What is the cornea and how does LASIK corect my vision?
The cornea is the clear tissue in the front of the eye that you see through.
LASIK changes the shape of the cornea so that light focuses on the retina.
There are many factors involved in determining whether you can safely have LASIK or not. Please see our section on the LASIK evaluation for more information.
LASIK temporarily makes eyes more dry as it causes a reduced sensation of the surface of the eyes (because the eyes can't adequately sense the dryness, there is reduced blinking and reduced tear production). Although there are ways to compensate for the dryness, some patients with severe dryness of the eye should not have LASIK done as the procedure can temporarily make dryness worse.
There are many ways to correct vision, including glasses and contact lenses. Even if you can safely have LASIK performed, this may not necessarily be the best thing for you. It is important that you consider all your options before deciding to have an elective surgical procedure.
Will I have perfect vision after the surgery is done?
LASIK can reduce the need to wear glasses and contact lenses. It is important to recognize that the perception of a good result depends greatly on the activities one desires to do without glasses. If you spend a lot of time looking at intermediate or near objects, you may do better with some mild nearsightedness after the surgery.
The size of prescription to be corrected can also magnifies any small differences in patient response to the laser treatement and this can lead to residual prescriptions afterwards.
If there is a residual prescription that you feel limits your ability to function, an enhancement can be performed by lifting the LASIK flap and doing more laser treatment. The decision of whether the benefit is justified by the risk is essentially up to the patient.
I see fine in the distance, it's my close vision that has become a problem. Is LASIK right for me?
LASIK can make near vision better, but not without sacrificing distance vision to do so. Some patients who see well in the distance choose to have LASIK on their non-dominant eye so that they use one eye to see distance and one eye to see near (This is also called monovision).
If you already do this with contact lenses, you may be a good candidate for this with LASIK or with Conductive Keratoplasty.
Will I get to speak with Dr. Farjo during the LASIK evaluation?
Dr. Farjo is commited to his patients and inists on directly evaluating each patient and answering all questions personally, before the surgery, during the surgery and after the surgery.
Will this affect my ability to have other surgical procedures?
LASIK can affect predictability of lens implant choice when patients undergo cataract surgery. We maintain accurate records of the state of the eye before and after surgery to minimize future impact. Because our records are stored electronically and backed up, you can rest assured that they will remain safe and easily accessible for many years to come.
LASIK appears to result in relatively long-term stable visual correction, however natural aging of the eye will still occur. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.
What if I can't have LASIK - are there other options?
There are often a number of options available to correct refractive errors. LASIK is just one. New procedures are now available to correct vision in patients who can't have LASIK. Your screening exam is a comprehensive exam and you will be evaluated for the best procedure available to you at the same time
Are there any other questions I should ask?
During the evaluation, we try to learn as much about you and your lifestyle as possible in order to anticpate you needs. In doing so, we will often point out things that you may not have considered. We welcome all questions, no matter the timing and if you forget to ask something, we encourage you to contact us until your all questions have been answered.
How should I prepare for surgery?
You should plan to not work following your procedure. You should have someone who can drive bring you and take you home following the procedure.
In general, the impact on your ability to do most activities is limited. You can read, write and use your eyes as much as possible. You should not rub your eyes post-operatively - use artificial tears to relieve irritation. You should wear your protective eye shields at night for at least 1 week and longer if you feel there is any chance of traumatizing your eyes while asleep.
Most patients can drive themselves the next day, although you should arrange for a back-up plan to get to your post-operative check just in case you have trouble doing this. Many patients can resume working the day after the procedure.
We encourage you to discuss you work and life situations with us during the screening. We will help you determine which activities are appropriate and when a return to work will be wise.
