LASIK is Easy

Three Steps to 20/20 Vision

1. The first step of a LASIK procedure is the creation of the corneal flap - a thin segment of the outer layer of the cornea.
2. Next, the flap is lifted and a cool laser is used to re-shape the underlying corneal tissue to correct any irregularities.
3. Finally, the flap is folded back into place where it bonds quickly. Healing is rapid and most people can return to work the very next day.

LASIK takes only minutes per eye. You can expect to feel little to no pain throughout the entire procedure. Some people sense just the slightest sensation of pressure. Inserting or removing contact lenses or just rubbing eyes that are tired from wearing glasses can produce more discomfort than a LASIK procedure.

You can expect to start seeing better right away. However, your eyes will need to rest while the healing process takes over. After the procedure, you’ll be asked to go home and relax or take a nap. After a good night’s sleep, you can expect to wake to your first morning without lenses. One of our patients’ most frequent comments after LASIK surgery is that they can see the alarm clock for the first time without the need for glasses.

The freedom to swim, hike, travel and work without the inconveniences of glasses or contacts - this is just the start of life after LASIK.

Alternatives to LASIK

ASA/LASEK

Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) is the modern version of the PRK laser vision correction procedure and is the preferred approach in certain patients. ASA utilizes the exact same high technology laser that is used with LASIK. Like LASIK, ASA can be used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

Also called LASEK or Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, this relatively new procedure represents a surgical advancement over PRK. It was first approved by the FDA in 1995. It combines certain elements of both PRK and the more popular LASIK procedure and may offer some advantages over LASIK for certain patients.

ASA is most commonly chosen for patients with corneas that are too thin for LASIK or when creating or lifting a LASIK flap carries an undesirable risk. This procedure is often preferred for patients in special requirement professions such as the military, aviation and the special forces.

With LASEK, instead of removing the epithelium, as with PRK, a flap of surface epithelium is loosened with a diluted alcohol solution and moved aside. The surface under the epithelium is treated with the laser and the epithelial flap is returned to its original position, as with LASIK. A protective, soft contact lens is then placed over the cornea to make the eye more comfortable while it heals.

Healing may be improved using the epithelial flap as a natural protective bandage with LASEK, as opposed to completely removing the epithelium as with PRK. It may also reduce postoperative discomfort and the incidence of postoperative haze. Plus, the margin of safety with LASEK is increased over LASIK as the need for a microkeratome (mechanical device used to create the corneal flap) is eliminated.

It usually takes from three to five days for the epithelium to fully heal. Because the return to functional vision is longer than with LASIK, many LASEK patients prefer to have one eye treated at a time.

Although the ultimate visual results after ASA are outstanding and equivalent to LASIK, the first few weeks can be somewhat unpredictable with regard to vision quality and post operative comfort. For most patients, the recovery from ASA resembles LASIK in that the patient quickly achieves a very useful level of vision and minimal discomfort. For others, the discomfort can be more prominent and a slower visual recovery can occur, and for this reason, we advise that during the postoperative period, the patient has minimal visual and occupational requirements. It is also wise to delay travel until comfort and vision have reached suitable levels.

We will ask you to avoid immersion of your eyes in water for three weeks. This includes swimming and hot tubs. Otherwise, as your vision improves, you may resume your normal activities without major restriction.

PRK

If a person’s cornea is too thin, the degree of myopia too high, or the shape of the cornea abnormal, a laser treatment of the surface of the cornea, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), may be a better option. PRK was the first procedure performed using the excimer laser.

What Happens During PRK?

Prior to surgery, drops are instilled to numb the eye. The patient lies down on a reclining chair with a secure headrest to hold the head still. The eye to be operated on is fitted with a speculum to keep the eyelid from blinking. The epithelium, a thin layer of cells that covers the cornea, is completely removed. The process of cell removal can vary by surgeon. The most common way is by using a solution of diluted alcohol to help loosen the cells from the surface where they are manually removed by the surgeon. A light is targeted toward the eye and the patient is asked to fixate or stare at the light, so that the laser can be directed precisely to reshape the cornea. The cool laser beam then removes a very thin layer of corneal tissue - thinner than a human hair - and reshapes the cornea to enable light to focus properly on the retina. The laser treatment time usually lasts less than one minute. Following the surgery, drops are instilled in the eye(s) to facilitate healing and to prevent infection. A special contact lens is applied that acts like a bandage and must be worn for three to five days, as new epithelium grows back over the treated area during this time. The doctor will remove the special lens during a follow-up visit.

What are the Risks of PRK?

• A loss of perfect clarity of the cornea - usually not affecting vision - that often resolves over time.
• Glare or increased sensitivity to bright light.
• Seeing halos or hazy rings around bright lights, particularly at night.
• Loss of best corrected vision. Although rare (affecting fewer than 1% of patients), your vision with glasses or contact lenses may not be as sharp as before.
• An increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) due to post-treatment medications. This condition is usually resolved by drug therapy or by discontinuing post-treatment medications.
• Over-correction or under-correction of vision.

Refractive surgery may not always yield the desired results. In some cases, the surgery can be repeated. PRK will not eliminate the need for reading glasses in patients around the age of 40.

The LASIK Advantage

Unlike PRK, another laser technique for vision correction, LASIK preserves the top layer of cells on the eye. The cornea heals more quickly and vision is restored faster than with PRK. Thomas Eye Group uses only FDA approved laser technology combined with the diagnostic precision - originally invented by NASA - for use in high-powered telescopes, called wavefront technology. Thomas Eye Group uses the VISX STAR S4^™ IR Excimer Laser System and WaveScan WaveFront^™ System.

With less surface area to heal than PRK, LASIK patients recover very quickly, and most experience little, if any, discomfort. Functional vision returns very rapidly, with the majority of patients seeing well enough to drive in a day or two without glasses or contact lenses. Most patients elect to have LASIK performed on both eyes at the same time.