Third Avenue Eyecare

See the difference surgery can make

Many eye conditions can be surgically corrected, eliminating the need to glasses or contact lenses. If your condition requires surgery or if you opt for corrective surgery, such as LASIK, our on-site ophthalmologist can provide those services—in the comfort of our office—with a team you already know and trust.

Third Avenue Eyecare provides all eye-surgery services, including LASIK, cataract surgery and lid surgery, all detailed below. To see if a surgical procedure might be right for you, please contact us at 303-772-6140 or toll free at 877-789-1126.

LASIK (Laser Vision Correction)

Certain vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be reduced or eliminated surgically. Vision correction surgery involves techniques that correct vision by reshaping the surface of the cornea. To correct nearsightedness, the curvature of the cornea is flattened. To correct farsightedness, the curvature is increased. To correct for astigmatism, the cornea is reshaped, producing a more evenly curved surface.

RK (radial keratotomy), AK (astigmatic keratotomy), PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy) and LASIK (laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) are the most common vision correction surgeries. LASIK can be used to treat low to high levels of nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism, and low to moderate levels of farsightedness (hyperopia). LASIK is a procedure using the eximer laser that has been performed manually for more than 30 years. LASIK treats the inner tissue of the cornea. Using a small instrument called a microkeratome, a small cap is partially lifted from the top surface of the cornea and hinged on one side, leaving the inner portion of the cornea exposed.

For nearsightedness and astigmatism, the central part of the exposed cornea is reshaped with the laser. For farsightedness, the outer portion of the exposed cornea is reshaped. Once the reshaping is complete, the cap is put back in its original position without stitches. The reshaping process takes approximately 40 seconds and this reshaping enables light rays entering the eye to focus properly on the retina, resulting in clearer vision.

LASIK is done on an outpatient basis using an anesthetic (in eye-drop form) to numb the eye for painless surgery. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes. After the surgery, patients are given clear care and medication instructions and usually return to their normal lifestyle with few restrictions during the short healing period.

Cataract Surgery

A cataract is the clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens from your eye and, most often, replacing it with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is usually very successful, with as many as 90 percent of patients reporting improved vision following the procedure.

Removing a cataract is usually not an urgent procedure. If a cataract is obstructing your vision enough to interfere with driving or performing the activities of daily living, your doctor may suggest cataract surgery. Even if your visual acuity isn't severely affected, you might want cataract surgery to remove a cataract that is causing glare or double vision.

When a cataract interferes with the treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or retinal detachment, prompt cataract removal may then be advised. In younger people or people with diabetes, cataracts may progress rapidly, making the need for surgery more urgent.

Lid Surgery

Also known as blepharoplasty, lid surgery can be both a functional and a cosmetic surgical procedure. When an advanced amount of upper eyelid skin is present, the skin may hang over the eyelashes and cause a loss of peripheral vision. The outer and upper parts of the visual field are most commonly affected and the condition may interfere with activities such as driving or reading.

The procedure involves rehaping the upper or lower eyelid by removing or repositioning nt of excess skin may have a similar procedure performed for cosmetic reasons. Lower-eyelid blepharoplasty is almost always done for cosmetic reasons, to improve puffy lower eyelids and reduce wrinkles.

Depending upon the scope of the procedure, blepharoplasty typically takes one to three hours to complete. The operation is performed through external incisions made along the natural skin lines of the eyelids. This helps ensure the incision scar is concealed. Initial swelling and bruising are common and may take one to two weeks to heal, with final results not visable for up to seveal months. The anatomy of the eyelids, skin quality, patient’s age and the adjacent bony and soft tissue all affect the cosmetic and functional outcomes of blepharoplasty.