To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 8. Please go to here and download it.

LASIK

LASIK

LASIK Eye Surgery for Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City, and All of Utah

LASIK (an acronym that stands for LASer In-situ Keratomileusis) is not only the most commonly performed type of laser vision correction, but also perhaps the most effective. For those who are not eligible for LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a popular and effective alternative. At our LASIK and PRK eye surgery center, which serves Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, and surrounding areas of Utah, our surgeons are prepared to help each patient achieve the best vision possible. Contact Hoopes Vision today to schedule a consultation or appointment.

LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery performed at our practice centrally located between Provo and Ogden in Sandy, Utah is a safe, quick, and effective surgical procedure for patients who wish to improve their eyesight. During the procedure, a small flap is first created in the outer layer of the cornea with either a blade or laser (the IntraLase™ laser). The flap is then folded back on its hinge, and the extremely precise and accurate excimer laser is used to remove minute amounts (microns) of underlying corneal tissue, effectively reshaping the cornea and allowing the eye to focus light on the retina correctly. Finally, the flap is gently returned to its original position; healing begins almost instantly.

Currently, LASIK eye surgery is one of the most commonly performed healthcare procedures in the country, and it has an excellent record of success. LASIK offers faster healing time than other laser procedures and rapid visual recovery, as patients are usually able to see well within a few hours.

Despite being a quick and seemingly easy procedure, LASIK is still surgery and, like any other surgery, is not perfect. Nonetheless, with the use of the excimer laser, surgeons can achieve an unparalleled degree of precision and predictability. Each pulse of the laser can remove 39 millionths of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a second. The LASIK eye surgery technology, coupled with the skill and care of our surgeons, can achieve remarkable accuracy by allowing the doctor to maintain exceptional control throughout the procedure. New IntraLase™ technology and new wavefront-guided and wavefront-optimized treatment options have made LASIK even safer, with higher chance of 20/20 vision or better than ever before.

Are you a candidate for LASIK?

You may be a candidate for LASIK eye surgery if you:

Are 18 years of age or older with a stable prescription for at least one year.
Have a prescription within -1.00 to -11.00 diopters of myopia or within up to +5.00 diopters of farsightedness. Astigmatism up to 5.00 diopters can also be treated.
Have healthy eyes without disease or serious ailments.
Have realistic expectations and are educated and informed about the risks and benefits of surgery and the alternatives.

Excellent results start with your first visit to Hoopes Vision through accurate diagnosis and measurements. Our LASIK surgeons, rather than "counselors,” perform our examinations and screenings. Then, our doctors' expert surgical ability, combined with careful postoperative care, completes the process of giving you new vision. The keys to it all are experience and the best technology. Your surgeon's level of experience and skill in performing these delicate procedures is the critical factor in determining your outcome.

If you live in the vicinity of Salt Lake City, including areas such as Provo and Ogden, Utah, and are considering LASIK eye surgery, contact Hoopes Vision to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Types of Treatments

Currently, there are three main ways by which a laser can reshape the cornea. Hoopes Vision was the first Utah LASIK center to possess the technology to perform all three types of surgery.

Traditional Treatment

Lasers that are used for the traditional treatment reshape the cornea using the same measurements that are used for eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions. The traditional treatment can be used to correct lower order aberrations, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This method generally corrects vision by flattening out the center of the cornea.

Wavefront-Guided Treatment

While a wavefront-guided treatment can treat the same issues that the traditional treatment can, it can also measure and address higher order aberrations. A wavefront-guided treatment takes thousands of measurements at unique points in the patient's vision in order to create a "map," which is then used to measure imperfections that corrective lenses can't correct. In some cases, wavefront-guided treatments can also reduce glare and halos.

Wavefront-Optimized Treatment

The wavefront-optimized treatment is the newest type of laser correction available to the public. Both the traditional and wavefront-guided treatments have been found to create additional distortions known as spherical aberrations, one of the most common reasons patients who have undergone LASIK experience halos and glare at night. With the wavefront-optimized treatment, however, the chances for halos and glare are reduced by creating a treatment pattern that maintains the natural curvature of the eye. By preserving the eye's natural curve, sharper, clearer vision with less chance of halo and glare is possible.

iFS IntraLase™

On Monday August 11, 2009 Hoopes Vision became the first, and currently the only, LASIK center in Utah to receive a new upgraded version of blade-free LASIK – the new iFS IntraLase™ laser. “We are excited to be the first Utah LASIK center to offer this new technology.” stated Dr. Phillip Hoopes, Chief Surgeon at Hoopes Vision. “We’ve always worked hard at keeping our commitment to offer our patients the safest, most effective technology available.”

Six years ago, Hoopes Vision introduced blade-free LASIK surgery to the area with the arrival of the Salt Lake Valley’s first IntraLase™ laser. This laser revolutionized the LASIK procedure by replacing the metal bladed microkeratome with a silent, computer guided laser. Prior to IntraLase, step one of the LASIK procedure involved making a thin flap of corneal tissue with a metal razor blade called a microkeratome. Although still considered to be quite safe, it was the riskiest part of a LASIK procedure. If a serious complication were to occur, it usually was the result of a microkeratome mishap or malfunction. IntraLase replaces the metal blade with a precision, silent computer guided laser resulting in a procedure that is 100 times more accurate that a bladed microkeratome. This gives greater assurance that step one of the LASIK eye surgery will be more accurate and safe as the first step towards giving patients the best LASIK result possible.

The new iFS™ laser improves safety, comfort and healing beyond previous versions of IntraLase™ in several ways. “When IntraLase™ fist came out, it was a huge leap forward in safety. The new iFS™ laser enhances the safety features, but also focuses on patient comfort and recovery.” notes Dr. Phillip Hoopes, Jr. of Hoopes Vision. The new iFS™ laser is faster (creating a flap in as little as 9 seconds), more comfortable for the patient, and creates a smoother surface. Perhaps the biggest change is the ability to make an inverted, bevel-in edge for the corneal flap. This modification allows the LASIK surgeon to tuck the edge of the flap underneath the periphery of the cornea rather than resting on top (see illustration). This has been shown to create stronger flap adherence, with less chance of striae (wrinkles) post LASIK. The corneal flap can also be created in an elliptical shape which has shown added benefit for patients with astigmatism. Currently this newer safer IntraLASIK technology is only available in Utah at Hoopes Vision. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a free LASIK exam to see if this new technology is right for you, please call Hoopes Vision at (801) 568-0200.

See Clearly Guarantee and Assurance Program

The advanced technology that we use at Hoopes Vision and the expertise of our surgeons affords us the confidence to offer our patients Utah's only free, full money back guarantee. Learn more about our See Clearly Guarantee and Assurance Program.

Discount LASIK: What's the Catch?

It is paramount that the greatest of precautions are taken when decisions regarding your eyes and eyesight need to be made. Many people considering LASIK surgery are tempted by surgeons and surgery centers that offer the procedure at an unbelievably low price. However, patients who undergo LASIK at the discounted prices may get what they pay for, resulting in regret and possibly even compromised vision. Read more about why LASIK deals that are too good to be true should be avoided and learn why Hoopes Vision stands head and shoulders above other LASIK surgery centers.

Contact Our Office

At Hoopes Vision, we are excited and proud to offer LASIK eye surgery and PRK services to patients from the Provo, Ogden, and Salt Lake City areas of Utah and beyond. Our mission is to help our patients achieve clearer vision through high-quality services provided by our experienced, reputable surgeons. Contact our office today to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with our doctors.