Saint Barnabas Refractive Surgery Center Offers New,
IntraLase® Blade-Free LASIK

Maricel and Gabriel.

"It's wonderful! It is so great not to have to wear contacts or glasses looking at computers all day. It is also very convenient not to have to look for my glasses when I get up in the middle of the night to take care of my two-and-a-half-monthold son, Gabriel," says, Maricel Estrada, a 31-year-old junior accountant, who has been wearing glasses or contacts since she was 18.

For people like Maricel Estrada of Islin, LASIK, or laser vision correction surgery, has the potential to make drastic improvements in natural eyesight — improvements which can result in 20/20 vision
or better.

A New Procedure for Improved Vision
The Refractive Surgery Center at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, in Livingston, has recently added the IntraLase FS Laser ( blade-free ), stateof- the-art technology, to its complement of laser vision correction equipment.

This exciting, new technology can offer many benefits to patients, including: better vision, reduced risk of complications, reduced incidence of dry eye, improved comfort and fewer re-treatments than traditional LASIK. In addition, because of its consistent accuracy, patients who formerly did not qualify as candidates, such as those with thin corneas, may now be eligible.

In the second step of laser vision correction, CustomVueTM can help to enable the patient s optimal vision by customizing the LASIK procedure to meet his or her individual eye. This technology can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism by measuring the fine imperfections of each eye. Through this measurement, an individualized map is created that the laser uses as a blue-print in the correction process.

What is LASIK and how does IntraLase work?
Laser vision correction surgery, also known as LASIK and refractive surgery, is a twostep process. In the first step, the surgeon creates a flap of corneal tissue and folds it back to prepare the eye for the second step, where an excimer laser is used on the inner cornea to correct vision. This two-step process allows for rapid visual recovery with little or no discomfort.

With the IntraLase blade-free laser, the surgeon applies the precision of a computer-guided laser to make the corneal flap. IntraLase delivers micron-level accuracy, giving the surgeon more control during the procedure and the ability to establish precise dimensions and thickness of the corneal flap. These factors are critical to a successful outcome.

This level of precision is unparalleled by any other technology in vision correction surgery. IntraLase allows surgeons to customize the corneal flap for each eye.

Only specially trained, qualified ophthalmologists who are refractive surgeons may perform this procedure. For more information about blade-free laser vision correction, speak to your eye care professional or call the Saint Barnabas Refractive Surgery Center at (973)322-7185.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is a Candidate for Laser Vision Correction?

A. Your ophthalmologist will determine whether or not laser vision correction is appropriate for you.

Here are some general guidelines:

Q. Which Ophthalmologists use the Saint Barnabas Refractive Surgery Center and how can I find out more about laser vision correction?

A. Visit our web site at www.sbhcs.com, under the Specialties menu, choose LASIK/Refractive Surgery. All are experienced laser refractive surgeons. You may also call the Saint Barnabas physician referral service at 1-888-SBHS-123 (1-888-724-7123) for information about these ophthalmologists.

Refractive Surgery Center
Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
973-322-7185