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While LASIK is the most common laser surgery, it’s not the only refractive surgery available at the LASER Vision Center.  There are other surgical procedures available and Ochsner does offer a free consultation with a refractive surgeon to help you determine which procedure is best for you.  To schedule your free consultation, call 504-894-2020.

Currently, the LASER Vision Center also offers:

Custom Intralase Lasik

Available exclusively only at Ochsner Baptist

Because no two eyes are exactly alike, Ochsner’s LASER Vision Center utilizes the Custom Intralase Method, which is the safest and most accurate method of performing LASIK today. This state-of-the-art technology tailors a custom correction procedure for individual irregularities of each patient’s eye.

Using the VISX CustomVue WaveScan system, your doctor first captures specific information about the eye; it evaluates nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and any other imperfection of the eye. Using that information your physician can then proceed with a customized laser procedure using Intralase Lasik.

During surgery using the Intralase method, a blade NEVER touches your eye. Instead, two separate lasers are used to perform your LASIK procedure. First, the Intralase LASER is used to create a corneal flap. Once this flap has been created and reflected back, the VISX S4 excimer laser reshapes the cornea according to the fingerprint type analysis performed by the WaveScan, in order to insure the best possible visual outcome. Also, CustomVue uses Iris Registration Technology to align and register the WaveFront treatment. With greater alignment accuracy, the procedure allows for a more precise correction and optimum visual acuity. In the final step, the corneal flap created by the Intralase FS LASER is repositioned, and "locks" securely back into its original position.

Click here to download the Custom Intralase Lasik information sheet.

Epi-Lasik or LASEK

This procedure is for patients who are good laser surgery candidates, but who may have thin corneas or other corneal conditions in which creating a LASIK flap is not medically recommended.

The major difference between this procedure and LASIK is that no flap is created in the cornea. Instead, the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) is gently removed. The Excimer Laser is then applied and reshapes the cornea to correct your prescription. A thin soft bandage contact lens will be worn for several days after treatment to help with healing. This procedure will require more recovery time compared to LASIK, but the visual results are identical.

Phakic IOL (Visian ICL)

This procedure is often referred to as the "Implantable Contact Lens." The Visian ICL is similar in size, shape, and feel to a soft contact lens, but it is inserted into the eye, just behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) and in front of the natural lens. After being placed through a small incision, the artificial lens unfolds and rests in its permanent position. The lens is invisible to the naked eye. After the procedure, vision often is instantly improved, though there may be a feeling of mild scratchiness. This procedure is ideal for young patients who are not candidates for LASER procedures, either because of a thin cornea or a prescription which is too high for LASIK to be safely performed.

Refractive Lens Exchange

This procedure is typically performed on patients over 45 years of age with a high spectacle or contact lens prescription. The purpose is to exchange or replace the natural lens of the eye with an implant that provides clear focusing ability. This procedure is identical in technique to commonly performed cataract surgery, but is performed for the purpose of changing the eye's prescription, before cataracts ever develop.

Advanced Cataract Surgery Lens Transplants

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed procedure in the United States. This procedure replaces the cloudy natural lens of the eye with a new synthetic lens, which results in improved vision and offers the ability to reduce your dependence on glasses for driving and/or reading. With today’s advanced technology, cataract surgery is performed through a tiny incision in the eye

Depending on your vision challenges, your surgeon will use one of two lenses as a replacement:

Multifocal IOL

Multifocal Intraocular Lenses aim to offer a full range of vision (near,  intermediate and distance). This  lens can actually help you become less  dependent or even eliminate the  need to wear eyeglasses, bifocals or reading  glasses after cataract surgery.

Toric IOL

For patients with significant amounts of astigmatism, there is the Toric Lens  Implants that correct astigmatism and reduce the need to wear glasses for  distance vision. However, the astigmatism correcting Toric Lens still do not  correct up close vision as required for reading, so you may still need either  bifocals or reading glasses to see up close.