If you’ve grown tired of wearing contacts or eyeglasses, you may be wondering if LASIK eye surgery is right for you. We asked our LASIK expert Dr. Kathleen Petro some frequently-asked questions about LASIK laser eye surgery, to help answer your questions and calm your nerves regarding the refractive eye surgery.
What results should I expect from LASIK?
LASIK has a 96 percent patient satisfaction rate, according to a recent study published by the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. This is higher than any other elective procedure! Many factors contribute to satisfaction rates, including freedom from glasses, visual acuity, and quality of vision. More than 99 percent of patients achieve 20/40 vision or better, and 90 percent of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better. Whether your goal is waking up in the morning without scrambling for your glasses or complete freedom from glasses through monovision, it is important to discuss your hopes with your surgeon, who can tailor your treatment.
Is LASIK painful?
LASIK surgery is not painful. A mild oral sedative is given prior to the procedure to make you more relaxed – heavy sedatives are not necessary. The eye is numbed with drops before the laser treatment, so all you feel is mild pressure. After LASIK, your eyes will feel dry and sensitive for 4-6 hours, so it is best to take a nap once you get home. The post-operative eye drops (antibiotic and steroid) will also help this discomfort resolve.
What qualifies me as a good candidate for LASIK? What conditions might rule me out?
Good candidates have mild to moderate hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), or astigmatism.
If you have or had any of the following conditions, you may not be a good candidate for LASIK or PRK:
- Keratoconus or Forme Fruste Keratoconus
- Macular degeneration
- Advanced glaucoma
- Peripheral retinal tears
- Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
- Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy
- Autoimmune diseases (Sjogren’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, etc.)
- Immunosupression
- Herpes Simplex or Zoster corneal infection
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Severe dry eyes or severe blepharitis
- Pregnancy or lactation (best to wait 3+ months after breastfeeding is concluded)
- Unstable refraction
How long will LASIK recovery take?
Vision recovery after LASIK is typically rapid, and patients have usable vision within one day of surgery. Over the next several weeks, the cornea will heal and settle while vision sharpens. If the outcome of the initial procedure does not meet expectations, then a retreatment can be performed approximately three months later. This consists of either lifting the flap that was made and applying an additional amount of laser treatment or doing the retreatment on the surface (PRK).
Vision recovery after PRK takes longer, as the surface epithelial layer of the cornea takes 3-4 days to grow back under a bandage contact lens. After 1 week, the vision is much improved but can take an additional 4-6 weeks to become very clear. Depending on the rate of recovery of vision, patients can usually drive and return to work within 3 to 6 days after PRK surgery. If necessary, enhancement can be considered 3-6 months after surgery.
Is LASIK permanent?
For most people, results will last years or even decades. However, there are exceptions – approximately five percent of people will need a “touch up” due to small changes in the cornea over time. As eyes naturally age over the decades, they develop cataracts, presbyopia (need for reading glasses), and can develop other eye conditions that can decrease visual clarity.
We hope this helps you make your decision about LASIK. If your question was not answered, please contact us to speak with our LASIK expert Dr. Petro. Thank you!