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Frequently Asked Questions about LASIK
Is the effect of LASIK
permanent?
Yes! Following an initial healing period of
two to three months, the effect of surgery is lifelong.
Who is a candidate
for LASIK?
LASIK candidates are generally active people
who are unhappy with their current system of vision correction: glasses
and/or contact lenses. Candidates must have healthy eyes, and be at least 18
years old. There is no upper age limit! Also, your vision must be stable for
at least one year before the procedure. For example, you need to have worn
the same prescription for that whole year.
Is LASIK safe?
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
recognizes LASIK as proven, safe and effective. According to guidelines
recently released by the Eye Surgery Education Council (ESEC), fewer
than 1% of patients who have received LASIK to date have experienced
serious, vision-threatening problems. Most LASIK complications can be
treated and usually resolve within several months of surgery. There
are no known cases of blindness resulting from LASIK
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What is the right age for laser
vision correction?
the minimum age for
regular laser treatment is when the power of the eye (glasses
prescription) stabilizes, and that usually is between 17 and 21 years.
There is no maximum age, provided that there is no other abnormality in
the eye. Dr Khalil has treated patients between 18 and 66 years
What are the success rates with laser vision
correction?
Overall, 70% of patients will have perfect
(6/6) vision without glasses, and 95% of the patients will see well enough
without glasses to pass the driver's license eye test (6/12). The results
are better than this for patients with low amounts of nearsightedness.
Unsatisfactory results often can be improved by retreatment when indicated.
What are the risks associated with LASIK?
Although no one knows the exact number of complications,
studies suggest that the incidence of minor difficulties such as dry
eyes and nighttime glare is around 3% to 5% from combined LASIK and PRK
procedures. These minor complications include:
Halos - Some patients will notice
glare, halos or starburst around objects in low-light conditions. For
the vast majority, these symptoms are temporary. However, others will
continue to experience them for several months or longer. During
pre-operative evaluation, the refractive surgeon can determine whether
or not a person is at high risk for seeing long-term halos.
Dry eyes
- There is increased dryness of the eyes typically
for several months following LASIK, though some patients may experience
dryness for a longer period of time. It is important to use lubricating
drops frequently. If the eyes remain dry for prolonged period, there are
other drops or techniques that can help. Pre-operative evaluation will
help determine whether or not a person is a likely candidate for
experiencing dry eyes.
Infection
- This is an extremely rare occurrence, with a 1 in 2000-3000 chance
(similar to any eye surgery). Fortunately, as the
LASIK technique has
developed over the years and proven to be of great benefit to millions
of patients nationwide, firmly established protocols now exist which
minimize the risk of infection
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How long does LASIK take?
LASIK is generally performed as an outpatient
procedure. Normally, the entire process takes about 15 minutes for BOTH
eyes!
What kind of anesthesia is used during LASIK? Does
laser vision correction hurt?
Anesthetic eye drops are used. No needles or
intravenous drugs are used. You will feel no pain during the surgery. You
will feel pressure on and around the eye, but you will never, at any time,
experience any pain.. With modern techniques, there is very rarely more than
a mild discomfort for 12 hours.
Will
I have both eyes done in the same time?
Surgery can be performed on both eyes at the
same time, and in fact, this is prefered because it takes away the
troublesome effects of being nearsighted/farsighted in only one eye.
However, you may elect to have one eye done at a time.
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What about long term results? Can my eyes deteriorate
in the future?
Since 1988, over one million laser vision
correction procedures have been performed around the world. There is no
evidence of anything that would adversely affect long-term health of the
eye.
I've heard that ultra violet light can cause cancer.
Can this laser cause damage?
The excimer laser has been carefully studied
in this regard, and there is no risk of cancer or other chemical or physical
damage from this procedure.
Will I be able to see anything during this procedure?
Yes. During the procedure you will be asked
to look at a blinking light. This will help to maintain proper alignment of
the eye during the procedure.
What if I move during the procedure?
Patients worry about this a great deal, and
their fear is largely unnecessary. Patients frequently move during the
procedure. The doctor can stop the procedure at any time and resume when the
patient is ready.
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What if I blink during the lasik procedure?
Your eye will be held open by a device called
a speculum. You will not be able to blink.
Will there be any restrictions on my activities after
excimer laser treatment?
There are no restrictions on your activities
except that you will be asked to avoid rubbing your eyes during the first
week or so. You should not resume activities like driving until your vision
is adequate, which is usually achieved by most people by the second day
How soon can I use eye
makeup after lasik?
You may begin using eye makeup again 2-3 days
after surgery. However, it is STRONGLY recommended that you purchase brand
new eye makeup, specifially mascara, to avoid a potential infection.
If I don't get perfect (20/20) correction, will I be
able to wear contacts after laser vision correction?
Some patients do not get a full correction
with laser vision correction and will want to wear contact lenses. The
general rule is: If you could wear contact lenses before the procedure, you
should be able to wear them afterward. If you were unable to wear contacts
before the procedure, then you probably will not be able to wear them
afterward. There are some exceptions to this rule. After surgery the cornea
has a slightly different shape, so some patients who could wear contacts
before the procedure will not find an adequate fit after. However, because
there are so many contacts now available, this would be exceedingly rare.
More often, the opposite is true: Some patients can wear thin contacts after
the excimer procedure who could not tolerate the thick lenses that were
necessary before the procedure.
Will I need to use glasses
again after LASIK?
The goal of the surgery is to reduce the
person's dependance on lenses of any kind. However, many people still
benefit from reading glasses, and many people will wear a thin pair of
glasses for night driving.
If I don't get a perfect (20/20) correction, will I be
able to have a repeat procedure to improve the results of LASIK?
If you have an undercorrection (with
nearsightedness remaining), or an overcorrection (resulting in
farsightedness) then a repeat procedure can be performed to improve your
vision. In rare cases, patients will have irregularity in the cornea, which
may respond to repeat treatment.
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How soon can I bathe or
have a shower after lasik?
You can bathe or shower the same day as the
lasik. As always, please avoid getting soap and water directly into your
eye. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes for the first month after surgery.
How soon can I use computer and
watch TV?
with moderation, compute and TV can be
used the following day. This can be gradually increased according to
personal eye comfort to regain normal activity in 2-3 days
How soon can I
exercise
and swim?
Non-contact sports can be resumed as soon as
you wish. Swimming and strenuous contact
sports such as boxing, football, karate, etc. should not be attempted
for at least four weeks after surgery. Eye protection is always recommended for racquet sports or other
rough sports where the risks of getting hit in the eye are high. You should
stay out of swimming pools for one week, and lakes, rives, and oceans for
two weeks following surgery.
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can I wear contacts again after lasik?
Yes, but after few weeks. Many people
like to wear coloed contacts after their operation, and this can usually
be done safely about 3 months following lasik. In other rare occarions ,
if there is any under- or over-correction, this can be temprarily
corrected by contacts, again some months after lasik
What are the most common negative side effects of
laser vision correction?
Undercorrection and overcorrection are the
most common negative results of laser vision correction. Glare or halos are
common but almost always resolved.
I am very nervous about the procedure. Is this normal?
Can I take Valium before the procedure?
Everyone is nervous about having a procedure
performed on his or her eyes. There is usually no need for any sedating
drugs.
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