Dr. William B. Hutcheson & Associates

112-C Elden Street  
Herndon, VA, 20170-4830  

Phone: 703-787-3500  
Fax: 703-787-3510  
Email: hutchod@drhutcheson.com  
  

Hours:   
Mon 9-2pm  
Tues 9-7pm  
Wed 8-1pm, 2:00-7pm  
Thurs 9-6pm  
Fri 9-6pm  
Sat 8-2pm  

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A frequent comment we get of which I'm especially proud...  
"Yours is the only doctor's office I go to where they don't keep me waiting for my appointment".  
We know your time is valuable and we respect that.  
 

©Dr. Hutcheson, 2001-2009

LASIK 
Lasik stands for Laser In Situ Keratomileusis, which is a mouthful but which is the refractive surgery of choice for most individuals.  Like PRK ( Photorefractive Keratectomy), the older popular procedure for correcting nearsightedness and astigmatism, Lasik uses a cool, ultraviolet laser beam to reshape the cornea.  In PRK, the outermost epithelial layer of the cornea is removed prior to using the laser to reshape the surface of the eye and then a bandage contact lens is worn while the epithelium regrows over the newly shaped cornea (which usually takes about three days). In Lasik, an instrument called a microkeratome or an Intralase laser beam is used to create a thin flap in the cornea, leaving the epithelium intact.  The flap is folded back out of the way, the laser reshapes the exposed corneal tissue, and then the flap is folded back to its original position.  Within a matter of minutes the flap seals itself without need of a bandage or patch. 

Custom Lasik is the newest generation of laser correction.  Using a sophisticated wavefront analysis of your eyes, the minute, individual optical aberrations that are different from one individual to the next are mapped out and programmed directly into the laser for correction. Custom Lasik has the potential to give you a better quality of vision than can be achieved by glasses, contact lenses or earlier generations of refractive surgery. 

Custom vs. Conventional 
Both the custom and conventional lasik procedures have a high success rate and minimal complications.  Custom Lasik is a bit more costly and requires more involvement of the surgeon before the computer guided laser takes over.  Lasik enjoys a rapid visual recovery and  provides an  accurate correction for many  prescriptions. Refractive surgeries like PRK and Lasik are intended to correct your vision at that point in time, but they will not stop conditions like nearsightedness and astigmatism from progressing. The ideal candidate is someone whose prescription is relatively stable.  It is however possible to retreat the eye at a later point in time if  the vision does worsen. Most of the laser centers we work with have implemented a "Lifetime Commitment Program" which promises to re-treat your eyes free of charge should it become necessary. 

How We Can Help 
If you are interested in laser vision correction for yourself, let us know when you schedule your next exam. We'll be glad to evaluate your suitability as a candidate  for Lasik, Phakic IOL's or whatever current refractive technology would be most appropriate for your eyes.. 

For a wealth of additional information on the topic, visit the FDA site Learning About Lasik. 
 

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