Laser Vision Correction

LASIK Rapid City

LASIK is a surgical procedure in which the corneal curvature is modified to improve vision and reduce a patient's dependence on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK surgery was first performed in 1990 and has since grown to become one of the most popular elective procedures performed throughout the world due to its effectiveness, safety, and remarkable results.

The LASIK procedure at the Eye Institute in Rapid City, Eye Institute involves the creation of a flap in the corneal tissue. In order to create the corneal flap, small incisions must be made using a mechanical microkeratome, a surgical implement with a small oscillating blade. We at Black Hills Regional Eye Institute understand the concerns and possible anxiety associated with eye surgery involving a blade. At the Eye Institute, our doctors do not even offer traditional LASIK surgery, due to our patients' potential trepidations. Instead we offer iLASIK and LASEK, in which only lasers are used to reshape the eye.

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LASIK versus iLASIK

Eligible candidates for any eye surgery, including LASIK, LASEK, and iLASIK, must be 18 years of age, have a stable prescription, and have sufficient corneal tissue to allow for treatment. Ninety-four percent of patients qualify for the CustomVue® laser technology, which has the largest FDA-approved range available, based on their prescription alone. However, other factors may cause iLASIK not to be recommended, such as uncontrolled systemic diseases like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. A thorough examination is the best way to determine whether you are a viable candidate.

Unlike LASIK, the iLASIK procedure is entirely bladeless, utilizing only our advanced laser technology. iLASIK uses an iFS Advanced Femtosecond Laser to create an ultra-precise, thin flap in the uppermost layer of the cornea, which is folded back to expose the underlying corneal tissue. Guided by a highly precise wavefront map of the surface of the eye, the CustomVue® laser is then used to reshape the cornea. This process is aided by VISX® Iris Registration tracking technology, which maintains alignment of the customized wavefront corrections. The entire surgery typically lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, with total laser time usually lasting between 30 and 45 seconds per eye.

With the use of iLASIK technologies, 95 percent of patients achieve 20/20 or better vision after the initial treatment. One-hundred percent have achieved 20/40 or better vision (legal driving vision without glasses or contacts). While patients who undergo traditional LASIK have to wait for their blade-created corneal flap to heal, most patients who undergo iLASIK with IntraLase® are able to return to work the next day.

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It is not uncommon to have reservations about "going under the knife" especially when the surgery is of the eye. For this reason, the Eye Institute does not utilize LASIK blade technology. We choose to use the next step in LASIK laser technology, iLASIK. Our doctors and staff have vast experience performing a range of eye treatments and surgeries, and we would be more than happy to provide further education on LASIK and its alternatives. Please contact us at the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute to schedule your personal consultation with one of our physicians.