WHAT IS LASIK?

LASIK, or Laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a surgical procedure used to change the shape of the cornea to correct certain types of vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. When you schedule a consultation at Arena Eye Surgeons , our specialists in laser vision correction will help guide you through the details of your LASIK procedure.

A Good Candidate

LASIK surgery is most effective when used to correct vision disorders like astigmatism, hyperopia (farsightedness), and myopia (nearsightedness). The surgical team has to perform a thorough LASIK per-operative evaluation. After a throughout LASIK per-operative evaluation, your doctor will decide if LASIK surgery will be able to improve you vision. Dr. Kelley and Dr. Shah have done thousands of LASIK surgeries, and know what to look for to help decide if LASIK surgery is right for you.

Once they have had a chance to look at your problem up close, they will decide if LASIK surgery will be able to improve your vision. The team of eye surgeons at Arena Eye Surgeons have done thousands of LASIK surgeries. They know exactly what to look for to help them to decide if LASIK surgery is right for you.

The Preparation

If you are a soft contact lens wearer, we request prior to your scheduled LASIK consultation, you stop wearing your contact lenses for 1 week. Many types of contact lenses temporarily change the shape of the cornea and can take time for the cornea to return to its normal shape.

The Surgery (Bladeless Femtosecond Technology)

In preparation for the procedure, anesthetic drops are placed in your eyes. A lid speculum keeps the eyelids open and out of the way during the procedure. During LASIK surgery, a femtosecond laser is used to create a small thin corneal flap. This flap is then reflected and an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea according to your prescription. When the process is complete the flap is repositioned. Immediately afterwards, your surgeon will check the flap position, and you will be given eye drops to promote healing. The entire procedure lasts several minutes, and you will notice improvement in vision within 24 hours, as most patients are able to return to work the following day.

Before Laser Eye Surgery

Before your LASIK eye surgery date, there aren’t any restrictions on the foods you can eat, what you can drink, or the medications you are taking. However, please let the doctor know any prescription medications you are on. You will be asked to sign paperwork which will include consent forms. You will also discuss payment of the procedure since LASIK is usually not covered by insurance plans.

Factors to Remember:

•Wear comfortable clothing
•Eat before arrival
•Remove all makeup and refrain from applying cologne, after-shave or perfume, as this may interfere with the lasers
•Arrange transportation home from the center as you are not permitted to drive yourself
•You will be instructed to go home and take a two or three hour nap

When you Arrive at the Surgery Center

You will be greeted by staff and taken to a waiting area where you will be prepared for the procedure. Your surgeon will meet with you before the surgery and anesthetic eye drops will be placed in your eyes every few minutes before the procedure begins.

Inside the Laser Room

Laser vision correction will be performed in just a few steps and generally takes about 10-15 minutes. The laser used is first calibrated and then programmed with your specific prescription. It takes a couple of minutes to position you properly underneath the laser microscope. An eye holder is used to prevent you from blinking.

You will be asked to look towards a flashing green or red light while your surgeon monitors your eye with a microscope. You’ll hear a clicking or snapping sound come from the laser. This is normal. The surgeon will examine your eyes immediately following the laser treatment.

After the Laser Eye Surgery

You’ll be taken to a post-op room after surgery and one of our staff members will give you a kit that will contain eye shields, medicated drops, and artificial tears, as well as instructions on how to use them all.

Now go home and take that nap!

What to Expect When You Get Home

Your vision will still be somewhat blurry after the procedure. The day after the procedure is done is when most people start to see an improvement in their vision. You may experience a small amount of discomfort after leaving the office and before going to sleep, which is very common. It may feel like something is in your eye and you may have more tearing than normal. You may experience sensitivity to light and your eyes may burn while they are open. You may be instructed to use eye drops to keep your eyes moist. This is again very normal. You may also begin to see red spots over the whites of your eyes, which is a benign side effect that resolve on its own in 7-14 days.

It is normal for your vision to fluctuate for the first couple of months. Driving at night may initially be difficult because of the glare and blur. Your team at Arena Eye Surgeons is here to address any questions or concerns you have during or after the procedure.

LASIK RISKS

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. We will address specific risks with you during your consultation. Because each patient’s vision is different, there maybe other treatment options that are more appropriate for you. We encourage you to make a consultation to discuss which procedure is the best for your visual needs.

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