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Am I a candidate for LASIK or laser vision correction?
What procedures do you perform?
How long does LASIK take?
Is the procedure done under anesthesia?
How soon can I go back to work?
How long do I have to take postoperative medications for?
Will I see 20/20 after my procedure?
When do you decide about a possible enhancement?
What if I want to wear contact lenses after LASIK?
What are the most common side effects of laser vision correction?
What about the long-term side effects of laser vision correction?
Is the correction permanent?
What are the possible LASIK complications?
Can I go blind?
My friend had laser eye surgery for a retinal detachment. Was the same laser used?
Will I need reading glasses?
Am I a candidate for laser vision correction?
Only a complete examination can determine
if you are a candidate for laser vision correction. Laser vision
correction is usually not recommended if:
- you are less than 19 years
old; however, there is no upper ag limit
- your prescription
has changed in the past 6 months
- you are pregnant or nursing
- you have rheumatoid arthritis
We use a triple-check system to ensure that you are a good LASIK candidate:
- Your free LASIK consultation in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut will include a preliminary screening;
- A more in-depth examination will be performed by a physician at your pre-operative appointment;
- Finally, important tests may be repeated on the day of your surgery to ensure 100% accuracy.
For more details on the screening
process, see Screening.
What procedures do you
perform?
There is more to laser vision correction than LASIK. With technological advances, more and more people are eligible for new forms of correction such as CK and IOLs. LASIK itself has been enhanced with the addition of Intralase and CustomVue. See our Procedures page for more details.
How long does LASIK take?
The time for the actual laser treatment is typically less
than one minute. Most patients will be in the laser suite
for a total of 15-20 minutes. You should plan to be in the laser
center for approximately an hour. Even though the procedure
itself is fast, we avoid rushing the patients in and out, and
like to take plenty of time with each of them.
Is the procedure done under anesthesia?
Yes. Prior to surgery, the eye is anesthetized with
eye drops. The anesthetic we use is so powerful that eye surgeons
use it for cataract surgery, which is far more invasive than
LASIK. As a result, there is no pain during the surgery. Approximately
1-3 hours after the surgery, you may experience mild tearing
or a foreign body sensation, like an eyelash or a new contact
lens in your eye. This sensation disappears after sleeping.
[See also The Day of the Procedure]
How soon can I go back to work?
Most patients are back to work by the next day. New York Giant Tiki Barber had LASIK at Diamond Vision at 7pm and was in the TV studio the next day at 4:30am for his live sport commentating. Patient who have had LASEK typically take 2-3 days off work after their procedure.
How
long do I have to take postoperative medications for?
Typically your course of eye drops will
last for 4 days.
Will I see 20/20 after my
procedure?
Your corrected vision after the laser procedure depends
on your initial prescription and other individual factors.
Prior to the surgery, the doctor will usually be able to give
you an estimate of the results to expect. As with any surgical
procedure, the results are not guaranteed. However, 99% of
our patients see 20/40 or better - enough to drive legally
without correction. Most patients achieve 20/20 or 20/25,
and about 30% see better than 20/20. Approximately 5%
of patients may require an enhancement to achieve their intended
goal.
When do you decide about
a possible enhancement?
Because your vision will adjust itself
and will keep improving in the first few months after the
procedure, enhancements are usually performed within 3-9 months.
They tend to be faster than the original procedure, because
there is no need to create a new flap, and because the amount
of treatment is minimal.
What if I want to wear contact
lenses after LASIK?
It will still be possible, though 99% of patients no longer
wear contact lenses after the procedure. The remaining 1%
either wear non-prescription, colored lenses, or wear prescription
lenses to slightly enhance their vision.
What are the most common side
effects of laser vision correction?
A small number of patients have reported fluctuating
vision, night glare, and dry eyes.However, these side-effects
are much reduced with the advent of new advancements in screening
and treatment. For example, we now measure the size of your
pupils and the thickness of your cornea to prevent night vision
problems. CustomVue LASIK also reduces the likelihood of glare and halos at night.
What about the long-term side
effects of laser vision correction?
LASIK is a more advanced form of keratomeleusis, which
was developed over 30 years ago. The advances in laser technology
and microkeratomes have made LASIK more precise and predictable
than the original procedure. More than two million people
the world over have had success with laser vision correction.
Is the correction permanent?
Yes, the laser in effect permanently etches the shape
of your contact lens into your cornea. In patients with a
correction higher than 6 diopters, however, the effect of
the procedure may diminish slightly, typically within the
first year - a phenomenon called "regression".
What are the possible
LASIK complications?
Most complications occur during the creation
of the protective corneal flap. If the flap is not ideal for
eximer laser the procedure is post poned for 2-12 weeks and
is then repeated. You will need to wear your glasses in the
interim.
During surgery, it is possible
that the corneal flap is either too thin, or incompletely formed,
or becomes displaced or loose. If this occurs, the laser treatment
will usually be deferred, and the flap will be put back into
place to re-seal completely before LASIK is done again a few
months later.
After surgery, it is important
not to rub your eyes for at least a week. If your eye is disturbed
and the flap moves, your vision will become distorted, and
you will have to come back to the office to reposition the
flap. As with any surgery, it is important to avoid infections,
and therefore to follow the course of eye drops that will
be prescribed to you.
A few days after surgery, some
patients may develop a mild allergic reaction. This is treated
by adjusting the frequency of the eye drop administration,
or the doctor may choose to irrigate out the allergic cells.
By now, most LASIK complications
are well-understood, and the FDA has done extensive tests on
both the risks and benefits of these procedures before giving
its approval.
Can I go blind?
We have performed more than 35,000 refractive procedures, and nobody has ever gone blind.
My friend had laser eye surgery
for a retinal detachment. Was the same laser used?
No, these are different lasers that treat different parts
of the eye. The excimer laser, used in laser vision correction,
has a cool beam and is used for treating the front part of
the eye, the cornea. The ARGON laser treats the back of the
eye, the retina.
Will I need reading glasses?
The need for reading glasses occurs naturally in most people in their early 40's whether they are nearsighted, farsighted or normal. Laser vision correction can be calibrated to avoid reading glasses after 40 if one eye is kept slightly nearsighted - this is called monovision LASIK. Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) can reduce dependence on reading glasses, whether or not you have had LASIK.
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