FAQ

What is refractive surgery?

A surgical procedure designed to permanently reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear to see distant objects. Refractive surgery includes LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis), PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), RK (radial keratotomy) and AK (astigmatic keratotomy). These procedures offer an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. These procedures can only improve vision if it can be improved with glasses or contact lenses.

Current FDA approved laser vision correction methods include PRK and LASIK.

What kind of laser is used?

LASIK and PRK are performed with an Excimer laser. This type of laser produces a cool beam of light, which changes the shape of the cornea, allowing light rays to be properly focused on or near the retina.

Is laser vision correction safe, and are these procedures FDA approved?

Yes, both PRK and LASIK procedures are FDA approved. The amount of approved correction depends on the laser used.

The FDA recognizes LASIK and PRK as proven, safe, and effective. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure, but laser vision correction has many saferds.

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses a cool beam of light to gently reshape the cornea (the surface of the eye) and improve vision. A thin layer of the cornea is lifted to create a protective flap. The laser then emits a beam that has enough energy to break the bonds between the molecules that make up the tissue on your eye’s surface. Because it is a photochemical, and not a heating process, it allows the surgeon to sculpt very precise amounts of corneal tissue without any damage to adjacent tissue. The idea is to remove enough tissue to flatten the cornea (for nearsightedness), steepen the cornea (for farsightedness), and/or smooth out corneal irregularities (for astigmatism). The goal is to shape the cornea so it does a better job of focusing images onto the retina, for sharper vision. The flap is then returned for a quick, natural recovery. Patients experience little discomfort and can usually return to work the next day.

How many people have had laser vision correction?

Surgeons have performed over 5 1/2 million laser vision correction procedures in the United States since the year 2000.

How do I know Laser Vision Correction is safe?

In the U.S. follow-up clinical trials have been conducted for the last 3 years with very few sight-threatening complications occurring. Outside the US millions of procedures have been performed over the past six years.

Why has LASIK become the procedure of choice for most patients and surgeons?

Because the healing occurs in the interior of the cornea and minimal regrowth of surface cells are required, there is minimal pain. The corneal flap protects the treated area and there is usually little, if any, post-operative discomfort. Visual rehabilitation is also much quicker.

What are the drawbacks and side effects of LASIK?

LASIK is more comfortable, usually pain-free and yields quicker rehabilitation of vision, but is technically more difficult to perform and has a slightly higher surgical complication rate than PRK. This is because of the extra step needed during LASIK to create the corneal flap.

The most common side effects with LASIK include:

• sensitivity to light
• night glare
• dry eyes
• mild irritation

These common side effects are temporary and will subside over time. Night glare can last from two to four weeks and dry eyes can last up to six months. These problems are usually no worse than what most contact lens and eyeglass wearers currently experience. Side effects are directly related to the patient’s initial prescription. Remember, the best side effect is better vision!

Is it guaranteed?

No surgical procedure can be guaranteed, but most patients achieve excellent results. The outcome depends upon the amount of pre-operative correction. Initially most patients achieve 20/40 vision or better in one treatment even with the greatest refractive error. A surgeon will determine the need for retreatment, based on medical opinion and your recovery.

How is the LASIK procedure performed?

This is an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll only spend an hour or two at the surgeon’s office. The laser treatment usually takes less than a minute, while the entire procedure takes around 15 minutes. Someone else will need to drive you home.

Prior to the procedure you’ll have a series of numbing drops placed in your eyes. During the procedure you’ll lie on your back and your head will be positioned under the laser. An instrument called an eyelid holder is placed on your eye to keep you from blinking and you’ll be asked to focus on a specific light.

If you’re having PRK, the laser removes the outer layer of the cornea. With LASIK, the surgeon cuts a thin flap in the inner layer of the cornea. Both procedures then use the cool beam of the Excimer laser to re-shape the cornea. The flap is then repositioned. In both procedures, the amount of corneal tissue removed by the laser is microscopic - less than the thickness of a human hair.

During the LASIK procedure there is usually no pain, however there is about 15 seconds of firm pressure while the corneal flap is being created. Following the procedure, patients are usually more comfortable than patients undergoing PRK.

Will I be in any pain?

LASIK is generally considered by most patients to be a "painless procedure". Drops are used to numb the eye and you are awake during the entire procedure.

Can I correct both eyes at once?

Yes. Most patients find it more convenient to have both eyes treated at the same time. Having your eyes corrected on separate occasions only extends the healing time and increases the number of required postoperative appointments.

What happens before and after surgery?

Before - Your doctor will perform a thorough eye exam to make sure your eyes are healthy and that you’re a suitable candidate for laser vision correction. Tests will be performed to look for glaucoma, cataracts, and other disqualifying conditions. Also, a high-tech machine called a corneal topographer will photograph and electronically map your eye. The surgeon will use this map and other measurements to program the computer for the most precise results possible.

After - The surgeon will place drops in your eyes. You’ll want to relax for a little while, then go home and rest. On the day of surgery most patients have a sense of "looking under water". The vision of most patients is clearer by the next day and continues to improve in the next few weeks.

You will need to have someone drive you home on the day of surgery.

Can I expect to see 20/20?

No one can promise that you’ll see 20/20, but most patients reach this goal or come within just a few lines on the eye chart of 20/20. Within this range, you’ll be able to participate in sporting events, swimming and driving without the aid of glasses or contacts. The level of improvement you will experience is dependent upon the degree of your current prescription. During your preoperative consultation, the surgeon will outline the results you can expect to achieve.

It is realistic to expect to achieve correction after surgery comparable to what you are able to achieve with glasses and contacts. Ninety-eight percent of all people can see well enough to pass a driver’s license test without any correction after laser vision correction. We cannot, however, promise you that you will never have to wear glasses again. While almost everyone has significant improvement in their best uncorrected vision (what you can see without any glasses or contacts), some people may still need to wear a much milder prescription for reading or driving after the surgery.

How soon after surgery can I drive?

You can resume driving when you feel comfortable with your vision. About 90% of patients are able to drive on their own the day after their procedure. With PRK, it usually take about 4-5 days to feel comfortable. Following surgery, you should avoid driving while under the influence of any medications other than eyedrops.

How long before I can return to normal activity or exercise?

You may resume normal activities, including exercising, as you like. Keep sweat from dripping in your eyes for at least four weeks; pay special attention to keeping your hands clean and away from your face; and don’t swim for at least four weeks. You should also wear protective lenses if you participate in contact or racquet sports.

How do I keep my eye open? What if I can’t see the blinking light?

During the procedure an eyelid holder is used to hold the eye open and the doctor can stop the procedure at any time if you look away or need to sit up. The computer will remember exactly where the doctor stopped the treatment and it will not have an impact on your outcome. Again, since the laser is a cool laser, there is no damage to the adjacent tissue and even if you somehow blinked, nothing would happen to your eyelid.

How long will my procedure take?

The actual surgery takes only minutes and the laser is focused on your eye for only seconds. Preparation, eye drops, and the procedure for both eyes takes approximately one hour.

What are the risks or limitations to glasses and contact lenses?

Eyeglasses - Glasses limit peripheral vision, interfere with athletic activities and water-related recreation, and may cause discomfort to the bridge of the nose or ears. Nearsighted prescriptions also tend to reduce the size of the viewed image as well as the appearance of the eyes behind glasses. This tends to become more and more cosmetically unappealing with higher prescriptions.

Contact Lenses - Contact lenses may cause irritation, chronic inflammations, and in rare cases, sight-threatening infections (ulcers). While they do offer cosmetic and activity-related advantages over eyeglass correction, some patients are unable to wear contacts or are poor candidates because time constraints prevent them from caring for the lenses properly. Contacts are also not usually ideal for water-related activities. However, both glasses and contacts offer the advantage of achieving the best possible correction.

What is nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when the eye has too much focusing power. A person can clearly see objects up close, but distant objects are blurry. With myopia the eye is either too long or the cornea is too steep to allow light to focus directly on the retina (the film of the eye). Instead, light focuses in front of the retina causing distant images to appear blurry.

What is hyperopia?

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, requires a person to use their focusing ability to see objects far away and even more focusing ability to see objects up close. Light rays entering the eye are focused behind the retina instead of directly on it, as in the normal eye. People with hyperopia will lose their close vision in their 20s and 30s and will have difficulty seeing distant objects in their 40s and 50s. Those with hyperopia usually need reading glasses at an earlier age and bifocals at a later age.

How does laser vision correction work for myopia and hyperopia?

For myopia the laser flattens the central portion of the cornea. For hyperopia the laser is blocked from treating the central portion of the eye and allows it to remove more tissue in the periphery of the cornea, a steepening rather than a flattening of the cornea is produced.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism exists when the front surface of your eye is not perfectly round; it can be described as being oblong or oval, like a football as opposed to spherical, like a basketball. Astigmatism can cause distortion of both near and far objects.

Can astigmatism be corrected?

Small to moderate amounts of astigmatism can be corrected. An eye exam is needed to determine the amount of astigmatism you have and if it can be treated.

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia occurs in people as they age, and is also the reason that people need bifocals once they reach their 40s. Vision gets split into two distinct zones; distance and near. If you see clearly at distance, it is likely you will then need correction for near.

What is a diopter?

A diopter is a unit of measurement that determines your prescription. A minus sign means nearsighted, a plus sign means farsighted.

Will I need glasses or contacts after surgery?

The overwhelming majority of patients that have had LASIK do not wear glasses for daily activities. Patients may need reading glasses around age 40 due to the normal aging of the eye (known as presbyopia). Some patients may need a minimal prescription for night driving.

As people enter their 40’s, they start to develop presbyopia. Regardless of whether or not you’ve had laser vision correction, this process will happen to you. Your surgeon can create an effect known as monovision. This means that one eye will be left slightly nearsighted, thus allowing you to focus on print such as labels and menus without reading glasses, and perhaps allowing you to read into your 50’s. As one gets older, it will be necessary to wear reading glasses. Furthermore, if you are over the age of 40 and are used to removing your glasses to read, you must realize that this will no longer be an option following a full correction of your nearsightedness with the surgery.

Can I afford Laser Vision Correction?

Yes. The replacement cost of eyeglasses and contact lenses can be extremely expensive and will more than pay for laser vision correction within a few years. TruVision also offers a number of financing options to make the procedure more affordable.

How much does Laser Vision Correction cost?

Your LASIK price depends on the procedure that is best for you. With the TruVision program, members receive preferred pricing on LASIK procedures starting at $895 per eye.