Jennifer Gilby, MD, waited a long time for the right combination of skilled surgeon, predictable surgical procedure, and precise instrumentation before she found the answer to her vision problems. "I developed severe nearsightedness when I was about eight years old, and always relied on eyeglasses, and then contact lenses, to get me through the day," she relates.
As she pursued her career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Gilby, now 30, discovered that, improved vision or not, corrective lenses were problematic, at best.
"Eyeglasses can shift and slide down your nose, and in the sterile operating room, you can't just push them back into place," she points out. "Contact lenses can be uncomfortable if your eyes become dry, and you can suddenly lose your good vision if a lens shifts out of position."
Dr. Gilby hoped for a better way to restore crisp, clear vision. She was encouraged as advances in permanent refractive correction provided greatly improved vision to those who had lesser degrees of nearsightedness, with less need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, those advances never quite extended to her own situation.
"Radial Keratotomy (RK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) both held out the promise of improved vision," she acknowledges, "but the results weren't wholly predictable. I didn't think it was worth trading my poor vision, which could be completely corrected by eyeglasses and contacts, for something that might improve my vision, but might also have other, less desirable side effects. The prolonged recovery period also posed a problem for my schedule."
Finally, a procedure was developed that not only addressed Dr. Gilby's high level of nearsightedness, it was also highly precise, with reliably predictable results. That procedure was LASIK: laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.
Selecting Her Surgeon
Dr. Gilby liked what she learned about LASIK, but there was still the matter of selecting the right surgeon to perform it. "You want to select a surgeon who is highly skilled not only in the execution of the procedure, but in properly qualifying his patients for that procedure," advises Dr. Gilby.
"You can't miss how commercialized LASIK surgery has become," she observes. "Some surgeons may 'push the envelope' in determining who is really a good candidate for LASIK, in an effort to increase the number of surgeries they schedule. They're also cutting their rates, trying to attract more patients. When patients shop around for the least expensive procedure, it may not always lead them to the best evaluation of whether they're a good LASIK candidate," emphasizes Dr. Gilby. "For my eyes, I wanted a surgeon who was interested in improving my vision, and attaining the best results for me, not someone simply interested in scheduling another LASIK surgery."
Her search led her to Scott C. Behler, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist and a highly skilled practitioner of state-of-the-art refractive and cataract procedures. Dr. Behler is the founder of the Behler Eye & Laser Center in Belleair Bluffs.
"I spoke to my colleagues in the medical field, and talked with friends and even some of my own patients who had LASIK with Dr. Behler," says Dr. Gilby. "What I heard convinced me he was the surgeon for me.
"I discovered that Dr. Behler uses the VISX Star laser with the new variable spot scanner, useful for people with large pupils, and that helped me make my decision. I've done my research," she reminds, "and the VISX Star laser is government-approved for the levels of LASIK surgery Dr. Behler performs. In my opinion, the technology he uses makes it possible for him to more accurately map the topography of the eye.
"The fact that Dr. Behler is very specific about the guidelines he follows in recommending LASIK puts him in a category beyond many ophthalmologists; he's not just performing surgeries for monetary compensation, or to boost his 'numbers,'" emphasizes Dr. Gilby. "He cares about his patients' best outcomes."
Why LASIK
Dr. Behler supports Dr. Gilby's caution. "It's eye surgery, after all," he points out, "And as exciting and revolutionary as LASIK is, it is important for patients and surgeons to take a conservative approach to this leading edge procedure in order to ensure the best results possible.
"It's not enough that a procedure is the most advanced. The procedure must also be the right one for the patient, based on that patient's unique physical characteristics, vision needs and expectations. For example, if a surgeon uses laser instrumentation that is not suitable for use on larger pupils, the patient may encounter irritating glare at night after the procedure."
Before recommending LASIK for any patient, Dr. Behler conducts a free consultation to help determine the patient's candidacy for the procedure. This includes taking a medical history and performing a refraction test to ascertain the patient's degree of visual impairment.
Dr. Behler also discusses a patient's lifestyle, expectations and home and work environments before making a recommendation on the best procedure for that patient.
"Before a patient leaves the office," says Dr. Behler, "I want them to know their surgeon, and I want them to understand the procedure I've recommended, as well as the parameters that the government has established for its safe and effective use.
"One of reasons that LASIK is so successful," notes Dr. Behler, "is that, unlike other technologies, it is both adjustable and versatile.
"LASIK reshapes the inner corneal tissue and leaves the corneal epithelium intact. It can correct higher levels of myopia and astigmatism, as well as some levels of hyperopia, with minimal discomfort and a short recovery time."
Great Results
"Dr. Behler did a great job!" assures Dr. Gilby. "I had my procedure on a Thursday, and by Friday morning I was back to work, as usual, but there was nothing 'usual' about it. When I looked out the window, I could see the sunrise clearly, and the crisp, clear shapes of leaves on the trees. My post-operative tests say my vision has improved to 20/15, and I have had no trouble whatsoever in any of my settings, whether that's in the operating room, or working long hours at my computer.
"Dr. Behler's LASIK skills provided me with results about one-hundred-fifty percent over what I expected! I'm really pleased."
