Hi,

I'm 6 months post-op and am anticipating getting an enhancement due to undercorrection by -1.00 and visual artifacts in both eyes.

If I have a different doctor do the enhancement, will he be able to lift the same flap? Will he simply examine the eye to see where the flap is? Will he use a keratome or will he use a different instrument?

Thanks!
Curt

If its still possible to do so, he will, else hes gonna have to cut a new flap. Having two flaps, one under the other doesnt bode well because youll have even more high order abreviations. Another thing is maybe you want to enhance only your dormant eye to preserve your near vision and delay the need for reading glasses. Ive read alot on monovision and if you dont like it, you can have the other eye enhanced too

My doctor claims to have lifted flaps up to 4 years past the initial surgery, no problem. He said only the epithelial cells heal around the periphery of the flap. He locates the flap with a microscope and uses a "blunt" instrument to re-lift it. He also said that after 4 years the flap still will not be healed as part of the cornea. That is very much at odds with all my other research so I'm more confused than ever and have lost much of my trust due to a number of illogical statements he has made.

ACE - recutting a flap is typically not done. Either the flap is relifted, or surface ablation (PRK or LASEK) is performed over the flap.

I hope this helps

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

I had my right eye enhanced because it had regressed to about -1 diopter (Actually both had regressed, but I elected to keep my left eye undercorrected to help with reading). My enhancement survery was 10 months after the original surgery. My dr. made a small nick at the side of the flap and lifted it using an instrument. The procedure felt different to me as compared to the microketerome original procedure. I remember feeling more anxious during the lift procedure. At any rate he did the correction then replaced the flap. Sometimes a bandage contact is needed, but not in my case. I remember that the recovery seemed quicker, probably because I knew what to expect. I think though you are at more of a risk for epithelium growth under the flap with an enhancement, because that is what happened to me. I ended up going in for a third surgery on my right eye to lift the flap and wash out the cells. This was done 3 months after the enhancement, and my vision was much better afterward. I did need a bandage contact and my dr. says that I am showing some roughness around the flap edge. I need to keep up with the moisture drops. But finally after about 14 months since my original surgery my vision is where I want it to be.