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- How do I keep my eye open during the procedure?
- What if I can't stare at the fixation light during the laser treatment?
- What keeps the flap down following the procedure?
- Will I experience nighttime starbursts or halos?
- Will the procedure hurt?
- How will my eyes feel afterwards?
- Will I experience dry eyes after the procedure?
- I work a lot on a computer. How will that affect my eyes after my treatment?
- Does a person's age have any relevance?
- What happens if I need cataract surgery when I get older?
- What are my chances of seeing 20/20 following the procedure?
- When can I go back to work?
- When can I fly following my procedure?
- Will I have to wear reading glasses after my treatment?
- How long will the effects of the surgery last?
- How do I keep my eye open during the procedure?
The eye is held open by a speculum, a smooth micro-clamp which is inserted under the eyelids. The eye is numb so one does not feel the need to blink.
- What if I can't stare at the fixation light during the laser treatment?
The VISX laser automatically tracks your eye movements during treatment.
- What keeps the flap down following the procedure?
The first effect that helps the flap stick is called capillary action (similar to putting a piece of cellophane on a drop of water on a window). Following this, the flap is subjected to a suction gradient across the cornea, created by the endothelium, which is constantly pumping fluid out of the cornea. During the first 24 hours, the epithelium heals over the flap edges, restoring more strength. And finally, the collagen heals across the flap interface over the ensuing few months.
- Will I experience nighttime starbursts or halos?
Nighttime starbursts and halos around lights occur when light is scattered from the peripheral edge of the laser zone through a pupil which is enlarged due to dim illumination. The larger the nighttime pupil and the larger the treated prescription, the more chance that one will experience these side effects and the more obvious they might be. Routinely, most patients experience a month or two of mild nighttime starbursts and halos. For those with larger pupils or higher prescriptions, an enlarged laser zone is used to minimize these effects.
- Will the procedure hurt?
Most patients experience minimal discomfort during the procedure. There is a 30 second period when one will experience pressure on the eye. There is absolutely no discomfort during the laser treatment.
- How will my eyes feel afterwards?
Most patients experience a few hours of scratchy, burning, irritated eyes following the procedure. Usually, artificial tears are all that is needed to relieve these symptoms.
- Will I experience dry eyes after the procedure?
Patients have different risk in experiencing post-operative dry eye. Typically, most patients experience mild dryness of the eyes (usually upon awakening or after extended reading) for a month or two. Artificial tear drops are usually all that is needed to relieve these symptoms.
- I work a lot on a computer. How will that affect my eyes after my treatment?
You may experience a little more dryness of the eyes with extended computer work for the first month or two. This is easily relieved with artificial tear drops.
- Does a person's age have any relevance?
Typically, we would not recommend anyone younger than 18 years old having the surgery, as their eyes are still growing. There is no upper age limit, as long as one's eyes are still healthy. However, older age groups do tend to experience a little longer visual recovery and have to consider strategies to correct their reading vision (see information about Presbyopia below).
- What happens if I need cataract surgery when I get older?
Having LASIK surgery today will neither promote nor prevent the development of cataracts. Should one develop cataracts in the future, cataract surgery could be performed just as it would on someone who had not had previous LASIK surgery.
- What are my chances of seeing 20/20 following the procedure?
Visual outcomes have several determinants, including age, level of prescription, best-corrected vision with glasses prior to surgery, and how one's cornea responds to the treatment. With the introduction of Wavefront technology, there's a high likelihood that the vast majority of LASIK patients will achieve 20/20 or better outcomes.
- When can I go back to work?
For most patients, LASIK allows good, functional vision the very next day. In fact, most people can go back to work and their usual activities the day following their treatment. However, one needs to realize that the vision may not yet be perfect the next day and may take a few days to a few weeks to fully recover.
- When can I fly following my procedure?
Altitude has no effect on the vision or the healing of the eye after LASIK. So, you can actually fly the next day if you like. However, be aware, that the air blowing from the vents above you may make your eyes feel more dry. Just bring your teardrops with you.
- Will I have to wear reading glasses after my treatment?
For a complete understanding of what causes people to need reading glasses, it is important to review the section on Presbyopia. If you are 40 or younger, you will not need reading glasses after your treatment. You will, however, need them at some point in the years to come. After the age of 40, if you treat both your eyes for clear distance vision, you may need reading glasses. For patients in this age group we present the option of monovision and let them try it out prior to surgery. In monovision, the dominant eye is corrected for clear distance vision, while the other eye is corrected for better near vision. While it may sound strange to some, at least half of the patients in this age group test well with the monovision and elect to have it performed in the surgery.
- How long will the effects of the surgery last?
As far as we can tell, the effect of LASIK is permanent.
  
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