LASIK/LASEK |
Frequently Asked Questions

What is LASIK?
What happens during the LASIK procedure?
What is the difference between LASIK and LASEK?
Am I a candidate for LASIK?
Who can I trust for LASIK?
Will LASIK give me perfect eyesight?
What can I expect during a LASIK procedure?
What can I expect after the LASIK procedure?
Why do some people have LASIK twice?

What is LASIK?

The name “LASIK” is short for Laser Insitu Keratomileusis. LASIK reshapes the cornea with excimer laser technology. The shape of the cornea is what determines whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, have astigmatism or have normal vision. The Excimer Laser emits a “cool” laser light that can remove microscopic amounts of tissue with extreme precision. Physicians can program the laser to sculpt the cornea.

What happens during the LASIK procedure?

Throughout the LASIK procedure, you are awake. The doctor gives you some eye drops to numb your eyes so that you are comfortable throughout the entire procedure. Next, using an automated instrument called a microkeratome, the doctor removes a thin layer of the cornea. This “flap” remains attached, but is lifted out of the way, and the Excimer Laser reshapes this newly exposed layer of the cornea.

Once this surface of the cornea has been reduced by the exact amount necessary, the doctor returns the “flap” to its original position. Therefore, the shape of the cornea is corrected under the surface.

What is the difference between LASIK and LASEK?

Some people encounter situations where the condition or the shape of the eye makes them a poor candidate for LASIK correction. However, a new procedure, called LASEK, may often be applied to those situations with positive results. LASEK works without the need for cutting. Instead, a solution is applied to the exterior of the eye which allows the doctor to move the epithelium (outer layer) of the eye down, perform the laser correction and then slide the epithelium back into place. The procedure is quick and allows for faster healing.

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

LASIK may be the answer for you if your vision is stable and you have nearsightedness or farsightedness with or without astigmatism, and no other eye problems. You are not a good candidate for LASIK if you have an eye disease, are pregnant or under age 18 (because the eye is still growing), have an autoimmune disease or a history of ocular herpes. In order to determine your suitability for LASIK, you will need to undergo an evaluation with a licensed and trained LASIK doctor. This evaluation can confirm that your degree of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism is within the proper range, and make sure that you are currently free of any eye disease. You should bring your glasses or contacts with you to this appointment.

Who can I trust for LASIK?

All too often LASIK evaluations are made by eye care professionals other than ophthalmologists. Many of these people have not been trained and certified in LASIK, nor do they have the expertise to safely evaluate a patient’s risk factors. It is always preferable to have the surgeon who will be performing the procedure determine whether or not LASIK is right for you. Qualified doctors use only competent surgical facilities and FDA approved excimer lasers for vision correction.

Will LASIK give me perfect eyesight?

Although the vast majority of patients quickly experience marked vision improvement, some patients’ best vision may not be realized for several weeks or even months after surgery. All refractive surgery, including LASIK, is performed in order to help patients reduce their dependence on glasses and/or contact lenses. No LASIK surgeon can guarantee 20/20 vision. It is not possible for any doctor to accurately predict how your eyes will respond to the treatment. Therefore, patients should only undergo laser vision correction with the expectation of improved eyesight and not perfect eyesight.

Having made this disclaimer, statistics tell us that 94% of LASIK patients do achieve visual acuity of 20/40 or better without glasses. This is good enough to pass a drivers license exam. Even better news is that 58% of the time patients’ vision is 20/20 following LASIK surgery.

What can I expect during a LASIK procedure?

LASIK is performed as an outpatient procedure and you are fully awake the entire time. Eye drops are placed in your eye to numb it. In some cases, a mild sedative pill also is given to patients in order to reduce anxiety. You will be asked to lie face up on a reclining chair or table. Your eyelid will be carefully held open using a special instrument while the other eye is covered with a patch.

You doctor will ask you to look directly into a light in order to fixate your eye under the laser. Then a small suction device will be used to steady your eye while a small motor-powered blade gently separates surface layers of the cornea. With the underlying corneal tissue exposed the laser application begins. This usually takes 30-60 seconds, depending on the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism that is being treated. During the LASIK procedure you will hear tapping sounds and may detect a slight odor but this is all perfectly normal.

After the laser treatment, the corneal flap is returned to its original position where it stays in place without the need for stitches. The doctor’s last step is to place antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops in the treated eye. For patients having both eyes corrected, the second eye is uncovered and treated using the same process.

What can I expect after the LASIK procedure?

LASIK surgery itself is pain free but some LASIK patients experience a scratchy feeling in the eye for a day or two following the procedure. Because a major concern following LASIK is dislodging the flap created at the time of surgery, your doctor will warn you against vigorous eye rubbing or other injuries to the surface of the eye. To help prevent this, you will be given an eye shield to be worn over your eye(s) to protect the cornea for up to a week. You will also want to wear it when sleeping for the first few days after surgery.

Don’t plan on driving yourself home after LASIK because your vision will be blurry and your eyes very light sensitive. In some cases, patients feel uncomfortable driving for a day or two; other patients are driving again within 24 hours.

You can expect your doctor to review the post-operative medication regimen with you, usually eye drops to minimize the risk of infection and post-operative discomfort. Usually they are needed for only a few weeks after LASIK, although in rare cases, medication may be required for up to several months. Plan to return to the doctor’s office for an examination one day after surgery, one week after surgery and one month following surgery. Additional visits may be scheduled if necessary.

You shouldn’t plan to return to work until your doctor says it’s OK, usually in a day or two. There may also be limitations on swimming, whirlpools or hot tubs, playing active sports and wearing eye makeup. You will also be cautioned to wear dark sunglasses in bright light outdoors so your eyes are more comfortable.

Why do some people have LASIK twice?

Patients who do not have all of their nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism corrected by LASIK can elect to wear glasses or contact lenses or have additional ‘enhancement’ surgery. Regression, in which the eye initially improves but returns to a level of nearsightedness within six months, can happen in 10% of patients. Generally, follow up surgery is not performed for at least three months following the original procedure.