Scott S Weissman, MD
Ophthalmologist located in Midtown East, New York, NY
If you're tired of the hassle and expense of eyeglasses or contacts, and you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, refractive surgery can permanently reduce or eliminate the need for you to wear corrective lenses. At his office in Manhattan’s Midtown East, ophthalmologist Scott S. Weissman, MD, a pioneer of refractive surgery, offers safe, effective refractive surgery. To find out if you’re a candidate for refractive surgery, call the New York City office or book a consultation online today.
When light enters your eye, your cornea bends the light waves to project an image onto the retina at the back of your eye. This process, called refraction, allows you to see.
Refractive errors happen when the image projected through your cornea focuses in front of (nearsightedness) or behind (farsightedness) your retina. Glasses and contacts temporarily correct refractive errors. Refractive surgery offers permanent vision correction.
Refractive surgery corrects vision problems by reshaping your cornea or replacing it with an artificial lens. Dr. Weissman is a master eye surgeon with fellowship training in corneal diseases. He has pioneered refractive surgery since 1987. His research concerning refractive surgery helped the excimer laser gain FDA approval.
Dr. Weissman has found wavefront-guided excimer laser surface ablation using the Visx laser to be a safer alternative to LASIK for vision correction. Surface ablation avoids potential flap complications and may produce less dry eye and less chance of progressive corneal thinning (corneal ectasia). Dr. Weissman performs his laser vision corrections at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital.
Am I a candidate for refractive surgery?
Refractive surgery can treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. You could be a candidate for refractive surgery if your vision has remained stable for at least two years, and you don’t have a history of corneal disease.
Things that could prevent you from having refractive surgery include:
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Pregnancy
- Certain eyeglass prescriptions
To determine if refractive surgery is right for you, Dr. Weissman first gives you instructions on how to prepare, like refraining from wearing your contacts for a few weeks. Once you’ve completed your preparation, you consult with Dr. Weissman and undergo a comprehensive eye exam and diagnostic screenings.
If Dr. Weissman determines that you’re a candidate for refractive surgery, your procedure takes place shortly after your consultation.
How does refractive surgery work?
For most patients, Dr. Weissman recommends excimer laser ablation, also called advanced surface treatment. The excimer laser emits a precise beam of ultraviolet light. Dr. Weissman uses this beam to reshape the surface layers of the cornea.
Unlike LASIK, advanced surface treatment doesn’t require a flap incision in the cornea to reach the deeper layers. For this reason, advanced surface treatment has benefits over LASIK like:
- Preserves corneal structure
- Reduced chance of injury due to active lifestyles
- Better outcomes for thin corneas
- Less likely to cause or worsen dry eye syndrome
- Potentially better vision outcomes
After refractive surgery, some patients will still need to wear glasses some of the time, like while driving. As with any medical procedure, refractive surgery has some risk of infection and other complications. Dr. Weissman and his team ensure that you have all the details about the risks and benefits, so you can make an informed decision about the procedure.
To schedule an initial consultation for refractive surgery, call the office of Scott S. Weissman, MD, or book an appointment online.