Dr. Carlos Diaz is the director of Diaz Vision Center, a Boerne and San Antonio-area LASIK eye surgery
and vision care practice. LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ
keratomileusis, has helped many individuals the world over eliminate
their dependence on glasses and contact lenses and achieve 20/20 vision
or better, and the procedure is a popular one. However, some have
recently questioned the safety and effectiveness of LASIK, and an FDA
panel advised the need to further alert consumers of the possibility of
poor visual outcomes, dry eye, and other complications after LASIK
surgery. Dr. Diaz says this is why it’s important for patients
considering LASIK, as with any surgical procedure, to do their own
research and address their concerns with their doctor. “Some
conditions, which may exclude someone from having LASIK, are dry eyes,
since the surgery can make the symptoms worse. Also, patients with thin
corneas may not be a candidate since the procedure thins the cornea
further, and may cause instability of the cornea. Some patients may
also have halos or glare after LASIK if their pupils are larger than
the treatment zones. These conditions and others should be screened for
during a LASIK evaluation.”
LASIK uses laser energy to reshape the cornea and improve the eye’s
ability to focus. It’s typically performed on patients who wish to
correct common refractive errors such as nearsightedness,
farsightedness, and astigmatism. Dr. Diaz says patients who are
considering the surgery to achieve better vision without the aid of
corrective eyewear are rigorously screened and evaluated before the
procedure to determine if they are candidates, and for those who are
not, he discusses alternatives that they may qualify for, such as PRK
surgery or other vision care options.
For LASIK procedures, Dr. Diaz says he uses only the most
state-of-the-art lasers, such as Ziemer and Allegretto, and takes every
precaution for safety during the procedure, with a major focus on
preventing any complications that may arise during recovery. He says
technological advances since the advent of LASIK in the early 1990’s
has come a long way. “The safety of the procedure has improved as the
technology improves and we gain more knowledge. An example is the
creation of the flap was previously done with a blade but now can be
done with a laser.” That particular method is known as one of the
safest LASIK techniques available, using a 100% blade-free approach to
creating the corneal flap to provide the most precise and accurate
procedure possible.
Although LASIK a large part of Dr. Diaz’ Boerne and San Antonio laser vision correction
practice, he offers ophthalmology services to correct a number of
conditions that can help people who are not LASIK candidates, or those
who need other types of vision care. For example, those who are
candidates for IOLs in San Antonio
and Boerne, Texas can gain much better eyesight even when they have
suffered from conditions such as presbyopia, cataracts, and eye injury.
IOLs are advanced intraocular lens implants that act as replacements
for the eye’s natural crystalline lens. The artificial lenses are
permanent, and can offer significant vision improvement after cataract
surgery, or for patients who suffer from presbyopia and do not wish to
wear reading glasses to clearly see objects and print at close
distances. Dr. Diaz says because such a wide range of people qualify as
candidates for IOLs, the procedure is now one of the most popular in
America.
Dr. Diaz says, overall, whatever procedure patients are considering,
the most important thing is to address all of their questions with
their surgeon, and be completely honest about their medical histories
and concerns they may have. Many eye conditions are treatable, and
those who are not candidates for one procedure can likely benefit from
an alternative option that can yield similar results.
About Carlos Diaz, MD
Dr. Carlos Diaz is a board-certified ophthalmologist and San Antonio laser eye surgeon.
Dr. Diaz is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the
American Medical Association, and the Texas Medical Association. He has
coauthored a variety of publications with many noted ophthalmologists,
and offers procedures to correct and treat a number of different eye
conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
The Diaz Vision Center serves residents of Boerne, San Antonio, and
surrounding regions in Texas.
For more information on procedures available at the Diaz Vision
Center, Dr. Carlos Diaz can be reached at 124 E Bandera Rd, #404,
Boerne, Texas 78006 – (830) 249-8400; or via his website at www.diazvisioncenter.com.
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