Before undergoing laser vision correction, a comprehensive preoperative evaluation is necessary to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Both eyes must be carefully examined and evaluated to ensure safety and effectiveness. It’s important to note that not everyone is a suitable candidate for LASIK. An ideal candidate must have a stable eyeglass prescription for at least two years, best corrected vision of at least 20/40, healthy corneas, and no active eye disease. Additionally, the candidate should be over 18 years of age. It’s crucial to thoroughly evaluate your candidacy before undergoing laser vision correction to ensure optimal outcomes and avoid potential complications.

Although there’s no upper age for laser vision correction, we would first need to determine that the overall health of your eyes is good, and there are no cataracts or other eye disease. Before the decision is made to proceed with laser vision correction, your vision needs to be stable. Depending on your age, you may need reading glasses after treatment. Nearly everyone needs reading glasses in their 40s. This is known as presbyopia. Presbyopia is a natural change in the lens inside of the eye and is not fixed by refractive surgery. If you are wearing bifocals or readings glasses now, you will still need reading glasses after LASIK. A treatment option with refractive surgery is known as monovision. In a monovision treatment, the patient’s dominant eye is corrected for distance vision with their non-dominant eye being left slightly nearsighted. Although not a replacement for reading glasses, this preserves a degree of near vision clarity. For patient in their 50s a patient may be a candidate for both LASIK and Clearlenz surgery. We can discuss the benefits of each of these surgeries at your consultation.

No, the LASIK procedure is not painful. The eye is completely numbed with anesthetic drops before the treatment begins. During the procedure, you may feel a slight pressure around your eye. After the procedure, you may experience a sensation of grittiness for a few hours, but this discomfort is usually minimal. If needed, we can provide you with a prescription pain reliever, but most over-the-counter pain relievers and rest are sufficient.

LASIK typically takes less than 5 minutes per eye. Although the laser only takes 20 seconds each to correct your vision, the overall process includes other preparations, such as administering anesthetic drops, making a thin corneal flap, and smoothing it back into place. You will be in the office for approximately 1.5 hours on the day of surgery.

The recovery time after LASIK can vary, but typically is within 24 hours. Most individuals can resume normal activities within one day of the procedure. However, it may take up to 1 month for your vision to fully stabilize. Although results can vary, most LASIK patients achieve legal driving vision or better on the day after surgery. This is one of the most exciting benefits of LASIK, as clear vision can be achieved quickly.

The effects of LASIK are typically permanent for most people, especially if their prescription was stable before the procedure. While it is possible for a person’s vision to change over time, this occurrence is rare. In such cases, it may be possible to undergo a repeat LASIK procedure years after the initial treatment to maintain clear vision if necessary

Please remove your contact lenses before your pre-operative exam as they can alter the shape of your cornea. If you wear soft lenses, they should be removed at least one week before the exam. For gas permeable lenses, removal should be done one month prior to the exam. This allows the cornea to return to its natural shape before measurements are taken. After the pre-operative exam, if you wear soft lenses, you can wear them again for up to 24 hours before your surgery. However, for rigid/gas permeable lenses, you may need to refrain from wearing them until the day of the surgery.