The Facts about LASIK and Military Service

LASIK in Phoenix: LASIK and Military Uses

LASIK procedures have made a profound difference in the way people can see the world around them. Once tied to glasses and contacts, people who have undergone successful LASIK surgeries to correct their vision can see the world with perfect vision—without the aid of corrective lenses.

LASIK for Military Purposes

Some LASIK procedures are now accepted by the military. Only the iLASIK procedure (a combination of Intralase and CustomVue, a Femtosecond laser and a Wavefront guided laser) are actually approved for Navy aviators, Navy SEALs, and Air Force pilots by the Department of Defense; and also approved for astronauts by NASA.

Astronauts and elite military personnel have to be at their best, performing at maximum capacity under the most extreme conditions. Military approval of iLASIK is a serious vote of confidence for this kind of LASIK technology.

The approval of some LASIK for military use has created a new pool of candidates for military service at the highest levels. According to the February 2012 issue of Eye World Magazine, studies have shown that subjects who used glasses or contacts perform better under harsh circumstances (water pressure, high G force, high altitude, and blowing sand) after laser vision correction.

In January 2012, Military Eye Surgeons, LASIK eye surgeons who perform LASIK surgery for the armed forces, reported these statistics:

• 85,000 refractive procedures were performed between 2001 and 2012; 94 percent of these patients achieved 20/20 vision or better, and about a third had better than 20/20 vision.
• In the Army, over 200,000 procedures were performed since 2000, with a shift from surface treatment (PRK) toward LASIK.
• The Navy reported 13,000 refractive procedures in 2011 alone, about half including LASIK.
• Ectasia, a serious complication, occurred in only 58 patients out of over 200,000 patients—and those who suffered ectasia still usually experienced improved vision after treatment.
• Other rare complications (night vision symptoms, discomfort, and infection, for example) were infrequent and mild enough to leave surgeons and researchers unconcerned.

Military LASIK

LASIK and military operations may be mutually beneficial to one another. LASIK surgeries can improve military operations and also allow procedures like iLASIK a proving ground and seal of approval.

If you’re serving in the US military and are interested in improving your vision with LASIK surgery, sign up for a free consultation today from the Phoenix doctors that doctors trust.

Sight After Cataract Surgery

Sometimes your sight after cataract surgery is still not perfect.  In some cases, LASIK surgery can help improve your vision after cataract surgery.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil; this causes vision to become cloudy.  During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed from the eye, and is replaced with a permanent intraocular lens implant to restore focusing power.  While this procedure is able to fix the vision loss due to the cataract, sight after cataract surgery is not always perfect.  This is due to other factors not related to cataracts that can cause loss of visual acuity.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are problems that can still exist after cataract surgery; poor sight after cataract surgery requiring glasses to correct can be a result from these conditions.  Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are all refractive errors — these can be corrected by changing the shape of the cornea so it can properly focus.  If you have undergone cataract surgery and still require glasses or contact lenses to improve distance vision, you might be a candidate for LASIK to improve your sight after cataract surgery.  Residual nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can be corrected using advanced technology laser vision correction.  While this can significantly improve your sight after cataract surgery, sometimes it is still necessary to use reading glasses to further improve your close vision.

If you have had cataract surgery, you might be a candidate for LASIK.  Contact us today for a free consultation at 1-800-49-LASIK.

LASIK Surgeon in Phoenix, Dr Cassidy

Moretsky Cassidy Can Boast LASIK Surgeons Phoenix Calls the Finest.

Dr. Cassidy is one of the premier LASIK surgeons Phoenix residents can trust. With a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB). As a certified specialist in ophthalmology and a Diplomat of the American Osteopathic Board of Opthalmology, he’s one of the best LASIK surgeons Phoenix has to offer.

Dr. Cassidy’s Professional Background

Dr. Cassidy has a career history in ophthalmology and LASIK procedures. He’s a former President of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology and a recipient of their Distinguished Service Award. He’s a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). He’s a former Chief of Staff of John C. Lincoln Hospital in deer Valley, and now serves on the Board of Trustees of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association.

As an Active Member of the Phoenix Ophthalmologic Society and an active committee member in the Arizona Ophthalmologic Society, Dr. Cassidy is an expert LASIK surgeon who has practiced since 1981. He performs advance iLASIK procedures, implantable contact lense surgery, advanced surface treatments. He’s also an expert cataract surgeon.

Outside the Office

Despite his impressive credentials, Dr. Cassidy isn’t only about professional life. He’s an active family man who enjoys golfing, biking water-skiing, reading, and going to the gym. The whole family enjoys visiting his wife’s hometown near Traverse City, Michigan, where they’ve traveled annually for the past 30 years.

He has five children – two girls and three boys. His older daughter is a trauma nurse, two of his sons work in manufacturing, and his youngest two children are still in college. Dr. Cassidy says, “We’re fortunate that our children are local and close to us. They come to our house every Sunday for a family dinner. If we go out to eat, the kid’s family favorite is Olive Garden or any Mexican restaurant.
Their most favorite is a home-cooked meal at our house and we love for them to come. My personal favorite is barbequeing on the backyard grill.”

To learn more about Moretsky Cassidy LASIK or to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Craig Cassidy, call 1-800 49-LASIK or visit arizonalasik.com.

LASIK Surgeons in Phoenix: Dr. Moretsky

Dr. Moretsky is one of the most competent and experienced LASIK surgeons Phoenix residents can call upon. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State, and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KUCMB). He’s a certified specialist in ophthalmology, a Diplomat of the American Board and the Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology, and the founder/managing partner of Valley Eye Specialists PLC, (doing business as Moretsky Cassidy Vision Correction).

Dr. Moretsky has a long history in ophthalmology – he’s a former President of the American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology and a recipient of their Distinguished Service Award. He’s served two terms as chairman of the KUMBC’s Research and Medical Affairs Committee. He has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has served consecutive terms on their Advisory Council. Dr. Moretsky has even been awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Meritorious Achievement. To top the list off, he’s also certified in refractive surgery by the Council for Refractive Surgery.

LASIK Surgeons, Phoenix Style

Dr. Moretsky is a Past President of the Phoenix Ophthalmologic Society; he’s served in a leadership position on the Board of Trustees of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. Most recently, Dr. Moretsky received the President’s Award by the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. He’s an active member of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and has been in practice since 1978; he performs advanced technology iLASIK, as well as cataract surgery.

Out of the Office

Dr. Moretsky enjoys riding his mountain bike when he’s out of the office, and also hiking and doing yoga. He loves San Diego beaches for summer vacations, and likes attending the occasional local pro sports event or occasional play/movie with his wife.

Dr. Moretsky has two adult children, both of whom have young kids of their own; his daughter is in the medical field and his son in IT. “Needless to say,” he says, “I’m very proud of both of them.”

Dr. Moretsky’s favorite local restaurant is Houston’s – he says, “it’s simple, fast, and affordable with excellent food and service… but don’t go when they’re really busy, because they won’t take reservations!”

Of the Moretsky Cassidy Practice, Dr. Moretsky says, “Dr. Cassidy and I started vision correction surgery soon after we began practicing together in the early 1980s.” They both received specialized training from pioneers in the field, and then improved their skills and knowledge base until they became some of the premier LASIK surgeons Phoenix could call its own. “We started performing LASIK in the mid-1990s,” he says, “When the first safe and effective lasers were approved by the FDA.”

“Our earliest experiences with vision correction were truly gratifying and prompted us to pursue specialization in this field of ophthalmology,” he says. The two LASIK surgeons Phoenix has supported for years have been partners at Moretsky Cassidy since the early 80s, and greatly helped pioneer the LASIK field.

To learn more about Moretsky Cassidy LASIK or to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Sanford Moretsky, contact us today at 1-800 49-LASIK.

LASIK after Radial Keratotomy

If you underwent radial keratotomy in the past, you might wonder if it’s possible to have Laser eye surgery after radial keratotomy.  The short answer is yes.

Radial keratotomy was pioneered by a Russian ophthalmologist, Dr. Svyatoslav Fyodorov, in the 1970’s; laser vision correction was introduced in the United States in the 1990’s.  Laser eye surgery quickly proved to be more predictable and safer than radial keratotomy, thus eye surgeons quickly converted and discontinued performing radial keratotomy surgery.

There are a number of radial keratotomy complications emerging as patients who underwent the procedure years ago are aging and experiencing vision changes. This has patients wondering whether or not Laser after radial keratotomy might be a viable solution.  The multiple incisions used during the radial keratotomy procedure can lead to a condition that sometimes represents hyperopia or farsightedness.  This often means patients may require glasses for reading, and over time, they’ll also need glasses for distance vision as well.

Laser vision correction after radial keratotomy is an effective option to help patients who experience these symptoms.  When performing Laser vision correction after radial keratotomy, surface treatment or photorefractive keratectomy often works better than creating a LASIK flap.  Advanced technology custom laser vision correction is often used to correct the prescription requirement in the glasses, and also improves the quality of vision by reducing induced distortions or aberrations of the cornea (created by the previous radial keratotomy surgery).

In some cases, patients benefit from refractive lens exchange involving the removal of natural lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens implant.  If the farsighted correction is beyond the range that can be corrected by laser vision, then this technique is used.

If you require glasses or contact lenses for your distance-corrected vision, you might want to consider Laser vision correction after radial keratotomy.  Custom laser vision correction or refractive lens exchange surgery might be able to improve your distance vision.

To find out more about LASIK surgery or to learn if you are a candidate, visit the Phoenix LASIK surgeons that doctors trust at Moretsky Cassidy LASIK.

Dr. Shanlyn Newman recommended Drs. Moretsky and Cassidy for the personalized care they have provided and the staff’s congruency she found when visiting their office.

Spencer Heaton, M.D. also chose Dr. Cassidy and Dr. Moretsky as his choice LASIK surgeons in Phoenix.  He was very impressed on the thorough preoperative examination when he went to have LASIK surgery.

Vanessa Tartaglia, D.O., a family physician, decided to ask around and do her homework before committing to any LASIK surgeons in Phoenix.  She visited three different LASIK surgeons before going to Dr. Moretsky and Dr. Cassidy to be evaluated for LASIK.  After her consultation, her choice became easy. She states she “was blown away with the thoroughness of the exams and personal attention the patients received in their care”.  After the procedure, she was also impressed with the follow-up care that she received from them.

To learn more about LASIK or cataract surgery from the doctors that doctors trust, call Moretsky Cassidy LASIK today at 1-800-49-LASIK.

The safety of eye drops and mild sedative used during the procedure have not been tested on pregnant women, so they should be avoided (especially during the first trimester).  This is not the only concern though; LASIK and pregnancy might not be a good idea also due to physical changes women experience during pregnancy.  For example, hormonal shifts can cause fluid retention, which can lead to swelling around the eye, which can ultimately cause changes in vision.  Vision returns to normal after pregnancy.  Since these changes in vision are temporary, making changes in lens prescriptions or undergoing LASIK eye surgery are not recommended.  It is necessary to correct vision before or after pregnancy rather than during.

While it is probably best to not combine LASIK and pregnancy, there is no evidence that having LASIK before or after pregnancy causes any harm or complications.  When evaluating candidacy for LASIK, women who are pregnant or nursing are not considered good candidates for the procedure.  It is recommended women wait 2 to 3 months after they stop nursing to have LASIK performed.

To learn if you are a candidate for LASIK surgery, contact Moretsky Cassidy LASIK today at 1-800 49-LASIK.

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Moretsky Cassidy LASIK! 

Click Here to Join us on Facebook and Post Your Video Today!

How to Enter:

Step 1:  Like us on Facebook & Fill Out Form

Fans of Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Facebook page, who are 21 years of age or above can participate by filling out the designated form and come into Moretsky Cassidy LASIK (Mesa Office) for a free consultation between the dates of March 30, 2012 and May 3, 2012. 

Step 2:  Qualify for Surgery 

The LASIK consultation is necessary to confirm that the contestant qualifies for the procedure by passing a series of eye exams.  If the entrant is determined to be a qualifying candidate for LASIK, they will be given the opportunity to complete their entry by answering three questions that are videoed by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK staff.

Step 3:  Collect Votes to Win XYZ 

Qualifying participants will also be given an opportunity to win a $50 gift card to Outback Steakhouse by gaining the most “likes” on their video that will be posted on the Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Facebook page: LASIKTopDocsAZ.

Step 4:  Winner Contacted

The **winner will be selected and contacted by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK on Thursday, May 10, 2012 to confirm receipt of prize (Free LASIK surgery- a $4,400 value) and be the featured in the social media Reality LASIK videos that will be shot on May 18-20, 2012.   The winner must respond and claim the prize within 24 hours of being contacted. Assuming acceptance and confirmed availability on the video shoot date, the winner will be announced the following week on the Facebook wall.

**Winner is responsible for any necessary transportation to and from Moretsky Cassidy LASIK in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as any necessary local lodging and all costs associated with these details for the required consultation and video shoot dates.

*Contestants who do not have an active Facebook account may also enter by requesting a free consultation by emailing their name, address and phone number to: socialmedia@arizonalasik.com.  Email must be received by April 30 and consultation must occur by May 5^th.  All other rules apply. 

The Contest –  No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve your chance of winning.  The contest begins Friday, March 30, 2012 and ends Tuesday, May 1, 2012.  The winner will be determine and approved by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK among all qualifying contest entries received by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Vision Correction, whose decision is final.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.  A winner may be requested to provide Moretsky Cassidy LASIK with proof he/she is the authorized account holder of the profile associated with the winning entry, along with proof of personal identification.

Eligibility – The contest is open only to legal residents of the state of Arizona, 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.  Contestants must qualify for LASIK surgery as determined by strict criteria by the doctors of Moretsky Cassidy LASIK by a consultation.  The consultation must occur and eligibility confirmed by the close of business (5 p.m. (PST)) May 3, 2012.  Contestants must be available and onsite all day of May 18-20, 2012 for the filming of the LASIK reality video, including the preop/intraoperative, and postop sections in order to qualify, and must agree to the use of their image on all Moretsky Cassidy LASIK promotional material and videos for distribution where Moretsky Cassidy LASIK deems fit.  Employees and directors of Moretsky Cassidy LASIK, and the immediate families (parents, children, stepparents, stepchildren, siblings or spouses) and member of the same household of each of the above (whether related or not), are not eligible to participate.  Void where prohibited by law.

Grand Prize – Free LASIK surgery by Dr. Sanford Moretsky and the key figure in the Moretsky Cassidy LASIK social media reality video.

Notification of Winner – Moretsky Cassidy LASIK will notify the winner no less than one week prior to the surgery date (May 18-20, 2012).  If the selected winner is ineligible, does not respond to notification within twenty-four (24) hours of such notification, does not accept the prize or the notification is returned as non-deliverable, the prize will be forfeited, and an alternate winner will be selected from the remaining eligible entries by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK, whose decision is final.  The winner will be required to execute and return a notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release, where legal, within three business days following the notification or the prize will be forfeited.  The winner will be required to send information via traceable FedEx, UPS or, any form of certified mail, along with winner’s telephone number.  Non-compliance with this time period will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

Rules/Winner List:  Official rules will be posted on Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Blog pagehttp://blog.arizonalasik.com/ or may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:  Attn:  Wendy Salgado, Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Giveaway Rules, 160 W. University Dr., Ste. 1, Mesa, AZ  85201. 

The name of the winner will be posted on Moretsky Cassidy LASIK  Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/LasikTopDocsAZ after May 3, 2012 to Attn:  Wendy Salgado, Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Giveaway Rules, Moretsky Cassidy LASIK Giveaway rules, 160 W. University Dr., Ste. 1, Mesa, AZ  85201.

General Rules – Moretsky Cassidy LASIK has the right to revise dates and procedures mentioned in these rules. Moretsky Cassidy LASIK reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the contest, to be acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, defraud or harass any other person or for any other reason Moretsky Cassidy LASIK deems a disqualification.  Moretsky Cassidy LASIK is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information or for any technical or human error which may occur in the process of entries for the Contest.  All decisions of Moretsky Cassidy LASIK shall be final and binding.  The contest is governed by the laws of the State of Arizona and the United States.  Should there be a conflict between the laws of Arizona and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of Arizona.  Any and all disputes shall be litigated exclusively in the Courts of Maricopa County, Arizona.  By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Moretsky Cassidy LASIK, its affiliates, promotional/advertising agencies, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all damages, costs, expenses, and other liabilities, including damages for personal injury or damage to property, whether the damages are direct or indirect, regardless whether the claim is based on contract, tort, or any other legal theory, which may be due to or arise out of participation in the Contest or any portion thereof or the acceptance, use/misuse, or possession of the prize.  Further, by participating, you agree to these Official Rules and that the decisions by Moretsky Cassidy LASIK are final and binding in all respects.  Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission to Moretsky Cassidy LASIK and its agencies to use the winner’s name and/or likeness for the purpose of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.  By participating in this contest, entrants agree to be bound by these official rules.  All taxes, fees, insurance, surcharges, and any other expenses not specified herein are the sole responsibility of the winner.

If for any reason, Moretsky Cassidy LASIK is not capable of running the contest as planned, Moretsky Cassidy LASIK reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the contest.  Void where prohibited by law, rule, or regulation.  All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

Eye Damage & Tanning Beds

Eyesight problems and indoor tanning don’t seem, at first glance, to go hand-in-hand. One might associate tanning beds with an increased risk of cancer or with a flawless tan in January, but it’s important to consider the risks to your eyes when choosing whether to use tanning beds. Eye damage and tanning beds are far more closely related than one might think.

Here are the facts:

• According to EyeSmart, 11 different U.S. medical organizations have joined forces in an initiative to raise awareness of the dangers tanning beds pose to vision. These organizations include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Melanoma Research Foundation, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others.
• Tanning beds produce UV levels up to 100 times that produced by the sun’s rays. Again according to EyeSmart, studies have shown that radiation exposure during indoor tanning can lead to lasting eye damage— including cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer of the uvea. UV damage is cumulative, so the younger populations most likely to tan indoors are the very groups that should focus on protecting their eyes for the future.
• A recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that though 86 percent of those using tanning beds thought using tanning beds can cause skin cancer, 87 percent thought people look more attractive with a tan. Vanity (or the mood-lifting effects of UV exposure) seems to outweigh abstract thoughts of future cancer risks. But when you add potential eyesight problems into the equation, is it really worth it?

Tanning Booths and LASIK

Things get even dicier when LASIK surgery is added to the equation—though the legal requirements remain basically the same. According to USA Eyes, tanning booth operators are required to supply their customers with eyewear that blocks 100 percent of UV rays, in compliance with Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations.

It’s even more important to wear protective eyewear correctly and ensure that all UV rays are blocked during the weeks after LASIK surgery. UV exposure of any kind can trigger late onset corneal haze that can obscure vision. UV exposure in the intensity produced by tanning beds could seriously and permanently damage the eyes.

Eye damage and tanning beds don’t need to be a deterrent to responsible LASIK surgery. To learn more about eye care that can improve your vision and help eye sight problems, visit us at www.arizonalasik.com.

Improve Your Vision with LASIK Surgery

Can LASIK fix astigmatism? It’s one of the most difficult common problems to treat fully. People who have astigmatism may have faced a lifetime of “can’t” stipulations from their ophthalmologist. As in “can’t wear these contacts, can’t completely clear up your vision with lenses, and can’t directly address the problem. “Vision correction may have been an imperfect and frustrating road for you, perhaps for your whole life.

LASIK surgery changes that equation.

LASIK with Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition in which the eye is shaped more like a football than a round sphere, so that light refracts off the cornea in more than one location. This results in blurred vision that may make things appear either wider or more elongated than normal. Astigmatism can play tricks with depth perception and make it nearly impossible to see with crisp clarity, even with corrective lenses. Even contact lenses are an incomplete treatment, dealing with the symptoms but not the cause.

Refractive surgeries like LASIK are designed to reshape the surface of the cornea using carefully controlled laser pulses. LASIK is thus the only treatment for astigmatism that goes right to the source and corrects the problem, rather than dealing only with the symptoms.

The laser pulses during LASIK surgery are precision-engineered to correct your distinctive eye shape, so that the cornea is as close as possible to a perfectly round sphere–more like a baseball than an astigmatic football. This adjustment refracts light more clearly, sharpening vision through simple physics, and minimizing or even eradicating the need for contacts or glasses.

Better Eyesight with LASIK?

So, can LASIK fix astigmatism? In most cases, the answer is yes.  LASIK can reshape the cornea to fix not only astigmatism, but near- or far-sightedness as well. The result is crisp, clear vision that can eradicate the need for glasses, giving you the natural vision you’ve only dreamed of having.

To learn how you can have improved vision, visit the Phoenix LASIK surgeons that doctors trust at arizonalasik.com.