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LASIK is performed on an outpatient basis using an "eye drop" anesthetic to numb the eye for painless surgery.
LASIK normally takes less than 30 minutes and the patient leaves shortly after the procedure. An eye patch may be placed on the eye for temporary protection and to keep you from rubbing your eye in your sleep. Medication drops are used for pain relief, to prevent infection and promote healing. After LASIK, patients usually return to their normal lifestyle quickly with very few restrictions during the short healing period.
Is LASIK for Everyone?
To be eligible for LASIK the eye must be in good health and vision must be stable. However, some people are better candidates than others and consultation with the doctor prior to surgery is important to determine estimated benefits and possible complications.
Reading Glasses after Age 40
As the body matures, about the age of 40, the normally soft, flexible, focusing lens becomes hard and has difficulty focusing on close objects. Reading vision becomes blurred and difficult. Called presbyopia, bifocals and reading glasses, which aid the eye in focusing on close objects, are used to treat this condition. Since the laser has no effect on the lens of the eye and cannot improve vision due to presbyopia, people who have had LASIK and have or develop presbyopia will need reading glasses for small print. However, a procedure called MONOVISION may be used for people with presbyopia that corrects one eye for distance and leaves the other eye corrected for reading.
What is laser vision correction?
It is an outpatient treatment that uses a cool beam of light to gently reshape the cornea - the surface of the eye - to improve vision. The light gently pulses to remove a microscopic amount of tissue, flattening the curvature of the cornea, allowing images to become more sharply focused on the retina - the back of the eye.
Laser surgery has been approved by the FDA for use in treating nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This approval means that the FDA has recognized that laser vision correction is a safe and effective procedure.
What are the benefits of laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism is designed to be a one-time treatment that should reduce the condition overall, while also reducing or eliminating your dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
What is the difference between RK, PRK, and LASIK?
You may have heard about PRK, which stands for Photorefractive Keratectomy. PRK and LASIK (Laser in-situ Keratomileusis) both utilize a Laser System to remove corneal tissue in order to flatten the cornea. In PRK, the laser works on the surface of the cornea. With LASIK, we first create a flap on the cornea and then use the laser for treatment below the corneal surface. RK (Radial Keratotomy) is a non-laser procedure where we use a knife to make a series of radial cuts into the corneal surface. These cuts are intended to produce a bulging effect in order to flatten the corneal surface. Both PRK and LASIK have now been approved by the FDA. Because of increased patient comfort, less chance of haze, and faster recovery times, most of our patients choose LASIK.
Is laser vision correction safe?
Yes. Over four million patients worldwide have had this treatment performed on them successfully. The FDA has recognized laser vision correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and found the treatment safe and effective for eligible patients.
Does laser vision correction hurt?
No. The treatment itself is painless. Some patients may experience discomfort for one to three days after treatment. Many patients compare this to a sensation of sand in the eye. We can prescribe pain medication to alleviate discomfort during the recovery.
Are there any risks?
There are risks with any procedure. However, because laser vision correction uses a cool beam of light that is computer controlled, there is little room for error. In a recent study, all patients experienced better uncorrected vision following laser vision correction.
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