Local Surgeon Certified in
Custom LASIK Procedure

New “LASIK Safety Net” Developed

GREENWICH, Conn. (June 11, 2002) – Continuing to set standards in high-quality, customized patient care, Vadim Filatov, M.D., is one of only two surgeons in the Tri-State area to have become recently certified in the use of the Custom-Contoured Ablation Pattern (C-CAP) Method? developed by VISX, a refractive laser technology developer. Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) earlier this year, the C-CAP Method is used to correct the effects of less-than-perfect LASIK procedures.

The C-CAP Method corrects off-center ablations, resulting in better vision, particularly at night. Before the advent of eye-tracking technology in 2001, there was a slight risk of the laser treatment being decentered.

“The C-CAP Method is truly a breakthrough, allowing surgeons to design a treatment zone on the cornea with a unique, individualized shape,” said Dr. Filatov, whose research allowed him to pioneer the Filatov Preventive System to guard against LASIK complications. “The surgeon designs a shape, then the computer predicts the final outcome of the treatment. The surgeon is like a tailor creating a made-to-measure garment – except that the fitting sessions are virtual.”

Today’s eye-trackers follow the movement of the eye with pinpoint precision, directing laser treatment to follow the motion of the eye, and placing the pulses carefully centered on the patients' pupil, thus minimizing the risk of an off-center ablation. The C-CAP treatment system uses the VISX Star 3 Excimer Laser System with the Humphrey Systems Ablation Planner Topography Unit.

An FDA Humanitarian Device Exemption allows the use and marketing of a device that is intended to benefit patients in the treatment of conditions that affect fewer than 4,000 individuals per year. Candidates for this treatment should have both an irregular ablation and debilitating visual symptoms.

“With the addition of this new ‘LASIK safety net,” as well as better surgical experience and the development of preventive methods, LASIK is now safer than ever,” concludes Dr. Filatov.

About Dr. Filatov
Dr. Vadim Filatov, director of Filatov Eye Institute, is a Board-certified cornea and LASIK specialist with a distinguished record of publications in the field of laser vision correction. Dr. Filatov was one of the first physicians in the United States in 1989 to evaluate the excimer laser, now widely used in LASIK and other procedures. He has won national recognition as one of the most experienced refractive surgeons in the country.

In addition to providing LASIK surgery, Dr. Filatov treats patients who experience complications from procedures performed by other physicians. He also offers customized, wavefront-guided LASIK treatment for patients with uncommon prescriptions or corneal shape, while providing one-on-one personalized, premium care.

About Filatov Eye Institute
Filatov Eye Institute is an independent, ophthalmology and LASIK practice setting standards in high-quality, customized patient care. It is dedicated to advancing the field of laser vision correction and serving the community with the latest in technology. Also a center for research and education, the Filatov Eye Institute sponsors educational seminars and provides a full-time LASIK fellowship program to improve the standardization of training across the country. Headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with offices in Manhattan, Northern New Jersey, Westport and Glastonbury, CT, the Filatov Eye Institute treats patients from all over the country and the world, including respected leaders, professional athletes and celebrities.