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Lasik
DOES LASIK PROVIDE PERMANENT RESULTS?
LASIK allows your surgeon to permanently re-shape your cornea to improve your vision. Nonetheless, there are a couple of factors to keep in mind.
A very small percentage of patients may undergo a “regression” of the corrective effect of the LASIK surgery. Regression is a loss of the LASIK effect over time due to healing changes in the cornea. Typically a touch-up procedure can be performed in this circumstance to make the vision clear again. At the Eye Treatment Center we are committed to your vision, and we want you to be thrilled with your vision. If it is necessary and safe, during the first year after your LASIK surgery you will be eligible for a free touch-up procedure.
Another factor that may impact your long-term vision result is presbyopia. Presbyopia is a natural stiffening of the crystalline lens in your eye that makes it more difficult to read things that are at a closer distance. This natural process occurs in everyone’s eyes beginning in the early 40’s. Most people are able to treat this problem by wearing reading glasses to see things at a closer distance. Having the LASIK procedure does not prevent presbyopia, nor will it affect its progression over time.
DOES LASIK HURT?
The LASIK procedure does not cause pain. Upon arrival for your LASIK procedure you will receive an oral medication that will help to reduce any anxiety that you may be feeling. During the course of the LASIK surgery you will feel a brief pressure sensation during the flap creation, and you will also feel the sensation of cool water coursing over your eye. The actual laser used to precisely sculpt your cornea does not cause any pain. After the LASIK surgery is done, you may feel a foreign body sensation akin to having an eyelash in your eyes. This sensation is typically gone within a couple of days.
HOW MANY DAYS OF WORK WILL I HAVE TO MISS?
The answer to this question may depend on the type of work you do. Most patients are able to return to work by the day after surgery. It is important to note though that certain activities such as using computer usage may cause your eyes to feel particularly dry.
HOW LONG WILL MY HEALING TIME BE?
The healing process is unique for all of our eyes. Nonetheless, the vast majority of patients notice a substantial improvement in their vision by the day after their LASIK surgery. Most patients are able to return to work within 1 to 2 days. There may also be a fluctuation in your vision during the first few weeks after your LASIK surgery.
DO I HAVE TO STOP WEARING CONTACT LENSES BEFORE MY LASIK PROCEDURE?
If you are a soft contact lens wearer then you should discontinue using contact lenses for the two weeks prior to your consultation, as well as the two weeks prior to your actual LASIK surgery day. The chronic use of contact lenses may cause a subtle change in the shape of your cornea which can make your surgical planning more difficult. We ask that you follow these guidelines in order to maximize the accuracy of our pre-operative testing.
WILL I UNDERGO THE LASIK SURGERY IN BOTH EYES ON THE SAME DAY?
Yes, typically we perform LASIK surgery in both eyes on the same day.
IS LASIK SAFE?
After its approval by the FDA in the late 90’s, LASIK surgery has been successfully performed on millions of patients worldwide. There is inherent risk in any and all surgical procedures. There is no surgical procedure that has a 100% safety profile. Nonetheless, with LASIK surgery the benefits of improved vision far outweigh the risks to your eyes.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO LASIK THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
The most common side effect following LASIK surgery is dry eye. Many patients experience dryness in their eyes in the weeks following LASIK surgery, but this is typically treated successfully by lubricating the eyes with artificial tear eyedrops. In addition, this dryness generally resolves after 4 to 6 weeks.
WILL MY NIGHT TIME VISION BE IMPACTED BY LASIK?
There are some night vision complaints that have been associated with LASIK surgery in the past. Before the introduction of wavefront technology, some patients noticed having halos and starbursts surrounding light sources in dimly lit environments. Typically these symptoms were not debilitating and they improved over the course of 6 to 12 months after LASIK surgery.
With Custom treatments using wavefront technology the likelihood of these night time symptoms has been dramatically reduced.
IS THERE A GUARANTEE THAT I WILL ATTAIN 20/20 VISION AFTER LASIK?
We cannot guarantee that you will have 20/20 vision after your LASIK procedure. Nonetheless, over 96% of patients who undergo LASIK surgery reach the 20/20 mark. In addition, about 99% of patients will reach the 20/40 mark which is the level of vision needed to pass the DMV drivers test. Obtaining these excellent results is dependent on having a skilled surgeon who provides personalized care, excellent technology, and meticulous attention to detail. At the Eye Treatment Center, our success has been a direct result of these factors.
I AM OVER 40 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH READING SMALL PRINT. CAN LASIK HELP?
As our eyes age, the lens inside of the eye gradually loses its flexibility. This problem, presbyopia, generally occurs in the early 40’s and leads to difficulty with near vision.
There is one effective way in particular that LASIK can help to treat presbyopia. A procedure called LASIK monovision can be used to correct one of your eyes for distance vision, and the other eye for near vision. The majority of patients receiving monovision have the ability to see well at both distance and near vision. One of the compromises with monovision is that you may require reading glasses when reading for extended periods of time.
Not all patients are candidates for LASIK monovision. Your doctor will discuss this option with you during your free LASIK consultation.
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