I am four months post lasik. My topograhpies have showed a central island which has stabilized for the last 6 weeks. My doctor has advised that upon a recheck in another 6 weeks and providing that the central island has remained unchanged, he would like to do an enhancement. I have observed on this board that about 1/2 the doctors have advised to wait for the wavefront technology and the other 1/2 has advised to enhance by adjusting the laser to the size of the island. What is the success rate of treating a central island with the current laser technology? I am anxious and excited at the thought of seeing clear again. Yet, I know that I need to be cautious. Thanking you in advance for any advice you can give.

I had one too & double vision (over & under). I have monovision, so only had my right eye done. They did an enhancement using the Nidek laser in February. The over & under went away, except when my eyes get very dry. Sometimes I think I have slight side-by-side doubling, but probably when my eyes are dry. I go back in a week for a recheck. What bothers me is that on my topgraphy, it shows the same hourglass-shaped mass, only before it was straight up & down & now is more slanted. My vision is definitely better than before, but I'm hoping the double vision doesn't come back. The doctor said it was very unusual to have a central island with my correction (-1.75), but after an enhancement it looks like I still have one. Good luck with your decision.

You really should seek advice at www.surgicaleyes.com Central islands are currently being corrected outside the U.S. The Mel 70 is producing the best results with it's T.O.S.C.A. system which is topolink. Most people have come to realize now that more is known about wavefront analysis,that wavefront is of little use in correcting this type of problem.Olivier a fellow that had a problem like your's just posted his story at surgical eye's including how he got corrected to 20/20.

A recent report on topography guided LASIK with the Technolas laser published in the June issue of Ophthalmology revealed that the success rate for correcting central islands was poor. There are of course other systems under study, and I wil lbe happy to report further information when it becomes available

Thank you

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL