What is nearsightedness?

Myopia or nearsighted vision results when your eyeball is too long, or if the front, center surface of the eye (the cornea) is curved too much. Light will focus in front of the retina, causing blurry vision. This is not a disease but a normal variation in the shape of the eye.

How can laser vision treatment correct my problem?

A laser emits cool pulses of ultraviolet light which cleanly, precisely and smoothly removes a very small amount of tissue at the front of the eye. This corrects the problem curve of the cornea and allows light to focus properly on the retina, resulting in clearer vision.

What result can I expect?

Improved, clearer vision. Ninety-seven out of 100 of our patients achieve 20/40 vision or better, which means they can drive, work or play sports without glasses or contact lenses.

How long will the result last?

Doctors performed the first procedure in 1987. Studies to date report excellent vision stability for more than 10 years after treatment.

Can anything go wrong?

No cases of blindness have occurred in the close to one million procedures performed worldwide, to date. There is a very small risk of infection 2 out of 1,000 individuals. When it arises it is handled by antibiotics. The risk is extremely low because the soft contact lens applied acts as a bandage to protect the eye from dust or other particles. Should your eye drift off focus during the procedure, the doctor can stop the laser instantly and restart treatment when your eye is once again focused.

You might experience night glare. Night glare appears as "halos" around lights. This usually subsides in the first few months following laser correction.

What is farsightedness?

Hyperopia occurs when an eye is too short for the cornea's curvature. Light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina and, as a result, a blurred image is produced.

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism can exist alone or in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness. With this condition your eye becomes oval-shaped like a football instead of round, causing distortion when the eye tries to focus.

What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia is commonly known as "old age vision". It is a condition where there is a diminished power of the eye in accommodating near-to-far distances. This arises from loss of elasticity of the lens, as is typical with aging over 40. Laser surgery does not treat this condition.

What takes place at the screening?

Generally, to determine if you are a candidate, the technician or doctor will read your glasses and refract your eyes to determine your prescription. If it permits, a topography of your eyes will be taken, which reads the surface of the eye. We will discuss the surgery procedure and inform you about our financing program.

What kind of laser does the doctor use?

The doctor uses an FDA approved laser (either VISX or Summit brand). It is an excimer laser, which is a cool beam laser that ablates cells from the cornea, reshaping the surface.

Does it hurt?

No, the actual Excimer laser surgery procedure does not hurt. Before surgery, you are given medicated drops to numb your eyes. Some patients do experience discomfort during the first 12-24 hours after surgery, and medication is available if you are uneasy about this possibility.

How long will I be off work?

You can have the procedure and be back to your normal day-to-day activities very quickly. Most people return to work within two days. Generally, one day for LASIK and two to three days for PRK.

Is it covered by insurance?

Generally, it is not covered by insurance because they consider it an elective procedure. You should, however, check with your individual insurance company to verify their coverage.

What is laser vision treatment like?

During treatment you sit in a chair which is very much like a recliner-type chair. Your head is secured in the chair to prevent movement. You are fully conscious and only numbing anesthetic eye drops are used. You will be instructed to stare at a light while the laser pulsing occurs. A special device will be used to prevent blinking during the procedure.

3 Steps of LASIK Procedure

As the flap on the cornea is made (about the thickness of a contact lens) you may hear mechanical noise. It is important that you do not squeeze your eye and continue breathing normally during this part of the procedure.

After the flap is made and the microkeratome (below is a picture of microkeratome) is removed, your vision will return but it will be very hazy.

The surgeon programs a computer which controls the laser pulses with a precision that a surgeon alone could never duplicate. The computer calibrates and maps the exact measurements of your eye. The laser pulses occur for about 20 to 60 seconds.

Laser vision treatment itself is painless. There may be some discomfort in the days following the treatment. It is important that you keep your eyes closed as much as possible after surgery and do not rub the eyes.

Protective shields are placed on the eyes at night so that you don't accidentally rub the eyes in your sleep.