LASIK has been performed in San Francisco for over a decade. The precursor of LASIK was the procedure called ALK. Dr. Faktorovich was the first surgeon in San Francisco to perform this procedure in 1994. In the precursor of LASIK, a surgeon would lift the superficial corneal layers with a mechanical device, called the microkeratome. The microkeratome would then be passed over the cornea again, removing tissue of a certain thickness depending on the amount of nearsightedness, and then the superficial layers would be replaced. Excimer lasers appeared in San Francisco in 1995 after they were FDA approved. Corneal surgeons in San Francisco gained a lot of precision using this form of laser vision correction. At first, the laser was applied to the surface of the cornea only. This was called PRK. Although PRK results were excellent, the healing time could be improved. At the same time San Francisco laser surgeon Dr. Faktorovich started applying the excimer energy to the internal layers of the cornea. To accomplish that, the laser surgeon would use the mechanical microkeratome to lift the superficial corneal layers. Then, the excimer laser energy was used on the internal layers of the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism. The superficial layers were replaced and healing time was remarkably fast. This procedure was given the name LASIK

.    LASIK has been performed in San Francisco since 1995. In other parts of the world, LASIK has been performed significantly longer. In the United States, all the technology, including LASIK technology must go through a very rigorous review process and only then, it is approved by the FDA. San Francisco community of patients is very educated, discerning, and very critical. Patients demand only the very best LASIK surgeon, the very best LASIK technology, and the veryi best patient care.

   In the hands of the best LASIK surgeons in San Francisco, the results were remarkable. In many instances, LASIK patients were able to achieve vision better than 20/20.

   The next improvement in LASIK that came to San Francisco was the wavefront-guided or custom LASIK. With this procedure, a map of the entire optics is generated for each patient. This map contains the large imperfections, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Also, it contains the small imperfections, called higher order aberrations, such as spherical aberrations, coma, trefoil, etc. The maps are unique not only to each patient, but also to each eye of each patient. During the LASIK procedure, San Francisco LASIK surgeon downloads the patient's map into the laser. The laser treatment profile is then based on the shape of each individual map. Both large and small imperfections are treated, allowing LASIK patients to enjoy the beauty of San Francisco both day and night. Custom LASIK and wavefront-guided LASIK often mean the same thing.

   The next advance in San Francisco LASIK technology came with IntraLase femtosecond laser, or all-laser LASIK. The first IntraLase laser in San Francisco was installed at Pacific Vision Institute in 2004. With all-laser LASIK, the superficial corneal layers are lifted with laser, not with the mechanical microkeratome, like they were in the past. The second step is carried out as it was before. All-laser LASIK eliminated intra-operative complications and San Francisco LASIK surgeons could add an unprecedented level of precision accuracy to their patients. Over a million of all-laser LASIK procedures have been performed world wide. San Francisco LASIK surgeons who were not using this technology to help their patients were literally left behind. The best San Francisco LASIK surgeons were immediately at the forefront of this revolutionary advance.

   In the city like San Francisco, driven by excellence, powered by technology, used to the very best medicine has to offer, the LASIK patients immediately recognized the advances in LASIK procedures and searched for surgeons who would give them the very best. The LASIK advances continued. Most recently, LASIK surgeons in San Francisco using WaveLight Allegretto laser, can correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, while maintaining the physiologic corneal shape and delivering the laser energy pulses very efficiently. As a result, fewer LASIK patients need to have a touch up after their original LASIK procedure.

   Pre-screening technology for our LASIK patients in San Francisco has elevated the level of accuracy to an unprecedented level to insure that LASIK is absolutely the best choice for each patient coming in for a consultation in our San Francisco center. At Pacific Vision Institute, our surgeons combine the most advanced LASIK screening technology with four different laser platforms and wavefront analyzers to achieve the best possible LASIK results. If a San Francisco patient is not the best LASIK candidate, we offer many other options for good vision without glasses or contact lenses. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), CK (conductive keratoplasty), Intacs, Phakic IOLs, presbyopic IOLs, ReSTOR, ReZoom, Crystalens - Pacific Vision Institute surgical team will help our San Francisco patients see well.