Dr. Caster in the News
KTLA-TV Channel 5 News
with News Anchor Larry McCormick
Health and Fitness Report – June 16, 2003
Larry McCormick: It’s being called an ocular fingerprint, a revolutionary type of laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness using 3-D imaging to create crisper vision with fewer side effects.
Dr. Andrew Caster: “Suddenly you can see without glasses or contact lenses. A lot of people have told me that’s one of the most exciting times in their entire lives.”
Larry McCormick: Dr. Caster is talking about the next generation of Lasik eye surgery. Traditional Lasik uses a laser to reshape the cornea based on a person’s eyeglass prescription, but the latest technology called Wavefront allows doctors to use 3-dimensional maps to customize treatment in a way never before possible.
Dr. Andrew Caster: “With Wavefront Lasik we program in 200 different spots and each of those 200 spots gets its own particular prescription.”
Larry McCormick: One common complaint with traditional Lasik is the glare and other problems associated with night vision. Dr. Caster says the more subtle measurements afforded by the Wavefront technology can often correct these issues, but not everyone is a candidate for Wavefront. Your cornea must be thick enough to withstand the increased tissue removed by the new procedure and the level of correction you need could also be relevant.
Dr. Andrew Caster: “We can only treat certain amounts of nearsightedness and certain amounts of astigmatism. So people who have beyond that range cannot be treated with Wavefront Lasik. They can sometimes be treated with conventional Lasik, however.
Larry McCormick: But the new technology is not risk free. It’s important to make sure you undergo a proper exam and that your doctor is experienced. In terms of cost, Wavefront will add between $300-$500 more per eye.
That’s your health and fitness for tonight.