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Common Questions
Candidates for LASIK should be 18 years or older with stable vision, healthy eyes and a prescription that falls within the range of effective treatment. In some cases, such as CustomVue™ (Wavefront -Guided) treatments patients should be 21 years of age or older. You will need an initial evaluation, followed by a comprehensive eye exam to help you and your doctor decide which procedure is right for you. Laser Vision Correction can benefit a great number of people with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Candidates should have a strong desire to be less dependent on corrective lenses and willing to accept the risks of surgery.
No, the procedure is painless. Anesthetic eye drops are placed in the eye to numb it. Most patients say they feel some pressure during the procedure, which only lasts a few seconds. After the procedure you may have some light sensitivity, tearing or “burning” in the eyes, which should subside after a few hours. These symptoms are temporary.
Most patients will notice an improvement in vision immediately following treatment. Visual recovery varies for each person but usually stabilizes at 3 months. The speed at which your vision improves is due to individual healing rates, type of procedure and degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Most patients find that their eyes feel fairly normal within a day. However, vision can continue to improve and the best vision can take two to three months to occur. If necessary, enhancements can be done after your vision has stabilized to further improve your vision. Patients who have hyperopic LASIK may have a longer healing process.
It depends on your occupation. Most patients go back to work and resume their daily activities within one to three days following LASIK. Your doctor will discuss any activities you should avoid immediately after your treatment.
An overwhelming majority of patients achieve the vision which enables them to perform most of their daily activities without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
The VISX STAR S4™ Excimer Laser has a tracking system that follows the eye during the laser treatment. If any large eye movements occur, the laser automatically stops. Once the eye is repositioned the physician will resume the laser treatment to the appropriate area of the cornea.
The whole procedure takes about 20-30 minutes for two eyes. This includes anesthesia to the eye(s), creating the flap and performing the laser treatment.
Don’t live in South Florida but want LASIK? No problem. We treat many patients from around the U.S. and internationally as well. We have several resources to share and can help you plan your visit. Please click here if you are an Out of Town Patient.
