About Magill Vision Center

The word is out that LASIK, also known as laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a laser eye surgery that helps more than one million people each year see better without help from glasses or contacts. Many people, however, don’t realize that other options are now available.

“It is rare that we can’t help someone be less dependent on their contacts or glasses,” says Kerry Solomon, MD, a cataract and refractive surgeon at Albert Florens Storm Eye Institute and Storm Eye Institute’s Magill Laser Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. “I’m very proud of the fact that our team is well-informed on the different options so that our patients will receive the most appropriate recommendation for their vision needs. Storm Eye Institute and Magill Laser Center are in a unique position, as well, because we participate in many of the clinical studies that bring these products and procedures to market. For our team, this means we have the training and experience on the latest technology. For our patients, this means they have better access to the latest advancements.”

Dr. Solomon and David Vroman, MD, also a cataract and refractive surgeon with Storm Eye Institute, are experts at determining the right procedure to produce the best possible vision for each patient.

“Under the age of 40, the main considerations for laser or lens surgery are farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism,” says Dr. Vroman. “As people age, presbyopia, or the need for reading glasses, becomes a consideration. For presbyopic patients we may recommend laser or lens procedures other than traditional LASIK.”

For the majority of patients less than 40 years old, excellent vision can become reality with a laser procedure such as LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). PRK applies the laser to the surface of the eye, reshaping the cornea to correct vision. With LASIK, a thin layer of the cornea is reflected or folded back so that the laser can be applied slightly deeper in the cornea.  New laser technology to measure and treat the eye, called wavefront guided LASIK, or custom LASIK, has improved outcomes over the past two years.

Patients who are extremely nearsighted may not be a candidate for a laser procedure. For these patients, a lens attached to the iris of the eye, called a phakic intraocular lens, could provide a better alternative for clearer vision. 

Cataracts, which affect more than half of the population of the United States by the time they reach 80, start becoming a consideration for patients in their 50s. For this reason, a procedure known as refractive lens exchange (RLE) may be suggested for vision correction in patients older than 50 years. RLE uses an identical procedure to cataract surgery; the only real difference is that the RLE patient does not yet have cataracts. In this procedure, Drs. Solomon and Vroman replace the eye’s natural lens with a new, artificial lens. The benefits to the patient are twofold: the surgeon is able to correct the patient’s vision while preventing the need for future cataract surgery.  New artificial lens technology, like the ReSTOR® lens, allows the eye to focus at both distance and near.  In the FDA trial, eighty percent of patients who have this procedure don’t require glasses for any portion of their day, including reading.

“Dr. Solomon and I were fortunate enough to participate in the clinical trial leading to the FDA approval of the new ReSTOR® lens,” says Dr. Vroman. “Because we were involved in this trial from the beginning, we have been implanting this lens and tracking its progress now for over three years. Some of our patients are already three years out of surgery, and still doing great.”

“This is an exciting time for vision correction. Patients now have more options than ever before, but choosing the best option can be confusing to patients,” says Dr. Solomon. “The most important thing for patients to do is to see a provider who is well-trained and who can offer a variety of options so that a customized approach to vision correction can be developed. Whether you are a younger person having trouble with distance vision or an older person needing reading glasses, our goal is to achieve independence from glasses and contact lenses.”

“Every eye is like a fingerprint — no two are alike,” says Dr. Vroman. “People should find a provider who is experienced with the latest technology. And, the provider should be able to apply the technology to individual situations. That’s the care you can expect at Storm Eye Institute and Magill Laser Center.”

For more information about vision correction services or to schedule an appointment with one of Storm Eye Institute’s nationally-recognized surgeons, call (843) 792-8100.

Meet the Physicians Insert:

Kerry Solomon, MD, is professor of ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina, medical director for the Magill Laser Center for Vision Correction and board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr Solomon continues to excel as one of the leading cataract and refractive surgeons in the country, is often quoted in industry publications, recruited to lead cutting-edge clinical trials and has been featured in specials for networks such as PBS and Discovery.

David Vroman, MD, is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina and the statewide medical director for Lifepoint Eye Bank. He completed medical school at the University of Maryland and his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina at the Storm Eye Institute.  His fellowship focused on cornea, cataract and refractive surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami. Dr. Vroman is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.