin Vishteh offers complimentary evaluations to determine if you are a candidate for PRK or LASIK. To schedule your consultation, please call 888-514-2020 or email Armin Vishteh, MD today.
Understanding PRK
PRK is an advanced laser vision correction procedure. It is sometimes called advanced surface ablation (ASA) or just surface ablation (SA) because the material that is removed (ablated) comes directly from the surface of the cornea. In LASIK, the ablation takes place deeper in the cornea. Staying closer to surface can be advantageous in several scenarios.
One advantage of ablating on the surface of the eye is that it does not require the creation of a flap, so it can be performed on people with thin or irregular corneas. It also does not interfere with the nerves that sense dryness and can therefore be associated with a lesser chance of inducing dryness.
In patients who have had previous corneal surgery such as LASIK or Radial Keratotomy, PRK is often the preferred procedure due to its safety. Also in patients who are involved in contact sports such as boxing or martial arts, PRK may be preferred since it does not involve any potential trauma to the flap.
LASIK vs. PRK
LASIK and PRK use the same laser technology, so the quality of results from LASIK and PRK are equivalent. But there are some factors that distinguish the two procedures. LASIK’s benefits include:
- Immediate results
- Low discomfort
On the other hand, PRK results may take a week to be visible, and many patients report the discomfort after PRK can be significant. However, due to improvements in laser technology and medications used during and after surgery, most PRK patients are able to resume their activities at a much quicker rate than before.
It’s important to talk to your eye surgeon about the two procedures and decide which one is right for you.
Corneal Crosslinking
Corneal crosslinking is an FDA approved treatment for progressive keratoconus and other corneal conditions. Crosslinking strengthens corneal tissue by saturating the cornea with Riboflavin (a type of B Vitamin) which is then activated with UV light. This helps to restore the links in the corneal collagen hence strengthening the cornea. Crosslinking can reduce the need for corneal transplants in keratoconus and May be used to treat complications following LASIK or other refractive surgeries.
Complimentary Consultation
Dr. Armin Vishteh offers complimentary consultations that include a thorough eye exam. During this exam, Dr. Vishteh will be able to evaluate your eyes and make recommendations about the best procedure for you.
Please contact Armin Vishteh, MD today for a free consultation at our offices in: Rancho Cucamonga, Burbank, Santa Monica.