LASIK FAQ's

Is "laser vision correction" the same as LASIK?

LASIK is one of many laser vision correction procedures available. If a patient is not currently eligible for LASIK, then Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is often a good alternative.

How long has LASIK been available?

The FDA approved LASIK in 1995. Although excimer laser technology was developed in the United States, most of the original patients received LASIK eye surgery elsewhere, because of the lengthy FDA trial period. The United States FDA approval process requires comprehensive 5-year scientific and clinical studies.

How is Custom vision correction achieved?

Custom laser vision correction is possible using CustomVue Wavefront technology, which enables us to measure and then correct the unique imperfections of your cornea.

What is Wavefront LASIK technology?

Wavefront technology was first developed for use in high-powered telescopes to reduce distortions when viewing distant objects in space. Wavefront technology allows the measurement of imperfections in your eyes 25 times more precise than standard methods. We use this technology to create an individualized treatment for your laser vision procedure.

Why is Wavefront technology so important to LASIK?

In the past, physicians had to practice one-size-fits-all LASIK correction. Such an approach can correct your vision effectively, but it could never match the LASIK outcomes with wavefront mapping. Wavefront technology tailors your prescription to your individual 'fingerprint' of vision. Now, with LASIK wavefront mapping, we can custom-tailor a correction for the unique characteristics of your eyes.

What is 20/20?

20/20 is the standard for excellence in vision. With the combination of Wavefront and CustomVue LASIK technology, you have the potential to have even better than 20/20 vision. In fact, six months after a CustomVue LASIK procedure, more than 74% percent of clinical study participants saw 20/16 or better.

How can LASIK help my vision?

If you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, LASIK may be able to significantly improve your vision. With nearsightedness (myopia), the goal is to flatten the cornea; with farsightedness (hyperopia), the goal is to steepen the cornea. Astigmatism can also be corrected by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.

Can everyone have LASIK?

Most people can have LASIK, but approximately 5-15 percent of applicants do not qualify for LASIK. This may be because of their overall medical history, the health of their eyes, the thickness of their corneas, or the degree of their eye correction.

Can I have Laser Vision Correction if I have had RK (Radial Keratotomy)?

Yes. However, we will need to evaluate your candidacy to be sure. With Radial Keratotomy, cuts were made around the cornea to change the corneal shape. Residual refractive error after RK may often be treated with Advanced Surface Treatment (AST) or Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). Call our office to see if you are a candidate.

Am I a good candidate for LASIK?

A specially trained eye care professional can determine your candidacy for LASIK with a thorough eye examination. To have LASIK, one must be at least 18 years of age, not pregnant, have stable vision with no significant changes in prescription for the last year, and have a prescription in a correctable range.

Can both eyes be done the same day?

Yes. Usually both eyes are treated at the same time.

Is LASIK safe?

Almost a million laser eye procedures are performed in the United States every year. While all surgeries involve some risk, laser vision surgery is less risky than most procedures. LASIK is a highly technical process using a computer-controlled light beam under the guidance of a refractive surgeon. A discussion with our ophthalmologists and staff will help you to understand the risks and benefits of the procedure.

How do I prepare for LASIK?

To find out what your options are, call for an appointment for a free consultation. We also suggest that you read over the information displayed on our website.

Will I need to remove my contacts before my exam?

If you presently wear contact lenses, then you will need to leave them out for a specified time period before your LASIK candidacy exam. Wearing contact lenses can change the curvature of your cornea, and removing them for a time allows the cornea to return to its natural shape. This is vital for proper measurements to be made, before your procedure can be scheduled. The time required for you to leave out your contact lenses depends on the type of contact lens. Please call for further information.

How long will my procedure take?

LASIK takes ten to fifteen minutes. The actual laser time is usually less than a minute, and the entire visit will be completed in about two hours.

Is LASIK scary?

You will be awake and fully aware during the procedure. As with any unfamiliar medical experience, a little apprehension is to be expected. This is perfectly normal, and a sedative will be available to help you relax. Most patients say that they found the whole experience to be ultimately enjoyable, and mention how comfortable they were.

Is there any pain involved with LASIK?

Laser eye surgery itself is painless. You will receive a sedative before surgery as well as topical anesthetic eye drops just prior to the laser treatment. Most patients report that they experienced no pain whatsoever. There may be a slight pressure sensation as the flap is being created and/or as the eyelids are opened by an eyelid speculum.

Afterwards, some patients report mild sensations of scratchy, gritty, or watery eyes. These are temporary symptoms and are not a problem for most. Pain medication can be prescribed on request.

What if I sneeze during surgery?

If you sneeze, then the state-of-the-art eye tracker will immediately stop the laser. After the eye is repositioned, the laser will restart and proceed with the surgery.

What keeps my eyes from closing and from drying out during the procedure?

During your LASIK procedure, a special device will be used to gently and comfortably hold your eyelid open, temporarily rendering you unable to blink. Your eye will not dry out, because it will be irrigated with a soothing balanced salt solution.

When will I be able to see well?

Immediately following laser eye surgery, most people notice that their vision is better. However, for several hours it may seem like you are looking through a foggy haze. This clears rapidly. By the next day approximately 80%of patients see 20/20 or better. Nearly all have 20/40 or better, which is the level of vision required to drive without corrective lenses.

How much time do I need to be off work?

This really depends on your job. If your work is very light, you might resume daily activities on the first postoperative day. It is critical that you avoid all contact with your eyes, such as rubbing, for several days to allow the outer surface of the cornea to heal properly. We suggest that you take it easy for 2-3 days, and we will make a recommendation for recovery time based on your individual vision needs and work environment.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) requires three to five days of recovery, occasionally longer depending on the original prescription. There is a gradual improvement in vision over 2-3 weeks.

When does my new vision become permanent?

Vision is usually dramatically improved within the first 24 hours with LASIK. Then, it is normal for vision to fluctuate from day to day, especially for the first couple of weeks. Normally, it takes 2-4 weeks for your vision to stabilize completely with LASIK.

The correction achieved is extremely stable. Laser eye correction is permanent once healing is complete. This permanence and stability is one of the reasons that laser eye surgery is so popular. However, eyes can change over time, and no surgery can prevent underlying changes such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or presbyopia. Sometimes it is necessary to perform a LASIK enhancement to fine-tune residual refractive error.

Can my vision results be guaranteed?

As in any medical procedure, particularly surgery or LASIK, there can be no absolute guarantee of results in any specific case. Even though LASIK is exceedingly precise, variations in visual outcome occur due to variations in individual healing and other factors.

Will I need glasses or contacts after LASIK?

A prior FDA clinical trial showed that after LASIK:
• 100% of participants could pass a driving test
• 94% of participants could see 20/20 or better
• 74% of participants could see better than 20/20

At Eye Excellence, a vast majority of our patients are 20/20 or within 1-2 lines of 20/20 vision after the procedure.

Is there a treatment for presbyopia?

If you are older than 40 years of age, presbyopia typically develops and you will likely need reading glasses unless LASIK Monovision eye correction is performed. In Monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. This gives one the opportunity to be spectacle free even with presbyopia. Premium intraocular lenses (ReSTOR®, Technis Multifocal®, Crystalens®) are also excellent treatments for presbyopia in patients.

Will I experience glare or halos at night?

With the expanded treatment zones of the lasers, night vision symptoms have been greatly reduced. The few patients who experience halos or starbursts at night generally improve after one month and the problems typically resolve by three months.

Many patients find their night vision improves after their Wavefront guided LASIK procedure. In fact, in a FDA clinical study, more participants were very satisfied with their night vision after the procedure without glasses or contacts as compared to their night vision before LASIK with glasses or contacts.

Does insurance cover LASIK?

In most cases, insurance does not cover LASIK.

Does Eye Excellence offer financing?

Yes! We believe that financial considerations should not be an obstacle to obtaining this procedure. Being sensitive to the fact that different patients have different needs, we provide several flexible payment options.