| Laser
Vision Correction
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is LASIK?
How
is LASIK different from previous refractive eye surgery techniques?
Is
LASIK right for everyone?
Is
LASIK safe?
What
are the risks associated with LASIK?
What
happens before LASIK surgery?
What
happens during the LASIK procedure?
Is
LASIK painful?
How
long does the procedure take?
How
long must people wait to resume normal activities after a LASIK treatment?
Will
a person’s vision remain stable long after the procedure?
What is LASIK?
LASIK, short for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a surgical
procedure that uses a cool (non-thermal) beam of light to gently reshape
the cornea — the surface of the eye — to improve vision.
The laser removes microscopic bits of tissue to flatten the cornea
(for nearsightedness), steepen the cornea (for farsightedness), and/or
smooth out corneal irregularities (for astigmatism). In most cases,
the thickness of the layer of corneal tissue removed by the laser
is less than the thickness of a human hair. The goal of any laser
vision correction procedure is to reshape the cornea so it does a
better job of focusing images onto the retina.
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How is LASIK different from previous refractive
eye surgery techniques?
Current FDA approved laser vision correction methods such as LASIK,
have a higher predictability of the final result with a lower incidence
of complications. Additionally, older non-laser techniques typically
involved manually performed incisions rather than automated lasers
for correction.
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Is LASIK right for everyone?
Only an eye care professional can determine whether or not an individual
is eligible for LASIK treatment. In general, a good LASIK candidate
is at least 18 years old, has healthy corneas, and has maintained
a stable eye prescription for the last 12 months. Because hormonal
levels can affect the shape of the eye, women who are pregnant or
nursing should not undergo LASIK treatment. The procedure should also
not be performed on patients who:
- Have glaucoma, cataracts or dry eyes
- With collagen vascular, autoimmune or immunodeficiency
diseases
- Show signs of keratoconus (an eye disorder in which
there is thinning of the cornea that results in blurred or distorted
images)
- Take medications with ocular side effects (such as
Accutane® or Cordarone®).
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Is LASIK safe?
The FDA recognizes LASIK as proven, safe and effective. According
to guidelines recently released by the Eye Surgery Education Council
(ESEC), fewer than 1% of patients who have received LASIK to date
have experienced serious, vision-threatening problems. Most LASIK
complications can be treated and usually resolve within several months
of surgery. There are no known cases of blindness resulting from LASIK.
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What are the risks associated with LASIK?
Although no one knows the exact number of complications, studies suggest
that the incidence of minor difficulties such as dry eyes and nighttime
glare is around 3% to 5% from combined LASIK and PRK procedures. These
minor complications include:
• Halos - Some patients will
notice glare, halos or starburst around objects in low-light conditions.
For the vast majority, these symptoms are temporary. However, others
will continue to experience them for several months or longer. During
pre-operative evaluation, the refractive surgeon can determine whether
or not a person is at high risk for seeing long-term halos.
• Dry eyes - There is increased
dryness of the eyes typically for several months following LASIK,
though some patients may experience dryness for a longer period of
time. It is important to use lubricating drops frequently. If the
eyes remain dry for prolonged period, there are other drops or techniques
that can help. Pre-operative evaluation will help determine whether
or not a person is a likely candidate for experiencing dry eyes.
• Infection - This is an extremely
rare occurrence, with a 1 in 2000-3000 chance (similar to any eye
surgery). Fortunately, as the LASIK technique has developed over the
years and proven to be of great benefit to millions of patients nationwide,
firmly established protocols now exist which minimize the risk of
infection.
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What happens before LASIK surgery?
Before a surgeon will perform LASIK, preoperative tests are performed
to screen for glaucoma, cataracts and other disqualifying conditions.
The surgeon may also use an instrument called a corneal topographer
to photograph and electronically map the eye in order to gather more
information about the individual’s eyes prior to treatment.
Because contact lenses change the shape of the cornea,
LASIK candidates are required to switch to eyeglasses before their
baseline evaluation is taken and continue wearing only eyeglasses
between 2-4 weeks before LASIK surgery. Not leaving contact lenses
out long enough for the cornea to assume its natural shape before
surgery can cause inaccurate measurements and poor vision after surgery.
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What happens during the LASIK procedure?
Once the surgeon has conducted all pre-operative examinations, the
eye is anesthetized with numbing eyedrops, the area around the eye
is cleaned, and an instrument called a lid speculum is used to hold
the eyelids open. Typically, the surgeon will then use a handheld
blade called a microkeratome to cut a thin, circular flap—the
outermost 20 percent of the thickness of the cornea—to expose
the portion beneath. This part of the procedure is called keratectomy.
At Precision Laser Eye Center, no blade is used. The IntraLase Laser
is used to create the flap instead.
While the inner cornea (the stroma) exposed, the surgeon
will ask the patient to fixate on a specific light source above the
patient. This is to ensure that the laser beam is aligned precisely
with the center of the patient’s eye. Once the eye is in the
correct position, the laser treatment is performed. The computer-controlled
excimer laser removes the tissue under the flap and reshapes the cornea
of the eye. In less than 60 seconds, ultraviolet light and high-energy
pulses from the excimer laser reshape the internal cornea with accuracy
up to 0.25 microns, or 1/4000 of a millimeter.
After the pulses of laser energy vaporize the corneal
tissue, the flap is put back into its original position. The surgeon
will observe the eye for three to five minutes to ensure bonding.
Because the cornea bonds quickly, healing is rapid, and the eye does
not require stitches.
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Is LASIK painful?
The procedure is painless; however, most people experience 4-6 hours
of mild irritation after their LASIK procedure.
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How long does the procedure take?
The laser treatment on the Allegretto Wave usually takes less than
thirty seconds, while the entire procedure takes around 10-15 minutes
per eye.
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How long must people wait to resume normal activities
after a LASIK treatment?
In most cases, people can return to work within 1-3 days following
LASIK surgery. Excluding the day of surgery itself, people may begin
driving as soon as they see well enough. Women can start wearing makeup
within two to three days of treatment; however, they are advised to
wear only new cosmetics in order to decrease risk of infection.
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Will a person’s vision remain stable long
after the procedure?
The vision correction is permanent. However, a person’s vision
may change naturally with time and LASIK does not affect visual conditions
that may develop with age. Also, LASIK does not prevent presbyopia
and the eventual need for reading glasses. Depending on the cause,
retreatment may be a viable solution to later vision changes, and
other treatment options also exist.
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