LASIK: Your steps to becoming “Lens Free”

Getting your Lens Free journey started:

Thank you for visiting our LASIK website. We care about your vision and our team looks forward to meeting with you. We are excited to help you on your journey to becoming lens free. You are just a click away from setting up your FREE Lasik Evaluation that we offer.

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Are you a candidate for LASIK?

Your Pre-Surgical Evaluation is the most comprehensive eye exam you will experience. This appointment is approximately 2 hours long. Your evaluation will begin with a one-on-one consultation with one of our Refractive Counselors. Following this consult you will begin taking several required optical test that will help your doctor determine your LASIK Candidacy. You will then meet with your doctor in the exam room to go over your results, answer any questions you may have and review over the LASIK options best for you and your lifestyle. The doctor you meet during your evaluation will also be your LASIK Surgeon. To sum up your evaluation, you will meet back with your Refractive Counselor to schedule your LASIK Procedure.

LASIK Procedure

On your Lasik Procedure day you will be greeted and comforted by our certified Surgical Staff. Before we start your procedure a member of the Surgical Staff will go over what to expect during and after your procedure. He/she will also review over post-operative instructions that you will follow 1-4 weeks after your procedure. Your surgeon will greet you and answer any additional questions you may have. Your surgeon will also review your procedure with you one last time. You will then be assisted to our surgical suite where your procedure will be completed. Your surgeon will follow-up with your well-being later that evening after you have rested.

Recovery and Care

You will meet your surgeon again at your post-operative appointments. Your first post-op appointment is as early as 1-4 days after your procedure. Taking care of your eyes after your procedure is just as important as prior to your procedure. We recommend an annual eye exam, even after your procedure, to ensure overall ocular health.

LASIK FAQs

Will my LASIK procedure hurt?

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No. Before we begin your procedure, we will numb your eyes with eyedrops. You may feel some slight pressure created by the laser that lasts only 40 seconds, but the procedure itself shouldn’t hurt. Afterwards, any discomfort you feel will only last a few hours and generally can be relieved with a little sleep, the eyedrops provided, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

How long will my LASIK procedure take?

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It takes approximately 20-30 minutes from the time you enter the laser suites to complete your laser vision correction.

How long will it take my eyes to heal?

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Healing takes place quickly and with very little discomfort. You may notice some slight burning and watering in one or both eyes, but with sleep, drops and acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you will most likely feel no side effects by the next day. One discomfort that some report is dry eye, which occurs because the nerves of the cornea have been temporarily altered by the creation of the flap, in LASIK or removal of stroma in PRK. Eyedrops alleviate the symptoms. As far as your vision goes, most patients report good vision the day after surgery, which can continue to improve for two to six months and then will likely stabilize.

What should I expect my results to be?

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Results will vary from patient to patient, which is why the consultation and presurgical evaluation process is so very important. Each patient’s outcome is determined by the current condition of the eye, their eligibility for a procedure, eye anatomy, and eye and health histories. You can be sure that the level of expertise of Beach Eye Care will lead to helping you achieve your best possible outcome.

Will my vision correction procedure last?

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Improvement in vision is for a lifetime, but other conditions such as presbyopia and cataracts will necessitate future enhancements. After your eye has stabilized after the first two to six months, your vision will usually be maintained for 10-15+ years. The requirement for reading glasses in the future, is generally the result of the normal aging process. Enhancements to further improve your vision may be an option and are needed in only 1-5% of patients each year.

What are the risks and complications?

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Because your eyesight is so important, it is normal to experience a little fear and nervousness. Most patients feel a lot better about the procedure after their consultation and they are fully aware of the entire process. Also, knowing that serious complications are statistically uncommon will help to ease your fears. The Beach Eye Care team will inform you about risks and potential complications associated with LASIK at your presurgical exam and in a written informed consent, ranging from very minor, short-term discomfort to serious complications, which are rare. We will also tell you what you can do to avoid some of these risks. Fortunately, the incidence of serious complications is low in the hands of a competent surgeon and the latest in laser vision correction technology.

How soon can I drive after my LASIK procedure?

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Most state departments of motor vehicles grant unrestricted driving privileges if your vision is 20/40 or better. You’ll be happy to know that more than 90 percent of all Beach Eye Care LASIK patients have this level of vision or better the day after surgery.

When can I go back to work?

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While most patients can go back to work the day after their LASIK procedure, we recommend that if you work in a dusty environment or outdoors, that you wait a couple of days before returning. We also recommend that for the day or two after your procedure, you not schedule any important appointments or meetings, as there may be some slight irritation, watering or blurriness that may limit your visual sharpness.

Will I need enhancement surgery?

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Only around 7 percent of patients will require an enhancement procedure in the first year due to the eye under or overresponding. Because each person’s eye tissue responds differently to the excimer laser, if you do need an enhancement, you must wait for your eye to stabilize, which usually takes three to six months after the original surgery.When an enhancement procedure is performed, the corneal flap will not need to be re-created. Instead, the surgeon, using a specialized instrument, gently lifts the preexisting flap and performs the additional laser treatment. Recovery time will usually be similar to that of the original procedure. You will not be charged an additional fee for such enhancement surgery within the first year. Enhancement procedures can also be performed years later if your eyesight changes over time with minimal fees.

Will having “Dry Eyes” affect my LASIK procedure?

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Many patients seek out LASIK because their dry eyes make wearing contact lenses difficult. If you have significant dryness, there are pre-procedure treatments that can help keep your eyes moist after your LASIK procedure. Dry Eyes often follow a procedure and can be especially noticeable if you use a computer often, read for long periods of time, or drive long distances. For most, frequent use of lubricating eyedrops is sufficient for the first few weeks post-procedure. Punctal occlusion and Restasis are are medical treatments for dry eyes, if you have other eye conditions that will affect dry eye, it is important to discuss this with Beach Eye Care during your consultation.

Can I still have LASIK if I’ve had prior eye surgery?

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Patients who have had certain types of eye surgery are sometimes candidates for LASIK or PRK as a second procedure to improve their vision. However, these are often more difficult surgeries and have less predictable results. A presurgical exam with Beach Eye Care will determine what may be the best course of action for your vision.Some patients may find LASIK or PRK an appropriate option following procedures like radial keratotomy (RK), and find success as long as the patient’s vision is relatively stable and there is no significant corneal scarring or epithelial debris in the incisions.

Patients who have had a corneal transplant may also see enhanced results with LASIK or PRK, especially those who developed a high degree of astigmatism as a result of the prior surgery. A clear corneal transplant will allow good vision only if it has a relatively round surface. Laser vision correction can smooth out astigmatic curves in the cornea.

Am I still a candidate for LASIK if my corneas are thin?

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Your consultation will determine whether the thinness of your corneal tissue effects your expected outcome with a LASIK procedure. The care and meticulousness of the Beach Eye Care team will ensure that you receive the proper procedure for your overall eye health. If your corneas are very thin, you may find that another procedure such as PRK or an ICL (implantable collamer lens) may be more appropriate.

If I still need them, will I be able to wear contacts after receiving LASIK?

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If you still require correction, you can return to wearing contacts temporarily within a few days. If you had no previous problems with contacts before LASIK, it is doubtful you will have problems afterward.

Will a LASIK procedure cause any long-term problems?

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The chance of problems years down the road is very unlikely. Beach Eye Care can tell you all you need to know about the success, short- and long-term of LASIK and other vision correction procedures.

Does LASIK help prevent other eye diseases?

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No. LASIK does not prevent cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, or any other eye disease. This is why it is very important that you continue to receive continued regular eye examinations. Eye doctors refer to LASIK as disease neutral, which means that LASIK does not prevent diseases, nor will it affect treatment of other eye conditions.

Should I have LASIK done on one eye at a time, or both at once?

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Some patients choose to have one eye treated at a time however, Drs. Neatrour and Jain generally to do both eyes on the same day. Having LASIK performed on both eyes helps speed recovery time, provides balanced vision nearly immediately, and saves you the time of having to make two trips to the Center for Vision Correction.

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