Frequently Asked Questions

LASIK

Other common questions

• Why is LASIK the most commonly performed laser correction procedure?
• What are the chances that I may not see as well after treatment?
• Will the LASIK procedure hurt? Am I awake during surgery?
• How long does it take? When can I return to "normal?"
• Monovision vs. reading glasses?

Why is LASIK the most commonly performed laser correction procedure?

Although it is a technically demanding procedure to perform, surgeons have embraced LASIK because, once they master the technique, they can achieve excellent results for a wide range of corrections. Patients are attracted to the procedure because they experience minimal discomfort and rapid recovery.

What are the chances that I may not see as well after treatment?

There is a chance that surgery could result in decreased best-corrected vision. Even though the chance of losing more than 2 lines on the eye chart is less than 1%, it must be factored into your decision.

Will the LASIK procedure hurt? Am I awake during surgery?

LASIK surgery is fast, relatively painless and provides excellent results when performed by experienced and skilled ophthalmologists. You remain awake during the procedure. Your eye is anesthetized, but you may feel momentary pressure around the eye. Your eye may be irritated, watery or blurry for a day or two after the procedure.

How long does it take? When can I return to "normal?"

The surgery takes about 15 minutes. You will be asked to rest for 20 minutes following surgery. We recommend you rest at home for about 48 hours following surgery. You can return to work in two or three days and your other activities are minimally restricted for a week or two during recovery. You should discuss your specific activity restrictions with your surgeon.

Monovision vs. reading glasses?

Reading glasses or bifocal lenses are worn to relieve the age-related focusing problem of presbyopia. Contact lens wearers sometimes elect to have one lens fit for near vision and the other prescribed for distance vision. This is known as monovision and can also be achieved with LASIK-with one eye under-corrected for near vision and the other corrected for distance. The idea is that you would be able to both read up-close and see at a distance without corrective lenses. This might be particularly helpful for people, such as teachers, public speakers, politicians and clergy, who frequently shift their vision from near to far. However, monovision has possible disadvantages including decreased depth perception and blurred vision in certain instances. Because many people cannot tolerate the acuity of monovision, it is important to approach it with care. In determining if this option is for you, your optometrist will fit you with contact lenses to simulate the effect. Wearing these specially prescribed contacts for several days will give you the opportunity to "test drive" monovision in your normal daily activities.