By Abigail Freeman
  My family has been cursed with terrible eye sight, a frustrating and crippling handicap. I can honestly not remember ever seeing without some sort of glasses or contacts, but all of that changed with Dr. Braverman--for the second generation in my family.
   I first learned of LASIK eye surgery at the age of twelve when the technology was very new. My father, who also had incredibly bad eyesight, visited Dr. Braverman to learn more about the procedure, and ultimately, underwent Lasik surgery with fantastic results. I remember that he and my mother went to Dr. Braverman's office one day, came home later that night, and then when I came downstairs the next morning, my father, who had always worn thick, coke-bottle glasses, was reading the newspaper without anything over his eyes.   He went from being handicapped with bad vision to having perfect sight! The results were truly remarkable. From that moment on, I hoped to be a candidate for the procedure that changed my father's life, and 13 years later, I was.
    This past November, I made an appointment with Dr. Braverman to explore Lasik. I figured that my prescription seemed to have stabilized, and I started having some trouble with my contacts; I was getting frustrated with wearing contacts day-in-and-day-out, and found  that the more I looked at a computer screen, as is a necessary evil in the workplace, the more my eyes hurt at the end of each day. I had finally decided that this was as a good of a time as any to see if Lasik would be a possibility for me.
   After a fairly short exam I learned that I qualified for Lasik, and then, after another round of testing, I scheduled a surgery late in December. Dr. Braverman's staff was very patient with me, especially when I would tell them about my anxiety leading up to the "big day"; they explained every part of the procedure to me, and also walked me through the extensive testing. They were incredibly kind, patient, caring, and beyond professional. I could not have had a better experience at the Braverman Eye Center. I truly felt that I was in the best hands possible, and extremely confident that there was no place or set of people better equipped to perform my surgery. Most importantly, I felt as if I got the same special treatment that they would give a family member.
   And, in the end, the results far exceeded the exceptional experience. I went from -6.50 vision, to better than 20/20 within one week of my surgery! Almost instantly, I could see a vast improvement in my sight. Within hours, I was able to clearly see the TV, read my phone, write emails, and function normally. In fact, the hardest part of the recovery was reminding myself that I no longer had contacts in my eyes!
    Now, thanks to Dr. Braverman and his wonderful staff, two generations of the Freeman family have perfect vision!

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH Z-LASIK SURGERY
  All Laser Lasik surgery is performed on a patient’s cornea, which provides most of the focusing power when light enters the eye. Topical anesthetic drops are applied to the eye.  The surgeon first uses a special Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser to create a thin layer of corneal tissue that can be folded back (a corneal flap).  Then, another type of laser (an Allegretto Eye-Q excimer laser) is used to reshape the underlying cornea, painlessly.  After the excimer laser treatment, the corneal flap is repositioned and bonds back into place naturally. The corneal reshaping improves the focusing power of the cornea.
   Although no one can promise patients “perfect” vision, most Laser Vision Correction patients with mild to moderate prescriptions with or without astigmatism, do achieve 20/20 or better vision.
   This means that they no longer need glasses or contacts to drive, play most sports, and watch TV. Also, you can participate in careers requiring good unaided vision, such as policemen or firemen need.

ABOUT DR. STANLEY BRAVERMAN
   Dr. Stanley Braverman is a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is also an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at the Nova Southeastern School of Optometry. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Braverman, a board-certified ophthalmologist, has been a medical researcher, and is the inventor of several eye surgical instruments, and author of many articles for medical journals. He  has lectured at professional meetings about upgraded lens implants and advanced cataract surgery and LASIK, both nationally and internationally.
He has recently been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the Fifteen Leaders in Laser Eye Surgery in 2011 and recently co-authored a book on Z-Lasik that is being distributed internationally.
   For additional information or an initial consultation, please contact Rosemary Hartford, Refractive Surgery Coordinator at (888) 954-LASIK or by calling the Braverman Eye Center at (954) 458-2112 or (305) 374-8694.
   Please also visit the Braverman Eye Center website at www.bravermaneyecenter.com where you can watch a video of Bladeless All Laser Z-Lasik and learn more about refractive surgery choices, as well as the latest advances in LASIK, cataract surgery and upgraded lens implants.
   In addition to Dr. Stanley Braverman, a Cataract and Refractive Laser Vision specialist surgeon, your other sub-specialty eye care needs can also be evaluated and treated.  On staff at the Braverman Eye Center are Rashid Taher MD FACS and Tirso Lara MD FACS, Vitreo-retinal surgeons; David Tenzel MD FACS, Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon;  Kevin Stewart MD FACS, Complex Glaucoma Specialist; Jesse Pelletier MD FACS, Corneal surgeon; and Eric Ciliberti MD, Neuro-Ophthalmologist.  All sub-specialist surgeons at the Braverman Eye Center are Board Certified Ophthalmologists.

   The Braverman Eye Center is located at 1935 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009.