Reston, VA – Jacqueline D. Griffiths, M.D., Medical Director of NewView Laser Eye in Reston, Virginia, received Custom-Cap (Custom Contoured Ablation Pattern) Certification from VISX, Inc. This new treatment received federal Food and Drug Administration approval last December. The new customized method treats patients with debilitating vision loss after refractive laser surgery (PRK or LASIK). The new treatment helps reshape the cornea to eliminate glare, halos, double vision, night vision problems and other vision loss that may result from complications of refractive surgery. The method allows physicians to do offset treatments, which help alleviate some visual disturbances.

The procedure links three separate devices: a corneal topography machine, a conventional laser and ablation planning software. The Humphrey® topography machine makes a color map of the eye, pinpointing where to apply treatment and calculating exact specifications for the laser. The ablation planning software then simulates the surgical results on a computer. The surgeon uses the data to precisely control size, depth and location of the laser application, making it possible to reshape the cornea for optimum correction.

“This is really welcome technology.” According to Dr. Griffiths, up to 500,000 people undergo refractive laser surgery in the United States each year. Less than one-half of 1 percent have complications. Of those, about 3,000 patients a year experience an off-center treatment, or asymmetrical healing, which the Custom-CAP is designed to treat. “It’s exciting because this treatment can potentially help people with no alternatives who are struggling with visual problems.”

Dr. Griffiths reports the new treatment does have some potentially negative side-effects. These are thoroughly outlined/reviewed and discussed prior to treatment. The treatment costs about $3,250 per eye. This innovative treatment exemplifies VISX, Inc.’s commitment to research and development as the manufacturer of this advanced laser vision correction technology.

Serving as a clinical investigator for the FDA LASIK vision correction trials, Dr. Griffiths began performing laser eye surgery in 1996 and has performed thousands of refractive procedures. She completed her undergraduate studies at Yale University and received her medical degree in 1990 from University of Michigan Medical School along with a Certificate of Honor for Academic Excellence. Dr. Griffiths completed her residency at Georgetown University Medical School. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the Virginia Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, National Medical Association, Washington Eye Center and American Medical Association.

For additional information about Custom-CAP contact Jacqueline D. Griffiths, M.D. at (703) 834-9777 or info@newviewlasereye.com.