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LASIK
 
If you’re near-sighted, you understand the inconvenience of having to pick up a pair of glasses before venturing off to the movies. If you are far-sighted, you may need glasses in order to read the morning paper. If you wear contact lenses, you have the daily hassle of putting them in every morning and taking them out every night.

Technological advances are making these partial solutions to vision impairment obsolete. Newly developed surgical procedures utilize the precision of lasers, and one of the most successful new eye surgeries is Laser-in-situ keratomileusis, or LASIK. Doctors are able to correct the most common vision problems, from far and near-sightedness to astigmatism, with the LASIK procedure. Cumbersome corrective lenses no longer bother patients who have received successful LASIK surgery.

If you are considering LASIK, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult an eye care physician with experience in this procedure.

 
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What are the most common benefits of this surgery?
LASIK eye surgery is used to correct and restore vision to individuals who currently wear glasses for near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism.

Using surgery to correct vision is not necessarily a new idea; other older procedures, such as radial keratotomy, have been used to correct vision for many years. Now, LASIK is able to achieve the same or better results with less pain and a shorter healing time.

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What will happen at the initial consultation?
During the consultation, your physician will talk with you about the changes that you want to make in your vision. He/she will explain the different options available, the LASIKprocedure itself, and the risks and limitations involved. He/she will also explain the kind of anesthesia required; the surgical facility used, and costs.

Your physician will begin by asking you for a complete medical history. He/she may also give you specific instructions in preparing for surgery, including guidelines for eating and drinking, smoking, and taking (or avoiding) vitamins, supplements and medications.

If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to stop wearing them for a specified period of time before your initial consultation or examination. The physician may schedule additional visits to ensure that the eye is stable. This lens-free period is different for hard and soft lenses, so you should ask your doctor to be sure that you have prepared properly.

Take this opportunity to ask all the questions you have about the surgery, and ask to see testimonials and out-come statistics of the doctor’s recent patients, before and after surgery. Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision. See Questions to ask your doctor below.

To learn more about the initial consultation watch Patient Pre-operation

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How is the procedure performed?
LASIK eye surgery uses lasers to reshape the clear dome or front surface the eye called the cornea, the part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina. If a person is far-sighted, the cornea is too flat. If a person is near-sighted, the cornea is too steep. In either of these situations, the light does not focus perfectly onto the retina.

Your doctor will begin by marking the outermost layer of cornea with a special type of water-soluble surgical ink. A device called a microkeratome creates a thin flap in the outer layer of the cornea. The laser reshapes the exposed layer of cornea, and the flap is realigned. The flap acts like a natural Band-Aid during the healing process. Finally, the doctor administers eye drops to minimize inflammation and risk of infection.
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How long does the surgery take?
The surgery takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye. Both eyes can be done in the same day.
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Where will the procedure be performed?
LASIK eye surgery is generally performed in a surgical suite. A mild sedative is usually administered orally before surgery as well. You'll be awake but relaxed, and although you may feel some mild discomfort, you probably won’t feel any pain. Usually, you’ll be allowed to return home immediately afterward.
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How much pain is there?
The amount of discomfort experienced varies from person to person. Most patients report very little discomfort or none at all. The procedure is performed quite quickly – a few minutes per eye. After the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort or increased light sensitivity.
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What can I expect after the procedure?
Your physician will instruct you on the most appropriate post-operative care for you. You should be able to return to everyday activities within 2-5 days after the operation. Consult with your physician about driving, swimming and Jacuzzi activity. No make-up for a period of time is also recommended. Your doctor will prescribe special eye drops in order to prevent infection and inflammation. You should avoid sports and any other activities that may cause injury or sweat to run down into the eyes for at least 2 weeks following LASIK surgery. We recommend you follow all post-operative care regime prescribed by your physician.

To learn more about the initial consultation watch Patient Post-operation

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What is the recovery period like?
The recovery period for LASIK eye surgery is relatively short. Short-term side effects, such as sensitivity to light, usually disappear within a couple of days. Blurred vision or visual distortions occur in some patients, but usually disappear within several weeks to and up to 3 months.
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What is the long-term outcome like for most people?
The long-term outcome for LASIK patients looks promising. Laser eye surgeries have only been used for a little over ten years now. Because it is a relatively new procedure, life long results have not been determined.
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Ideal Candidate:
In general, the best candidates for LASIK are:
  • Knowledgeable about the procedure
  • In good physical and psychological health
  • Willing to follow directions for optimal results
  • A desire to improve myopia(nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism
  • Realistic in their expectations and know the risks and benefits.
  • Good corneal curvature, pupil size and good corneal thickness. (Consult with your physician.)
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Other important information
There are several alternatives to LASIK eye surgery. Lasers are also used in a procedure called PRK, a procedure similar to LASIK. There are also older, non-laser surgeries such as radial keratotomy. These procedures involve cutting the cornea using very fine surgical scalpels. Other newer non-laser procedures are additional options to consider.

If you are considering surgery to improve your vision, talk to your doctor about each of these alternatives, as well as your goals, budget, and pain tolerance in order to help him/her determine the procedure, or combination of procedures, that will produce the best results for you.
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Risks and Limitations:
Most patients are pleased with the outcome of their surgeries; however, LASIK eye surgery is not guaranteed to restore perfect eyesight. There is a small risk that distortions from the procedure, such as blurred or hazy vision, will be permanent. On rare occasions, results of the surgery are worse than before.

Still, over 90% of patients with mild to severe myopia achieve at least 20/40 vision, and many are able to see 20/20. This is from a –1.00 to –10.00 dioptors of nearsightedness. Individuals with more severe sight impairment should expect less from the surgery. For them, LASIK is usually able to improve vision, but not necessarily perfect it.
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Costs
Please refer to our upcoming articles on quality, value, and costs of laser vision correction.

Use our payment calculator to see what your monthly payments might be if you financed this procedure.

Apply now
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Choosing a doctor
It is very important that you select a physician appropriately trained and experienced in this procedure. We strongly recommend that you consider choosing a doctor who is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. See our Physician Locator feature to find an Eye Care Specialist in your area, including detailed profile information for many of the listed doctors. Also read How to Select an Eye Care Physician for a more detailed discussion on choosing the right doctor.
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Questions to ask your doctor:
For more information on questions to ask your doctor please review article "Questions for your Eye Doctor".
  1. Are the desired results I described realistic?
  2. Where is the surgery performed? How long will the procedure take?
  3. How much will my vision improve?
  4. Is it realistic to expect 20/20 vision in my particular case?
  5. Would another procedure, such as PRK, radial/ astigmatic keratotomy, or implantable contact lens work better for me?
  6. Are there other procedures that I should consider to enhance the affects of this procedure?
  7. What kind of anesthesia is used?
  8. What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
  9. What percentage of patients has had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
  10. Will you repeat or correct the procedure if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
  11. May I see testimonials or outcomes statistics of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
  12. May I have the names and contact information for several recent LASIK patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
  13. Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
  14. What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
  15. Who will be assisting during the surgery? What are their qualifications? (Does the ophthalmologist perform the entire surgery?)
  16. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, or suspended?
  17. Do you offer patient financing?
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Be sure to:
  • Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
  • Tell your doctor if you have any serious medical condition(s).
  • Tell your doctor about all medications, herbal supplements or natural supplements you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription), including such natural remedies as Echinacea and St. John's Wort.
  • Be sure to tell your doctor if you smoke. Smoking can lead to complications and poor healing.
  • Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking, and vitamins.
  • Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery.
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and help you for a few days afterward, if needed.
The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.
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How do I finance this procedure?
Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnchance's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.
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Related Articles
Please review the following articles for more information on this procedure.
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Related Videos
Please review the following Videos for more information on this procedure.
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