Offering all of Southeastern Michigan, including Birmingham, Troy, and Detroit, Exceptional Laser Eye Surgery

The ophthalmologists of Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey are committed to operating a premium, full-service eye care practice. At our ophthalmic facility, we provide residents in and around Birmingham, Troy, and Detroit with an extensive range of laser eye surgery procedures. We also provide other vision correction procedures designed to treat a wide array of ocular disorders.

• LASEK Laser Eye Surgery
• PRK Laser Eye Surgery
• Glaucoma Surgery
• Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
• Corneal Transplants
• Clear Lens Replacement
• CK® (Conductive Keratoplasty)

LASEK Laser Eye Surgery

For patients with thin or flat corneas, LASEK is often an excellent alternative to traditional LASIK surgery. Before the procedure begins, patients receive anesthetic eye drops to minimize potential discomfort. The surgeon then uses a highly precise instrument called a trephine, to isolate a thin layer of tissue in the epithelium, the outer portion of the cornea. An alcohol solution is used to gently loosen the layer, which is then folded back so that the surgeon can shape the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser. Once flaws in the shape of the cornea have been corrected, the layer of epithelial tissue is replaced and allowed to heal with the aid of special contact lenses.

LASEK laser eye surgery patients can expect a four to seven day recovery period following the procedure. While recovery time with LASEK is somewhat longer than with LASIK, patients may prefer this procedure because LASEK does not involve the creation of a corneal flap with a microkeratome, thereby nearly eliminating the possibility of flap complications.

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PRK Laser Eye Surgery

PRK is a laser eye surgery procedure designed to treat low to moderate levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. In PRK, the surgeon uses an excimer laser to carefully remove the surface layer of the cornea called the epithelium. The cornea is then reshaped in order to allow it to properly focus light. Recovery time following PRK surgery usually lasts a few days to a week. Like LASEK, PRK may be a safe and effective alternative to LASIK for patients who have thin corneas.

Please contact our office if you would like more information about PRK or any of the other vision correction procedures we offer patients in and around Troy, Detroit, and Birmingham. Laser eye surgery may be the key to helping you achieve the quality of vision you've always wanted.

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Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma is a condition characterized by an accumulation of fluid, known as aqueous humor, in the front of the eye. The increased pressure that results can damage the optic nerve. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to a total loss of vision. Here in the United States, it is estimated that glaucoma is responsible for 120,000 cases of blindness. Symptoms of the disease include blurred vision, headache, eye pain, nausea, and blind spots in the periphery of one’s visual field.

Treating glaucoma in its formative stages is the best defense against permanent loss of vision. In treating patients with glaucoma, the ophthalmologists at our eye care center near Troy, Birmingham, and Detroit, use laser eye surgery in various ways to either decrease intraocular fluid production, or increase its elimination from the front portion of the eye. The reduction in aqueous fluid that results helps to prevent damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma treatment can also involve the implantation of a drainage device in the anterior chamber of the eye or the creation of an artificial drainage area that allows blood vessels to absorb excessive fluid.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Diabetes is a disease associated with an inability to properly produce or use the hormone insulin. The high blood sugar levels that result from this condition can damage blood vessels in the retina, the structure at the back of the eye that transmits images to the brain. This damage is known as diabetic retinopathy (DR). In the advanced stages of DR, new, abnormal blood vessels form in the eye, which can result in a loss of vision. In fact, for people in the United States under the age of 65, DR is the leading cause of acquired blindness.

Despite this fact, loss of vision due to diabetes is not inevitable. For DR patients in and around Birmingham, Detroit, and Troy, our laser eye surgery experts utilize the latest surgical techniques to curb the adverse effects of diabetes. Through laser eye surgery, our doctors are able to repair damaged blood vessels, as well as eliminate newly formed abnormal vessels so that further vision loss can be prevented.

When the vitreous humor, a gelatinous substance that fills most of the eye, becomes clouded with blood from damaged vessels, another kind of procedure, called a vitrectomy, can be performed to reduce visual distortion. In this procedure, the vitreous humor is removed and replaced with a clear substance that allows light to pass through the eye more efficiently, thereby working to improve vision.

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Corneal Transplants

The ophthalmologists at our facility near Birmingham, Detroit and Troy have safely performed numerous corneal transplant surgeries in addition to various laser eye surgery procedures.

The cornea is a clear, protective covering that lies over the front of the eye. It is responsible for refracting light onto the back of the eye, which allows images to then be transmitted to the brain. Vision can become compromised if the cornea is damaged or clouded as a result of accidents, diseases, or congenital conditions. For some patients with corneal irregularities, a corneal transplant may be an effective way to improve vision. This painless, often outpatient, procedure is the most commonly performed type of transplant surgery and is also regarded as the safest.

Most patients who undergo a cornea transplant require only local anesthesia. The damaged cornea is carefully removed from the eye using an instrument called a trephine. The donor cornea is then sewn into place using sutures that are smaller than the width of a human hair. Vision improves over the first few months after surgery and may continue to do so for up to a year. If complications arise, they can usually be treated with medications or by a follow-up procedure.

Dr. Spigelman is now pioneering partial thickness corneal transplants. By only transplanting the back section of the cornea, faster visual rehabilitation, less astigmatism and a stronger eye may result. This procedure is called Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.

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Clear Lens Replacement

For many residents in and around Birmingham, Detroit, and Troy, laser eye surgery may not be the most effective means of achieving enhanced vision. Thin corneas, large pupils, and a high degree of refractive error are just a few of the conditions that can decrease the chances of a safe and successful outcome. For individuals with these conditions, a procedure known as clear lens replacement may be able to provide a safe and effective alternative to laser eye surgery. Clear lens replacement is performed in much the same way as cataract surgery. In both procedures, the eye’s natural crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an artificial (intraocular) lens. Most patients who undergo this quick, 15-minute procedure are able to return to work and daily activities within a few days of surgery.

Because clear lens replacement does not involve altering the cornea, there is no substantial risk of patients experiencing a decrease in contrast sensitivity following the procedure. In addition, people over the age of 40 may find clear lens replacement to be an especially attractive treatment option because it eliminates the possibility of developing cataracts later in life.

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CK® (Conductive Keratoplasty)

As we age, the muscles that control our eye movements tend to become weaker. At about the age of 40, most people begin to develop a condition known as presbyopia, in which nearby objects appear blurry due to an inability of the eye’s natural lens to focus properly. In order to treat patients suffering from presbyopia and hyperopia (nearsightedness), we proudly offer the revolutionary CK® procedure at our eye care center near Birmingham, Troy, and Detroit. As an alternative to laser eye surgery, CK® utilizes radio frequency energy to carefully reshape the cornea, improving patients’ ability to view nearby objects. The entire procedure requires only a few minutes. Since CK® does not involve the creation of a corneal flap with a bladed instrument, it is associated with fewer post-surgical complications than other refractive procedures.

Many patients find CK® to be a highly desirable alternative to laser eye surgery because it is minimally invasive and therefore requires little down time. In addition, recent advancements in the technology used for CK®, such as the patented Viewpoint™ CK® system used by our ophthalmologists, have allowed people to increasingly achieve long-term vision improvements with this procedure. If you’re over 40 and tired of relying on reading glasses for your near vision, CK® may be able to help you regain the strong, clear eyesight that you desire.

Please contact our office today if you would like more information about any of the vision correction options we offer residents in and around Troy, Detroit, and Birmingham. Through laser eye surgery and other vision correction procedures, our doctors have enabled thousands of people to gain independence from glasses and contact lenses, and they would love to do the same for you.

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