CCRS FAQ

Since establishing CCRS in 2000, Dr. Paul C. Lee has dedicated himself to delivering customized eye care and vision correction at their finest. At CCRS, we feel that we can provide affordable, world-class eye care by eliminating inefficiencies and focusing on the essentials. To this end, Dr. Lee has invested in the most advanced technologies and people through continued education for all the staff.

The four distinguishing features of CCRS are:

1) Latest technology: VisuMax-WaveLight EX500 Bladeless Wavefront LASIK, Topo-guided Custom Ablation Treatment (T-CAT), Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE), Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), and cataract and Refractive Lens Exchange surgery, and Corneal Cross-linking are some of the examples of cutting-edge technologies utilized for custom vision correction.

2) Expertise: Dr. Paul C. Lee is a pioneer and a leader in custom vision correction as evidenced by his experience, awards, and recognition but most importantly by the outcome and patient testimonials.

3) Affordability: This stems from Dr. Paul C. Lee’s lifelong belief that the highest quality care should also be affordable and that the cost should not be the major factor in realizing one’s dream of a perfect vision.

4) Caring Staff: CCRS staff is dedicated and takes pride in offering the very best in eye care. They are compassionate and will go above and beyond to give our patientsthe best experience.

Dr. Paul C. Lee MD is recognized as one of the best eye physicians and surgeons licensed to perform refractive procedures such as LASIK, ICL, SMILE, RLE, and Refractive Cataract Surgery. Dr. Paul C. Lee MD is a leader and a pioneer in vision correction and has been at the forefront of offering all the proven and effective refractive surgery procedures. These procedures include Bladeless Wavefront LASIK (VisuMax-Wavelight EX500), SMILE, Contoura LASIK, Topography-guided Custom Ablation Treatment (T-CAT), ICL, and usage of advanced technology IOLs for the restoration of near vision.

Dr. Paul C. Lee is recognized as the top ICL surgeon in the United States and has the distinction of being the first US surgeon to be certified in SMILE. He has dedicated more than 20 years to provide the very best in eye care, all at an affordable price. Most of Dr. Lee’s patients experience 20/20 vision or better and enjoy excellent vision free from glasses or contact lenses.

Furthermore, he has excellent patient feedback and has been consistently voted as a “five-star rated” doctor. The patients find him very helpful and informative in navigating through the complex process of understanding the modern-day vision correction procedures.

Dr. Lee is available by appointment only. The CCRS office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday, and 7:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday. You can contact Dr. Paul C. Lee, MD at CCRS ICL and LASIK center in Los Angeles, CA and Sherman Oaks, CA.

T-CAT stands for Topography-guided Custom Ablation Treatment. Also known as Contoura LASIK, it is the highest form of laser vision correction perfected over 20 years. It combines the two most essential concepts in laser vision correction: Wavefront and Topography.

Using a diagnostic device called VARIO Topolyzer, 22,000 reference points are gathered from the cornea and analyzed for detection of subtle abnormalities called high-order aberrations (HOAs). This information is transferred to Wavelight EX500 excimer laser for a customized laser vision correction unique and precise for each eye.

In the FDA study, T-CAT results have far exceeded other LASIK procedures with the highest rate of better than 20/20 vision, the highest rate of patients seeing better than with their glasses or contact lenses, and the highest rate of patient satisfaction.

During Refractive Cataract Surgery, the natural lens that has become cloudy through aging is replaced with an Advanced Technology Intraocular Lens (ATIOL) to restore clear and youthful vision.

This form of vision correction surgery is now possible due to advancements in diagnostic devices, surgical equipment, and lens technology. Dr. Paul C. Lee can prepare for surgery with greater precision, perform surgery with greater safety, and restore both far and near vision.

Today’s cataract surgery is not just for senior citizens but for all people who are young at heart and want to lead an active lifestyle.
Be sure to ask Dr. Paul C. Lee about the newest technology in cataract surgery.

SMILE stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. Frequently referred to as the Flap-less LASIK,it combines the safety of PRK and precision and fast recovery of LASIK.

In SMILE, a refractive lenticule (a sliver of corneal tissue) is created in the middle part of the cornea with a VisuMax femtosecond laser. The amount and the type of correction (i.e., nearsightedness and astigmatism) are determined by the thickness and the shape of the lenticule.This lenticule is then extracted through a tiny (4mm) peripheral incision.

SMILE offers several advantages over conventional LASIK, particularly in terms of safety profile. First, there are no flap-related complications, such as displacement or wrinkling of the flap. Thus immediately after the surgery, patients can touch their eyes and put on eye makeup. Also, the patients are not subjected to strict post-op care as required with other eye surgeries. Second, as the front part of the cornea provides significant structural support, leaving it uncut allows the cornea to better retain its strength. This is especially beneficial for patients with a thin cornea

The advances in vision correction technology have made a customized surgery for each eye a reality. At CCRS, we are dedicated to bringing out the very best vision in all of our patients. As every eye is different, we select the safest and most ideal procedure for each patient.

LASIK for everyone is now the concept of the past. Currently, we have procedures that are more applicable for people with high correction, thin cornea, dry eyes, those at risk for glare and halos, and those with a higher risk of regression. We also take into consideration the patient’s age.

At CCRS, patients will undergo a thorough examination followed by individualized consultation to select the best procedure. We no longer accept “good enough.” as the standard in custom vision surgery

While several conditions are responsible for causing glare and halos following vision correction surgery, the common underlying reason is the scattering of light as it passes through different parts of the eye.

As most light focusing occurs at the cornea, surgeries that alter its shape, such as LASIK, SMILE, and PRK, tend to cause more glare and halos. Non-corneal surgery such as ICLleaves the eye in its natural state and is associated with less glare and halos. Also, dry eye condition results in a rough corneal surface due to an uneven spread of tear film and can scatter light.

In the past, pupil size was thought to correlate with the severity of glare and halos. However, it has been shown that this phenomenon is observed mostly with very large pupils (greater than 9 mm). There appears to be no direct correlation between pupil size and degree of glare and halos for smaller pupils.

There is no optimal age for elective eye surgery. Instead, it is more important to assess your visual needs and explore options witha long-term goal in mind. With current breakthroughs in technology, we can tailor our approach to one’s age and eye condition. In this way, we candeliver life-changingprocedures for those in their early 20’s to those young-at-hearts in their advanced years.

Come and see what is possible at CCRS.

The eye has a self-monitoring and self-regulating mechanism to keep itself lubricated. Following LASIK, this mechanism is disrupted, causing dry eyes. About one to two months following surgery, proper functioning is restored, and tear production returns to baseline. However, in some patients with a preexisting dry eye condition, the post-operative recovery can be delayed or incomplete. However, this condition affects the eyes’ health very rarely and can be managed effectively with various treatments.

No.
LASIK (also SMILE) is a very gentle procedure in which eye drops are used to numb the eye. During VisuMax Bladeless LASIK or SMILE, minimal pressure is applied to the eye. The laser’s curved interface resemblesthe cornea’s curvature, and the process is similar to putting in a contact lens.

Furthermore, with Wavelight EX500 being the fastest excimer laser, the entire procedure is completed in less than 10 minutes. While some patients may experience tearing and some burning sensation following surgery, we, at CCRS, provide drops to reduce this post-operative discomfort.