Prado Vision and Lasik Center in Tampa, Florida, provides the most advanced laser vision correction available with the latest technology and experienced surgeon, Dr. Antonio Prado. We strive to be the premier center for Lasik eye surgery in Tampa, Florida, by offering premium care to patients in the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida.
Lasik eye surgery remains the most popular laser vision correction procedure in the world. Its popularity can be credited to the level of success, safety, predictability, and rapid healing associated with the procedure. Millions of people now live without the need for glasses or contact lenses thanks to Lasik eye surgery. In Tampa, Prado Vision has performed thousands of Lasik procedures for people suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. We can also treat those over 40 who need reading glasses. Visit the informational NearVision(SM) CK® page to learn about our ability to correct presbyopia without lasers!
Lasik surgery is performed under topical anesthesia, which is easily administered in the form of eye drops. During the procedure, Dr. Antonio Prado utilizes an automated microkeratome that precisely creates a thin, hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is a crucial step in Lasik surgery because it allows access to the central portion of your cornea, which causes the refractive error. To correct this error, the cornea is reshaped by removing a microscopic layer of tissue using a computer-controlled laser beam. Once the necessary portion is removed, the flap is returned to its original position and naturally adheres for fast healing without stitches.
By reshaping the cornea, Lasik surgery creates a corneal shape that allows light to be focused more directly on the retina, which allows you to see more clearly. Lasik eye surgery patients experience little or no discomfort, and both eyes are typically completed in less than 15 minutes.
Prado Vision Lasik Center in Tampa, Florida, offers the most widely used laser for our laser vision correction procedures.
Technolas® 217A
The Technolas® 217A excimer laser's innovative "flying spot" technology produces an extremely smooth corneal surface. The Technolas® 217A laser uses a state-of-the-art feedback mechanism that helps to ensure sure every pulse is placed as prescribed. The Technolas 217A laser is designed ergonomically for LASIK. Which means greater comfort for you and greater flexibility for your surgeon.
The Technolas® 217A is a newer generation excimer laser. An excimer laser is a precise computerized instrument that uses invisible ultra-violet light to ablate the cornea during refractive surgery. This cool light laser produces virtually no damage to the surrounding tissue, increasing its safety. Each pulse of the laser removes only a minute amount of corneal tissue - about 1/500th of the thickness of a human hair. First- and second-generation excimer lasers use a broad beam (about 6 mm in diameter) with an aperture that controls the amount of the beam that is exposed to the eye during any single pulse. Manufacturers have refined this technology by splitting the single broad beam into several smaller beams that are rotated around the treatment area (similar to how a showerhead splits the main water stream into smaller streams).
Newer generation excimer lasers, such as Bausch & Lomb's Technolas® 217A, utilize an innovative technology called a "flying spot laser." A narrow beam (about 2 mm wide) contacts the eye at lightning speed in a pattern that allows the debris to clear in one place before contacting that area again. The laser beam covers a broad surface area, but does not penetrate as deeply as in RK procedures. Unlike the broad beam, the full width of the flying spot beam is exposed to the cornea during every pulse. This technology produces a smoother corneal shape and helps increase the accuracy and efficacy of the surgery.
Technolas® 217z Zyoptix™
This is the newest generation excimer laser. It combines both a 2mm and a 1mm beam. The Zyoptix&trade system maps thousands of data points - giving your doctor a fully detailed, three-dimensional picture of your cornea's shape and characteristics. Your doctor can then provide a unique treatment for each eye, resulting in personalized vision correction that is as individual as your eye. With the Zyoptix™, your doctor can advance your vision to a new level of precision and clarity.
Small imperfections in the shape of the eye can cause a scattering of light, which in turn can contribute to vision impairment. This scattering of light forms distinct patterns within the eye known as aberrations. The innovative design of the Zyoptix™ personalized laser vision correction system allows your doctor to measure these aberrations, then plan a treatment that exactly matches the eye's individual vision errors.
The Zyoptix system has been providing clear, and accurate eyesight for over 2 years, and has been used in over 100,000 procedures worldwide.
Lasik Surgery Consultation
During your free Lasik surgery consultation, we will determine if you are a good candidate for laser vision correction through a thorough eye exam. This exam includes:
• Review of past medical history
• Review of past ocular history
• Use of glasses or contact lenses
• Previous infections or other problems
• Trauma
• Corneal Topography - measures corneal curvature and shape
• Corneal Pachymetry - measures corneal thickness
• ZyWave measures for Higher Order Aberrations
• Measurement of refractive error
• Determines degree of Myopia, Hyperopia, or Astigmatism
• Performed by physician and not a technician alone
• Performed in a natural undilated state and dilated (cycloplegia)
• Measurement of tear production
• Measurement of pupil size
• Biomicroscopic Evaluation of all ocular structures to determine overall eye health
During your Lasik evaluation, you will be provided with information regarding the procedure, as well as the results from your examination. This consultation is extremely important because we want to be certain that you are an excellent Lasik surgery candidate. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of patients are not able to undergo laser vision correction because their examination revealed a condition that would prevent them from having a predictable result. However, with advancements in laser vision correction procedures, and with the availability of CK® and CRT, we are able to correct the degree of refractive error in the vast majority of patients.
If you depend on glasses or contact lenses, you could benefit from Lasik eye surgery at our Tampa, Florida, laser vision correction center. Contact Prado Vision Lasik Center today to schedule your free Lasik surgery consultation, and enjoy life with clear vision.
Lasik FAQs
What is custom laser vision correction?
Custom laser vision correction, or Custom LASIK, is an exciting and advanced new technology that accounts for each patient's individual unique vision needs, resulting in the most successful vision correction possible. The three-step procedure is fully customized to your eyes, and offers a more precise and accurate correction of higher order aberrations, subtle focusing imperfections which compromise vision in low-light environments. Traditional laser vision correction only accounts for lower level aberrations, which contribute to blurry vision.
In the first step, your eyes' individual aberrations are captured and a highly accurate wavefront map is created. A computer then translates the map, which displays even tiny irregularities in the eyes, into a guide for an excimer laser. The process is completed when the laser reshapes each cornea.
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Custom LASIK trial found that 98% of participants attained at least 20/20 vision, without the aid of glasses or contact lenses! The FDA thus deemed custom laser vision correction both effective and safe to treat low to moderate nearsightedness and astigmatism.
Who should I trust to perform my Lasik surgery?
Choosing a Lasik surgeon is the most important decision you will make. To ensure the best results possible and minimize the risk of complications, you should select an experienced surgeon. Dr. Prado has been performing laser vision correction since the excimer laser was FDA-approved in 1995. He has performed more than 12,000 successful Lasik surgeries. Dr. Prado has performed Lasik on many of the professional athletes in our area, such as Wade Boggs, as well as many of our celebrities, TV, and radio personalities. Dr. Prado’s patients seek his care not only for his skill as a surgeon, but also for his compassion and caring attitude.
Prado Vision Lasik Center utilizes only the latest FDA-approved technology available. We pride ourselves in answering all your questions fully, and we strive to be your one-on-one Lasik information source. Choosing a skilled Lasik surgeon will increase the chances of having a successful outcome.
How do I find out if I am a good Lasik candidate?
The first step is to schedule a free Lasik consultation at our Tampa center where multiple measurements of your eyes will be performed to determine if you are a Lasik candidate. We will review the risks and benefits of Lasik and answer all your questions completely. We find that only 15 to 20 percent of patients are not Lasik candidates. Some of these may be candidates for other laser vision correction procedures, such as PRK.
Will my insurance cover laser vision correction?
Lasik is usually considered an elective procedure, so most health insurance plans do not cover this as a benefit. However, we will be happy to confirm this with your insurance for you. During your initial Lasik consultation, we will review our surgical fees with you. There are a variety of attractive payment options available, including financing which can make your monthly payments as low as $35 per month.
Is Lasik a safe procedure?
The FDA approved the excimer laser for use in laser vision correction in 1995. Millions of patients worldwide have undergone the procedure. Prado Vision and Lasik Center only utilizes FDA-approved lasers and instruments. We sterilize our instruments between each surgery, and we always use a new microkeratome blade for each patient to assure the highest standard of care possible.
Like any other surgical procedure, laser vision correction has some inherent risks, but the computer-controlled accuracy of our laser and Dr. Prado’s extensive experience help minimize those risks. Dr Prado has great confidence in the safety and predictability of the procedure, having received Lasik himself in 1998.
Does Lasik hurt?
There is no pain during Lasik because the eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops. Some patients experience some mild burning and tearing for several hours after the procedure, but this usually resolves by the next morning. It is very rare to have significant discomfort.
Will Lasik give me 20/20 vision?
The chances of seeing 20/20 after laser vision correction depend on the degree of your refractive prescription prior to surgery. Nearly everyone experiences significant improvement after Lasik surgery, and 99 percent see well enough to pass a driver’s test without correction.
Is Lasik permanent?
Our research over more than 10 years indicates that laser vision correction is permanent, but we do recognize that some patients’ vision may change in the few months following Lasik. For these patients, an enhancement may be indicated after their vision and prescription have become stable. Also, an enhancement will only be done if it is in the patient’s best interest.
When can I return to work after Lasik?
Many of our patients return to work the very next day. For those who would prefer not to go right back to work, we offer Friday surgery to allow the weekend for recovery.
What restrictions will I have after receiving Lasik?
Most activities may be resumed the next day. We do, however, recommend that you refrain from swimming, rubbing your eyes, and wearing eye make-up for two weeks after Lasik surgery. Jogging or lifting heavy objects may be resumed one week after surgery. For those who need to travel, you may fly the day following your procedure.
For more information about Lasik eye surgery, contact Prado Vision Lasik Center in Tampa, Florida.
