LASIK
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a safe, reliable and painless way to improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. LASIK changes the way light is bent, or refracted, as it passes through the cornea so that it focuses properly on the retina and objects can be seen clearly.
During the procedure, a device called a microkeratome cuts a thin flap in the surface of the cornea. Patients are given anesthesia so they can't feel the instruments. The flap is then lifted and an excimer laser beam reshapes the cornea's curvature to improve vision. The flap is then closed and covered with a protective contact lens.
The entire procedure takes only 10-15 minutes for both eyes, and patients are often ready to leave within an hour. The flap heals on its own within a few days with no need for stitches.
A common complaint after surgery is sensitivity to light, but this will subside. Antibiotic eye drops will be prescribed for a few days, along with any other post-operative instructions. Full recovery takes a few weeks.
 VISX™'s CustomVue procedure combines the technologies of the WaveFront and STAR S4 Excimer Laser systems for high-definition, high-accuracy LASIK vision correction. CustomVue makes it possible to perform customized refractive surgeries using information gathered from your own eyes. This allows us to correct the very specific refractive errors that obscure each patient's vision so you can enjoy the best post-operative vision quality possible. Other benefits of the CustomVue process include faster treatment time and no need to dilate the pupils.
 The IntraLase® FS laser is a highly precise tool aiding in corneal flap creation, the first step in laser vision correction surgery. During the procedure, the IntraLase laser fires 15,000 pulses per second into the cornea, where the flap can be created at a depth and diameter determined by Dr. Brown as appropriate for each individual patient. In addition to benefiting from this pinpoint (2-3 micron) accuracy, patients who undergo surgery conducted with the IntraLase laser are less likely to need an enhancement (follow-up) procedure than with other technologies.
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Cataract Surgery
 Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens called an IOL.
We perform a minimally invasive, small-incision, no-stitch/ no shot cataract surgery called phacoemulsification ("phaco") surgery. First, the eye is numbed with anesthesia. Then a tiny incision is made in the eye to make room for a small ultrasonic probe. This probe breaks up, or emulsifies, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces.
After the cloudy lens has been removed, a new artificial lens, or IOL, is implanted in the eye. With the recent advance of foldable IOLs (intraocular lenses), artificial lenses can be implanted through the same small incision from the phaco procedure.
Flexible IOLs have been used for years to help patients enjoy clear vision after cataract surgery. The advanced ReSTOR® lens improves upon ordinary IOLs by providing a full range of focusing distances. A series of 12 gradual "step heights" create seamless focusing ability from near to far, while the edge of the IOL enhances distance vision. A feature called apodization also helps the eye distribute light evenly in different lighting conditions. Best of all, up to 80% of patients who use the ReSTOR® lens don't need glasses or contact lenses after surgery.
AcrySof Toric IOLs are specially designed for patients with astigmatism. Traditionally, surgical correction of astigmatism required making a series of small incisions (called LRIs) around the cornea to make it more spherical instead of football-shaped. Implanting toric IOLs often improves vision due to astigmatism without the need for these extra incisions, and also allows patients to enjoy a faster, more comfortable recovery.
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Refractive Lens Exchange
Patients who do not qualify or do not want laser vision correction may consider traditional surgery, specifically, the new technology of refractive lens implants. Using methods similar to those in cataract surgery, refractive lenses are implanted in front of (phakic intraocular) or in place of (clear lens replacement, or CLR) the eye's natural lens. Both procedures take approximately 30 minutes.
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Pterygium Excision
 A pterygium is a raised growth in the surface of the eye (the conjunctiva) made mostly of collagen and tiny red capillaries. They are usually caused by extended exposure to sunlight. They may remain stable after appearing, or they may grow and affect vision.
Treatments include eye drops for irritation and redness, protection from sunlight and dust to prevent the pterygium from worsening, and occasionally steroids to lessen inflammation.
If the pterygium grows into the central cornea, surgical removal is recommended. This prevents the pterygium from altering the cornea’s shape and affecting vision.
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Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
 Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. The procedure is usually performed in an office with local anesthesia in as little as 45 minutes.
Ectropion is a "turning out" of the eyelid that causes redness, irritation, tearing and an increased likelihood of infection. Common causes of ectropion include aging, sun damage, tumors, burns and the removal of too much skin during blepharoplasty. Ectropion can be corrected in a quick procedure in which the lid is tightened. Occasionally, the surgeon needs to graft a small segment of skin to ensure that the eyelid is fully repaired.
Entropion is a "turning in" of the eyelid. The lid and lashes rub painfully against the cornea. Entropion usually occurs as a result of aging, but other causes can include injury and various inflammatory conditions. Entropion can be corrected with a brief surgical procedure under local anesthesia.
Tumors on the eyelid or orbit (eye socket) should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. Most cancers of the eyelid (about 85-95%) are basal cell carcinomas that form on the inside of the inner eyelid. They are malignant but only rarely spread to other parts of the body. Treatment is usually surgical removal.
Surgical excision is recommended for malignant (cancerous) and certain benign (non-cancerous) lid lesions.
Chalazions are cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, on the edge of the eyelid that can usually be treated with antibiotic eye drops and warm compresses. In cases when there is no improvement and cyst remains, the chalazion can be excised.
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