June 20, 2002

New Eye Surgeon Answers Questions About Laser Surgery

ST. LOUIS--Do you fantasize about throwing away your glasses or contact lenses, but aren't sure whether corrective surgery is right for you? If so, now's your chance to put the question to a veteran eye surgeon-without having to book an appointment.

Dr. William Zeh, an eye surgeon who joins SLU as assistant professor of ophthalmology in July, will host several free question-and-answer sessions to discuss the benefits and risks of refractive surgery. A graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Zeh went on to complete a fellowship in corneal surgery at the Corneal Consultants of Indiana, and has since performed more than 2000 LASIK and other procedures in private practice.

Zeh believes refractive surgeries such as LASIK can provide a major benefit to patients, giving most of them 20/20 or better vision. However, it is not for everyone, and some patients may still need glasses or contact lenses for certain tasks.

"To good candidates, it's an excellent procedure," he said. "But problems are possible and not everyone is a good candidate. I tend to be conservative in determining whether surgery is appropriate, because I want patients to be delighted with the results."

At the sessions, he will talk about how different types of refractive surgery, including LASIK, INTACS and PRK, are performed; who makes a good candidate for each of these surgeries; and who is most likely to suffer side effects. He also will discuss the technological advances in eye surgery that have occurred during the past several years, and whether patients should consider waiting for further advances before undergoing surgery.