Keeping our eyes healthy is important to the quality and enjoyment of life. Dr. Douglas A. Katsev, Refractive Cornea Specialist, offers his patients the most advanced technology in treating and correcting eye disorders, laser eye surgery, also known as LASIK, at the Laser Eye Care Center in Santa Barbara (phone, fax, hours, directions).

For more information or to schedule a complementary consultation, call (805) 681-8951 or email Danielle Mastella dmastell@sansumclinic.org

What is LASIK?

LASIK is an acronym for Laser-in-Situ Keratomileusis. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea so that light rays focus more precisely on the retina thereby reducing or eliminating refractive errors common in nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Quick, Outpatient Procedure

As an outpatient procedure, LASIK takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Using an "eye drop" anesthesia, the procedure is essentially painless. Patients will see improved vision results within 24 hours.

Our Laser Eye Surgery Expert

A highly skilled and experienced eye surgeon, Dr. Katsev specializes in cataract and corneal surgery, which includes the LASIK procedure for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Dr. Katsev is certified on the latest Excimer Laser Systems including VISX and has performed thousands of refractive procedures. He is Santa Barbara's longest practicing refractive eye surgeon.

Watch Dr. Douglas Katsev discuss LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery:

New LASIK: The INTRALASE® Difference

INTRALASE® is the innovation in LASIK surgery bringing an unprecedented level of safety and precision. Now for the first time, refractive surgeons have a device that can help mitigate surgical risk and improve outcomes.
INTRALASE® is the first blade-free technology for performing the critical first step on the LASIK procedure, creating the corneal flap. INTRALASE® replaces the hand-held microkeratome blade with the computer-guided precision of a laser that delivers micron-level accuracy more than 100 times greater than a microkeratome.
In addition to superior safety, clinical studies show that patients see better following LASIK with INTRALASE® than with a hand-held blade.

How do INTRALASE® and LASIK Work?

Step 1:
As the essential first step of vision correction, INTRALASE® uses a blade-free, computer-controlled laser to create a corneal flap that is of exact shape and thickness. INTRALASE® technology replaces the previous blade or "microkeratome" to create a corneal flap that is of the exact shape and thickness.

Step 2:
The corneal flap is laid back and an Excimer Laser is used to reshape the inner stormal layers of the cornea to achieve the patient's corrective vision prescription.

Step 3:
The corneal flap is then closed and the flap and interface are rinsed. At this point, patients can blink normally. The corneal flap remains secured in position by the natural suction within the cornea.

Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?

A screening assessment by your eye care professional is the first step to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK. Tests will be done to determine if your eyes are healthy and the degree of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism you have.
If you wear glasses or contacts, you should bring them with you to the examination. To be eligible for treatment, patients generally should have no active eye disease, a stable distance prescription for about one full year, and be at least 18 years of age.

What Kind of Vision Improvement Can I Expect?

Of patients who have had the procedure, 98 percent were able to achieve 20/40 vision or better and 75 percent of patients achieved 20/20 vision.

Laser Eye Surgery Evaluation

Scheduling a complimentary consultation with Dr. Katsev to learn more about your vision and vision correction options is the first step. At your initial personal consultation, Dr. Katsev and his staff will provide you with further information and evaluate your specific situation, medical history and expectation to determine if you are a candidate for the procedure. You may also choose to attend one of our monthly seminars.