New laser eye procedure receives FDA approval - something to SMILE about!

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vance Thompson Vision, a refractive surgery and research facility specializing in laser vision correction, announces plans to introduce VisuMax SMILE. The SMILE procedure is a new procedure from Carl Zeiss Meditec designed to treat nearsightedness, or myopia. It has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for correcting nearsightedness and Vance Thompson Vision was part of those initial clinical trials.

The SMILE procedure involves using the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser to create a thin disc-shaped piece of tissue that is then removed by the surgeon. This changes the shape of the cornea to help correct nearsightedness. Though new to the US, this procedure has been performed internationally on over half a million patients since 2011.

Dr. Vance Thompson, an ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, S.D., assisted with the clinical trials for the SMILE procedure. The procedure will complement LASIK and PRK as another option for treating nearsightedness for some patients age 22 or older.

"Our research and results from the clinical trials demonstrate that this procedure provides excellent visual outcomes for patients," Dr. Thompson says. "We are excited to bring this technology to the area."

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearsightedness affects more than 40% of the US population, a number that has increased from 25% in 1970. "The number of people affected by nearsightedness is increasing," says Dr. John Berdahl, a surgeon at Vance Thompson Vision. "The addition of SMILE gives us more power to help more patients see more clearly. I'm honored to be a part of so many new procedures that fit patients' vision and lifestyle."

To determine your candidacy for SMILE, or any laser vision correction procedure, a patient will need to be evaluated by an ophthalmologist specializing in refractive surgery. For more information, visit www.vancethompsonvision.com.

About Vance Thompson Vision
Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, SD and Fargo, ND, is a world-class refractive surgery center and research institute. Vance Thompson Vision provides and participates in developing the world's most exceptional technologies to improve outcomes in surgical care; all while creating a patient experience that is second to none. With more than 100,000 procedures, more than 80 FDA monitored clinical trials, and having traveled the world to advance the learning of providers everywhere, Vance Thompson Vision is the standard in quality and innovation. For more information on the international reputation of the doctors that lead studies such as this one visit the biographies of Dr. Vance Thompson, Dr. Alison Tendler, Dr. John Berdahl, Dr. Michael Greenwood, Dr. Doug Wallin, Dr. Keith Rasmussen, Dr. Justin Schweitzer, Dr. Jason Schmit, and Dr. Mitch Ibach.

Contact:

Matt Jensen, CEO
Vance Thompson Vision
[email protected]

SOURCE Vance Thompson Vision

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http://www.vancethompsonvision.com