As the only eye doctor in Hickory who specializes in iLASIK surgery, Dr. R.E. “Trey” Oursler is a recognizable figure in town – with or without your glasses. A Wake Forest University alumnus, Dr. Oursler joined Graystone Eye ten years ago and introduced area patients to the burgeoning field of laser vision correction. More than 10,000 patients later, Dr. Oursler and Graystone Eye continue to offer the most advanced laser vision correction services available today.

Dr. Oursler’s most commonly requested procedure is iLASIK, which is utilized primarily to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. “Laser vision correction has been around for about 15 years,” Dr. Oursler explains. “With iLASIK, we use a laser to create a small flap in the cornea and reshape it. The procedure takes about 15 or 20 minutes for both eyes and in most cases restores vision to 20/20 or better.”

Laser vision correction has changed dramatically over the years, but Graystone has stayed at the forefront. “Initially, laser vision correction surgeons utilized a blade to cut the cornea,” he explains. “Now we’re using a laser called
IntraLase™ to make the flap – hence the name iLASIK – which has greatly improved accuracy and results in fewer complications.”

While other LASIK procedures have been offered at Graystone Eye, it now focuses exclusively on iLASIK. “I saw such superior results with the IntraLase that I felt the older procedures didn’t provide the same level of care,” says Dr. Oursler. “Our philosophy at Graystone Eye is to offer the same standard of care to everyone. We believe that we should treat every patient as if they were a family member, and you only want the best for your family.

“Other eye centers can offer a lower price point by using less expensive technology, but their results may not be as good,” Dr. Oursler continues. “We offer one price point regardless of prescription, and we use the most advanced technology available for everyone.

“The laser system we use is considered the best in the industry,” Dr. Oursler adds. “It’s the same technology used by NASA, the Air Force, the Navy and the Army for their astronauts and pilots. From a technology standpoint, we have a lot of experience behind us. But where we really excel is in our individual approach to each patient.”

That approach is underscored by Graystone Eye’s use of another important advancement: wavefront-guided technology. “With this technology, we use a laser to do mapping of the eye,” says Dr. Oursler. “This provides a very precise measurement of the individual eye and the amount of correction it needs. It is 25 times more accurate than what we can measure when checking for glasses.

“When a patient comes in for his or her iLASIK procedure, the laser is linked to that mapping,” Dr. Oursler continues. “With this technology, approximately 97 to 98 percent of our patients are corrected to 20/20, and approximately 65 to 70 percent are corrected to 20/15 – which is even better than 20/20. More than 50 percent of our patients utilizing this technology will see better after surgery without their glasses than they saw before surgery with their glasses. That’s pretty impressive.”

Another benefit of iLASIK is extremely quick recovery time. “Most of our patients are seeing well enough to drive and go back to work the next day,” says Dr. Oursler. “Typically 75 percent of our patients are already seeing 20/20 the next day, and within two to four weeks it’s pretty stable. They need to avoid swimming and vigorous eye rubbing for a week after surgery, but other than that, they can usually resume full activity the next day.”

Patients interested in iLASIK are usually hoping to eliminate the need for glasses, but according to Dr. Oursler, it may not be an ideal choice for patients in their fifties and older. “The iLASIK procedure isn’t for everybody,” he says. “It is designed primarily to correct distance vision. For folks age 50 and up whose main issue is reading vision, iLASIK isn’t necessarily going to help them. A lot of our patients in this situation decide to go with another procedure called lens replacement surgery.”

Lens replacement surgery has been around for decades. Most commonly used to correct cataracts, lens replacement involves removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens implant. In standard cataract surgery, the implant is simply a clear lens – so glasses may still be needed. In lens replacement surgery utilizing a premium lens implant, the lens also corrects vision – eliminating the cataract and the need for glasses altogether.

“As the eye ages, the lens starts losing its flexibility and elasticity,” says Dr. Oursler. “The lens also loses its focusing power, which often results in the need for reading glasses or bifocals. And as people continue to age into their sixties and beyond, their lenses will eventually get cloudy and develop cataracts.

“Now we can use multifocal implants that correct both far and near vision,” Dr. Oursler continues. “We’re able to do a lot more for patients with cataracts who would also like to be out of glasses. And we can help patients who don’t have cataracts but want to improve their reading and distance vision.”

As with iLASIK, Dr. Oursler cautions that the premium lens implant procedure is not for everyone. “We don’t like to remove the natural lens in people who still have their natural focusing ability,” he explains. “For someone who has already lost most of the focusing power in the lens, we can do iLASIK to correct distance vision and supplement near vision with reading glasses. Or we can do elective lens replacement surgery and implant a multifocal lens to correct both near and far vision.

“These implants last forever and will never cloud over,” Dr. Oursler adds. “With an artificial multifocal lens, the eye will not continue to get more nearsighted or farsighted with age. It will also eliminate the possibility of cataracts. It’s really a lifelong fix, which is why many individuals choose to do it as an elective procedure.”

Both iLASIK and lens replacement surgery are performed on-site in Graystone Eye’s fully-equipped laser and operating suites, which are located in the practice’s state-of-the-art facility at 2424 Century Place in Hickory. This commitment to patient comfort and convenience is a hallmark of Graystone Eye, which aims to provide a full range of eye care solutions to its patients. And according to Dr. Oursler, this commitment is most exemplified by the practice’s staff.

“All of us at Graystone Eye spend a lot of time getting to know our patients and determining which procedure is right for them,” he says. “We all really enjoy what we do, and I think that shows. We’re making people’s lives better every day with life-changing outcomes, and it’s both fun and rewarding to be involved in that.”