Windsor Laser Eye Institute.

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2 Welcome to the Windsor Laser Eye Institute. The Windsor Laser Eye Institute is worldrenowned for its work and contribution in vision correction procedures. The Institute is committed to providing the most advanced technology in LASIK surgery to produce superior results for our patients. Since 1991, we have helped enhance the lives of more than 25,000 people who have chosen us to perform their vision correction procedure. The Windsor Laser Eye Institute was established over 18 years ago by our Medical Director and Chief Surgeon, Dr. Fouad Tayfour. Highly regarded by his peers as a world leader in vision correction, Dr. Fouad Tayfour s experience, combined with his extensive clinical research, has contributed significantly to worldwide improvements in Laser Vision Correction. Dr. Fouad Tayfour was the first in North America to perform LASIK in 1993 and has performed more than 50,000 LASIK procedures. Dr. Tayfour s reputation for remarkable results and personal attention has drawn patients from around the world. Technological advancements aside, we continue to be a leader in the industry for the personable approach we take with every patient. Our professional team provides exceptional service and employs the highest standards of patient care. Many eye surgeons refer their more difficult cases to The Windsor Laser Eye Institute. This is a true testimony to the skill and knowledge of Dr. Tayfour and his professional team. Fouad Tayfour, MD, FRCSC Medical Director The Windsor Laser Eye Institute As a result of placing the patient s best interest first, Dr. Tayfour has developed a Co-Management Program with optometrists throughout Ontario and Michigan. This program provides the ultimate in convenience, allowing patients to have their pre and post-operative care with their own eye care professional. We are readily available to respond to your questions and needs to make your experience at the Institute a pleasant one. CustomVue LASIK with the IntraLase method for flap creation is the only technology approved by NASA.

3 Am I a Candidate? With today s technology most people who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism are candidates for LASIK Surgery. Candidates are at least 18 years old with generally healthy eyes and a stable prescription that has not changed significantly within the past year. Candidates should also be in good general health. To help you understand more about your vision and to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery, the Windsor Laser Eye Institute offers complimentary, no-obligation consultations. Your first steps toward a better quality of life. The first step in improving your vision and your life is to find out if you are a candidate for vision correction procedures, and doing so has never been easier, thanks to a no-fee consultation at The Windsor Laser Eye Institute. Our consultation is a comprehensive evaluation that will ensure your eyes are healthy enough to undergo the procedure, and as importantly, that you are a candidate. As part of our responsibility to your healthy vision, we keep you fully informed throughout our relationship. No question is too simple, no concern is too trivial. It is only with thorough knowledge that you can make the best decision, the decision that s right for you. Consultation: Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by our caring, professional staff. You will undergo a initial screening including corneal topography (map of the cornea). All aspects of the procedure will be thoroughly explained. You will meet with Dr. Tayfour to discuss your Laser Vision Correction procedure and have your questions and concerns addressed. Dr. Tayfour will provide you with a realistic opinion of the results you can expect. Scheduling Your Procedure: After scheduling your procedure, you will receive instructions for the day of treatment including arrival time, how long to leave your contacts out prior to the procedure and limitations immediately after surgery. The Day of Procedure: When you arrive for your treatment, you will sign a surgery consent form. Before the procedure, you will receive medication to relax you. It is normal to be nervous or have some anxiety. You may have some additional measurements, and your eyes will be cleaned. Once you are comfortable in a reclining chair, Dr. Tayfour will begin your Laser Vision Correction. After the procedure you will remain in the office for approximately 20 minutes. The hinged flap that is created during surgery will heal in about six hours. The entire vision correction process takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Healing: Prior to your departure, you will be given a post-procedure kit which includes eye drops, medication to help you sleep, goggles for showering, instructions for your post-treatment visits and any additional information you need. After LASIK, you may have some mild discomfort like watery eyes or a scratchy feeling for up to eight hours. Also, you will need to have someone drive you home following treatment. Most patients are able to drive and resume normal activities the day after the procedure. We recommend that you rest and relax the evening following your LASIK treatment. The day following surgery, you will be seen either at The Institute or by your own eye care professional. On average, you can expect 3 or 4 post-treatment visits during a one-year period. Advanced CustomVue Wavefront System with Iris Registration is the only true Custom LASIK platform available today.

4 How LASIK Works. Custom LASIK Custom LASIK is a procedure that enables your surgeon to further customize the conventional LASIK procedure to your individual eyes. This customized procedure may result in patients seeing clearer and sharper than ever before. FDA studies show that Custom LASIK may produce better vision than is possible with contact lenses or glasses. In both conventional LASIK and Custom LASIK, the procedure is performed in the same way. Understanding How Custom LASIK Works In Custom LASIK, an aberrometer is used to measure the way light travels through your eye. The aberrometer measures more than 250 points through your optical system and creates a customized 3-D map. This map provides information about the unique visual characteristics of your eye which adds an additional level of data about your vision, enabling Dr. Tayfour to further customize your vision correction. Higher Order Aberrations Several types of visual imperfections, referred to as lower- and higher-order aberrations, exist within the eye and may affect your vision. In conventional LASIK, only lower-order aberrations (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) could be measured and treated. Higher-order aberrations may also have a significant impact on the quality of your vision and have been linked to glare and halos. Now Custom LASIK may help to further customize your treatment of these higher-order aberrations that could not be treated with glasses, contacts or conventional LASIK treatments. Bladeless LASIK (Intralase) The first step in the LASIK procedure is to create a flap of corneal tissue. The flap is then folded back. The surgeon is then able to perform the laser vision correction treatment with the excimer laser on the inner layers of the cornea. When the flap is replaced it adheres with 6-8 hours and allows for a rapid visual recovery. Since the inception of the traditional LASIK procedure the corneal flap has been created with an automated machine called a microkeratome. In Bladeless LASIK, the surgeon uses a laser to create the corneal flap instead of a blade. The Intralase laser enables the surgeon the ability to customize the corneal flap for every individual patient. The Intralase laser allows us to treat those who were previously not candidates due to thin corneas. Leading doctors and teaching hospitals from around the world believe in IntraLase and use the IntraLase method.

5 Technology and Methods. VISX Star S4 IR The VISX STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser system represents the most advanced laser technology platform available today. Integrating data collected by the WaveScan WaveFront System, the STAR S4 IR utilizes VISX Iris Registration and other exclusive VISX technologies to deliver advanced precision and enhanced safety. Custom Vue Wavefront Wavescan System The first step in the Custom LASIK procedure is to perform a series of measurements to determine the individual characteristics of your vision. The Wavefront Wavescan system (aberrometer) measures over 250 points throughout your optical system that captures your lower and higher order aberrations and then creates a 3-D map of the unique imperfections of your eyes. Then our Advanced CustomVue process uses the digital information from that 3-D map to design a custom laser treatment for each of your eyes. These digital treatment instructions are then transferred to the laser, driving a new level of precision and accuracy. Together, the WaveScan WaveFront System and STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser System deliver unprecedented levels of measurement accuracy and treatment precision essential to deliver the CustomVue procedure. The IntraLase Method? The IntraLase Method is a 100% blade-free technique used to perform the critical first step in the LASIK procedure: creating the corneal flap. The creation of the corneal flap prepares the eye for the second step of the LASIK procedure, where an excimer laser is used on the inner cornea to correct vision. How does the IntraLase Method work? The IntraLase Method uses tiny, rapid pulses of laser light to create your corneal flap, during the first step of LASIK. Each pulse of light passes through the top layers of your cornea and forms a microscopic bubble at a specific depth and position within your eye that is determined by the doctor. The IntraLase laser moves back and forth across your eye, creating a uniform layer of bubbles just beneath your corneal surface. Just prior to applying laser vision correction, the doctor creates your corneal flap by gently separating the tissue where these bubbles have formed. The corneal flap is then folded back so the doctor can perform the second step of your LASIK treatment. IntraLase is the most sophisticated and accurate technology for corneal flap creation available today and has given many patients greater confidence and assurance in choosing laser vision correction.

6 Learning About Refractive Errors. One of the most critical components to great vision is the cornea the window of your eye. The job of the cornea is to bend or refract light rays so that they focus on the retina. Vision disorders occur when the cornea fails to focus light precisely on the retina. LASIK reshapes the cornea so light rays focus on the retina and the vision is clear. Myopia: Also known as nearsightedness, myopia is the most common refractive disorder. In North America alone, over 70 million people are myopic. Myopia is the result of the eye being too long, or a cornea that is too curved. In both cases, light rays are focused in front of the retina. People who are myopic typically have good close vision, but distance vision is blurred. Hyperopia: Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is the opposite of myopia. With hyperopia, the eye is too short, or the cornea is less curved, resulting in light rays that focus behind the retina. The result is blurred vision that is worse at near distance than far distance. Astigmatism: Astigmatism occurs when your cornea is shaped like a foot ball with two different curvatures, therefore two different focal points. Images appear blurred or ghostly because light rays are refracted unequally. In some cases, people with astigmatism have trouble seeing clearly with both near and far vision. Presbyopia: As we get older (40 s and beyond), we begin having difficulty with near vision, specifically for close-up details like reading. This is part of the natural aging process. Presbyopia is the hardening of your natural lens. The result is reduced elasticity, thus the lack of ability for the lens to focus properly. Unfortunately, this is not a refractive disorder and cannot be corrected by Laser Vision Correction. Although there are some experi mental procedures on the horizon, it may be years before we see help in this area. Until such time, reading glasses are the only practical answer. However, if you have just begun to experience this change and have myopia as well, its effects can be reduced through vision correction surgery by intentionally leaving a small amount of myopia in one eye. The resulting undercorrection allows presbyopic patients to maintain some near vision. This technique is known as monovision. Dr. Tayfour is a pioneer and was the first in North America to perform LASIK in 1993 and has since performed more than 50,000 procedures.

7 Surgery Facts and Alternative Treatments. Potential Side ffects: Medical science has been studying corneal healing for more than a century. Since 1987, millions of laser vision procedures have been performed, yet there have been no significant long-term problems. Laser Vision Correction is one of the safest elective procedures in medicine today. Not a single person s vision has been lost due to complications. However, as with any surgery, there may be some side effects associated with Laser Vision Correction. These will be explained in full prior to treatment. Infection: There is a slight risk of infection during the first two to three days post-operatively. As part of your treatment, you will receive antibiotic eye drops after the procedure to help prevent infection. Although very rare (less than 1% of all cases), corneal scarring can occur from severe eye infection. This side effect can usually be corrected with a follow-up procedure. Night Glare or Haloes: It is common for patients to see haloes, especially around lights at night, for up to six months after surgery. This phenomenon improves in almost all patients. In fact, only 1% of all patients will experience some halo and glare effect after a six-month period. Regression/Undercorrection: Over a decade of investigative trials with Laser Vision Correction have demonstrated that vision almost always remains stable. Some individuals may experience a small degree of regression or undercorrection. Both can be corrected with an enhancement procedure. However, the overwhelming majority of people who undergo Laser Vision Correction will not need this enhancement procedure. Reduced Vision in Dim Light: A small group of refractive patients may experience a minimal loss of vision sharpness in dim light. Usually, these are patients with high levels of myopia. Most patients find that the problem improves within six months. Alternative Treatments: For most patients, LASIK is the procedure that will provide the best results. But in some cases, you might not be a candidate. The severity of your refractive error and the thickness of your cornea may require other procedures in order to obtain the best results. Dr. Tayfour will thoroughly discuss the procedure best suited to meet your individual vision correction needs. Young adults might consider phakic lenses like the Staar Implantable Contact Lens. This procedure surgically implants a soft lens, very much like a soft contact, over your natural lens. Others who are extremely nearsighted or farsighted and who need reading glasses may be good candidates for Clear Lens Lensectomy. This procedure replaces your natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens customized for your prescription. Options such as PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) may also be an option for patients with other considerations. More patients get to 20/20 vision and beyond with the IntraLase.

8 DIRECTIONS From the Windsor/Detroit Tunnel Upon exiting the tunnel, turn left onto Park Street then turn left again onto Ouellette Avenue. Continue on Ouellette Avenue for 1.5 miles (2.6km)until you reach Tecumseh Road, turn left continue for 1.5 miles (2.6 km)to Walker Road, turn right onto Walker Road, continue for 200 feet (60 m) to 2224 Walker Road - the South Walkerville Medical Centre (on the left). From the Ambassador Bridge Exit the bridge to Huron Church Road, travel south 2.2 miles (3.5 km) to the E.C. Row Expressway East, continue on E.C. Row for 3.25 miles (5.2 km) to the Walker Road Exit. Turn Left onto Walker Road and travel south 1.25 miles (2km) to 2224 Walker Road - the South Walkerville Medical Centre (on the right).