Why LASIK over PRK or RK? RK, radial keratotomy, is not a laser procedure. Incisions are made with a diamond knife into the cornea, which cause permanent scars. These scars are weaker points on the eye and are more likely to rupture with trauma. Experience shows that some RK patients are becoming farsighted over time, or have fluctuations in their vision. RK may be an acceptable procedure for mildly nearsighted persons.
PRK, photorefractive keratectomy, is the same laser procedure performed in LASIK. In PRK the top layers of the cornea are removed with a laser. This requires a much longer healing process, and use of steroid drops that may cause complications with long term use. After the surgery you will have to wear a bandage contact lens for three days. Vision will be poor for the first three days after surgery, and may fluctuate significantly for the next three months. You also must wait longer between surgeries because of the extended healing period.
Most surgeons never go back to PRK after learning LASIK because of the quick and easy recovery, and decreased dependence on drops.
You are a good candidate for LASIK if: • You are 21 years of age or older
• Your contact lens or glasses prescription has been
stable for at least one year
• You are in good health
• You eyes are healthy and free from ocular disease or
corneal abnormality
• You are well-informed of the risks of the procedure
and are aware of all other options, (RK, PRK,
glasses and contact lenses) to correct your vision
You should not have LASIK if: • You have:
-uncontrolled collagen vascular disease (i.e. lupus)
-autoimmune disease (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis)
-or if you are HIV positive
• You scar heavily (i.e. keloid formers)
• You are pregnant or nursing
• You have a visually significant cataract
• Your eyeglass prescription has changed significantly
in the last year
What are the risks of the procedure? Although the risk of complications is low, they can occur. The incidence of serious complications from LASIK is less than 1%.
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What should I do if I am interested in the procedure? You can call our office to schedule a LASIK evaluation. This includes a comprehensive eye examination, including corneal mapping and dilated eye exam, to ensure that your eyes are healthy. You will also be given information about the procedure and its risks. We will show you a consent video and provide you with a copy of our consent form.
We can also perform a free LASIK screening, which will help determine if you are a LASIK candidate, and to provide you with more information. This is not a full eye examination, but an informational visit.
Call or email us for a free LASIK video!!!
What are the costs? LASIK costs 3,200.00 to have the procedure performed on both eyes on the same time, this includes:
- the initial exam and extensive LASIK counseling
- the procedure itself as well as initial medications
- the surgery center fee
- follow-up and enhancements within one year
Does my insurance or vision plan cover the fee, or is financing available?
a percentage of the fee. If the plan paid for radial
keratotomy, it may allow you to apply that sum to
the LASIK fee.
• Call your insurance company to see if your
particular plan covers refractive surgery.
You may be pleasantly surprised.
• Some cafeteria plans may cover LASIK.
• Financing is available through the laser center.
• Call our office for more information.
If I am extremely nearsighted and have astigmatism, is this surgery still for me? Yes. LASIK can be performed on very nearsighted persons; up to -15 diopters of nearsightedness and astigmatism up to 4 diopters. The procedure is slightly less predictable for extremely nearsighted persons, but these patients still tend to be very satisfied because of the decreased dependence on glasses as well as the decreased thickness of lenses needed. For those rare cases of extreme nearsightedness and farsightedness alternative procedures such as intraocular lens implants may be an alternative.
Does LASIK hurt? Anesthetic drops are given before the procedure, so pain is not felt during the procedure. After the treatment, most people experience little to no discomfort. For those experiencing discomfort from LASIK, nonsteroidal drops are given for relief.
Can I work the next day? We recommend you take the day off. People do work the next day after LASIK but it is impossible to predict who will or will not be uncomfortable. If you work in a dirty or dusty environment you should not work the next day.
Should I have both eyes done at the same time? Many doctors do both eyes at the same time. We prefer to take a more conservative approach and do one eye at a time. Complications are rare, but do happen. We feel it is better to make sure that you are satisfied with the vision in the first eye before we perform the procedure on the second. We can do both on the same day if it is too difficult for you to schedule two procedures.
How long should I wait between eyes? We usually wait at least one week between procedures.
What expectations should I have for my vision after surgery? This is different for everyone. Most patients notice improvement right after the surgery. It may take others a few days. Your vision will fluctuate slightly for the first month. This will decrease as time goes by, and after three months your vision should be stable.
When can I resume normal activities? Most patients can resume their usual routine right away. Swimming and hot tubs should be avoided for at least two to three weeks. Contact sports, skydiving, and scuba also require a longer recovery period. Protective eyewear during sports is recommended for at least one to two weeks following the procedure.
Will I be able to wear contact lenses again if I need them? If you had no problem with contact lenses prior to the procedure, you should have no problem afterwards.
I have monovision contact lenses. Is monovision possible with LASIK, so that I can be free from reading glasses? Monovision refers to contact lenses that allow one eye to see distance clearly, and the other eye to read fine print. This allows people in their late forties who use bifocals to be completely free of glasses. If you are a successful wearer of monovision contact lenses, you can most likely achieve the same result with LASIK.
If, after having the monovision correction with LASIK, you find that you would prefer to have both eyes corrected for distance, your near eye can be enhanced by the laser. Both eyes would then be corrected for distance, and you would then need reading glasses only for close range.
What are the long-term effects of LASIK, and how long has this procedure been performed? One and a half million people have had LASIK since 1988. Since LASIK is so new, long term complications have yet to be seen.
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