Does the procedure hurt?
LASIK is performed with
anesthetic eye drops which make the procedure painless.
There is no sensation of anything touching the eye. Some
patients may feel a slight sensation of pressure on their
lids but they do not describe it as painful.
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Sensitive Eyes
Most people choose to take an oral sedative
for relaxation. A gentle lid holder is used to prevent
blinking. A light inside the laser provides a target to
focus on during the entire procedure. Even the most
sensitive patients are able to have LASIK.
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Both Eyes At Once
Yes, unless a patient
specifically chooses to have one eye done at a time.
Most patients want to have their vision corrected with
minimum travel and healing time, and performing both
eyes at once normally yields the most rapid visual
recovery.
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Procedure Length
The entire
procedure takes ten to fifteen minutes to complete for
both eyes. The actual laser exposure time is typically less
than 30 seconds per eye.
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Back To Work
Depending on your
occupation, some patients may return to work within
24-48 hours.
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Recovery Time
Typically, patients are able to see immediately after the
procedure, however vision will be foggy for the first
several hours. Vision will normally improve for the first
24 hours and most, but not all, patients are able to drive
the first morning after their procedure.
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Gaining Maximum Improvement
Nearly all patients have recovered vision
enough to work and resume all normal activities within 48
to 96 hours. The quality of your vision will usually
improve over a period of weeks and months.
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20/20 Vision
A high percentage of
patients achieve 20/20 vision from LASIK, and nearly all
patients achieve 20/40 vision, the level of vision needed
to drive without correction. Patients who expect to have
20/20 vision from the procedure and who would be
unhappy with anything less are best advised not to have
LASIK. No one can guarantee a 20/20 result.
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Post Procedure Discomfort
After the anesthetic drops wear off, patients usually
describe approximately 6 to 12 hours of mild
discomfort, scratchiness, watering, light sensitivity, and a
sensation of something in their eyes. It is rare for a
patient to need anything more than a mild
over-the-counter pain reliever, and many patients need
nothing at all. The procedure itself heals very quickly
with any discomfort leaving in nearly all patients by 48
hours.
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Permanent Results
If your prescription is
stable, it is believed that the results of your procedure
will be permanent. The very first patient who had Laser
Vision Correction approximately 10 years ago is
reported to still have 20/20 vision.
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Possible Complications
As with any
medical procedure, there are risks and complications
which may occur in LASIK. Serious sight threatening
complications are rare. Every patient will receive an
extensive informed consent before they receive LASIK.
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Reading Glasses
If reading glasses are not required before the procedure,
a full correction with LASIK will not cause you to wear
them. However, as a result of the normal aging process
of the eye, reading glasses are normally needed by age
45. If you currently wear bifocal glasses or reading
glasses over your contacts, you may be a candidate for
Monovision, which leaves one eye slightly nearsighted so
that reading glasses may not be required.
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Activity Restrictions
Patients should not able to rub their eyes or
swim underwater for two weeks after the procedure.
Normal activities may be resumed the first day after the
procedure including golf, tennis, or other exercise.
Please Note: The answers to these questions are based
upon our past experience in uncomplicated LASIK
procedures at South Texas Eye Consultants. Individual
results, responses, and experiences may vary. Past
results are not a guarantee of future results. Please be
sure that all of your questions have been answered
before considering LASIK.
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South
Texas Eye Consultants
5402 S. Staples
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Phone: 361.992.9400
