Laser Vision | Laser Vision |
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DISCOVER THE FUTURE
IN VISION CORRECTION
Are you wondering what life Wondering what life would be like free of glasses or contact lenses? Then you owe it to yourself to consider LASIK. It is a comfortable, safe and effective outpatient procedure that corrects a wide range of vision problems. There's a reason so many people are getting LASIK these days. You can reduce or even eliminate your dependence on corrective lenses through this remarkable procedure. Compared to other vision correction procedures, LASIK provides a number of very important advantages There's typically little or no post-operative discomfort. Recovery is fast, complications are extremely rare and your vision returns quickly. Take the first step to to better vision and schedule a complete LASIK evaluation today. Understanding the most common vision Nearsightedness Over Two Million People Have Had LASIK! What to expect the day you have LASIK. Please plan on being at the Custom Laser Eye center for two to three hours. You will be in the laser suite for approximately fifteen minutes and most patients receive under a minute of actual laser time. Following the procedure, you will need a ride home and then we recommend that you spend the rest of the day relaxing. Many patients will experience significantly improved vision immediately. You will be provided drops, protective glasses and shields to wear during sleep for a few days.
Are you a good candidate for LASIK? The criteria for the ideal LASIK patient is someone who is over 18 years of age and has healthy corneas with a stable prescription. People with certain medical conditions or pregnant and nursing women may not be good candidates. You should also have a good understanding of the risks and benefits of LASIK. The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to arrange for a complete LASIK evaluation. During the evaluation, we will answer any questions you may have and discuss your post-surgery expectations.
Q. How do I prepare for my procedure? A. There are no restrictions on eating, drinking or medications immediately prior to your procedure. However, you should avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness. Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea. Since this is the area that's treated, it's important to allow time for your cornea to return to its normal curvature. Removing Contact Lenses
Q. What happens on the day of my Procedure? A. It's natural to feel a mixture of eager anticipation and nervousness before your procedure. On the day of your procedure, you should arrive at the Custom Laser Eye as rested and relaxed as possible. Please allow approximately two to four hours for the entire process. Wear comfortable clothing and avoid eye makeup, perfume, hair spray and earrings. Be sure to bring someone to drive you home, or make other arrangements for transportation. The success of your laser procedure depends on the expertise of your doctors and also the safety, accuracy and sophistication of the equipment. At Custom Laser Eye, our primary objective is to provide you with the most advanced technology, best results, and greatest degree of safety. Automated equipment is used to test your vision, measure, and map your eye. Over 6,000 separate points on the eye are measured - creating a topographical map of your eye's shape. We will review your clinical findings and explain what you can expect during and after your procedure. You will need to sign an informed consent prior to your procedure which we will go over with you. You will also arrange for payment of your procedure. Immediately prior to your procedure, your eyelids and lashes will be cleaned and antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic drops will be placed in your eyes. A mild sedative may be given. Once you are prepared for your procedure, you will be escorted to the laser suite for treatment. The information from your eye exam is used to program the advanced computer software. The computer calculates the required corneal change and directs the laser to make this change. Your Laser Eye surgeon programs and operates the laser, maintaining control throughout your entire procedure. Over 6,000 separate points on the eye are measured Q. What will my recovery be like? A. Most patients notice dramatic visual results within the first few days following their procedure. However, the speed of visual recovery depends on personal healing patterns. LASIK patients usually see quite well the next day, but patients with higher prescriptions may recover more slowly from either procedure. PRK patients are fitted with a bandage contact lens. This very thin, clear lens, along with eye drops, dramatically reduces any discomfort you may have. Don't be concerned if you've never used contact lenses before. We will insert and remove the lens for you. PRK patients may experience some irritation or discomfort for a few days. Sleep is strongly recommended shortly after your procedure. LASIK patients do not receive a contact lens. They may receive an eye patch to protect the flap while sleeping during the first few days. LASIK patients may experience some irritation or discomfort, but this usually only lasts for a few hours. Sleep is strongly recommended after the procedure and most patients are quite comfortable after taking a short nap. Along with resting, both LASIK and PRK patients often find that placing a cold compress over the eyes is soothing. Q. Will my activities be restricted? A. Many patients return to work the next day, others a few days later. You will need to restrict the activities mentioned below. Otherwise, as long as you follow your doctor's instructions, you should be free to resume all your normal activities.
Q. How can the laser improve my vision? A. Laser vision correction is the most technologically advanced method available today for treating the common vision problems of farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. Laser procedures can reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses, improving the quality of your life. If you have the condition of hyperopia (or farsightedness), you are able to see objects in the distance more clearly than objects that are close at hand. Hyperopia affects one in four individuals.
Q. Am I a good candidate? A. Yes, if you're between 18 and 70 years of age, in good general health, and have good eye health with no diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. Good candidates also have realistic expectations. How well and how quickly your vision improves depends on how well you heal and the severity of your prescription. To determine if laser vision correction is right for you, talk with your eye doctor at Leawood Family Eye Care. Q. What is the success rate? A. Typically, our patients notice a 60% to 70% improvement in their vision the day after their procedure with gradual daily improvement thereafter." Overall, the majority of typical candidates see well enough to perform most activities, including driving, without glasses or contacts after their procedure. Mild to moderate hyperopia can be treated most effectively in one treatment. Even severe hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism can be treated, although a second treatment at no additional fee is often required. Q. Is it a permanent correction? A. Farsightedness may progress with age. However, the stability of laser vision correction results have been very impressive, and most experts feel these results will last a lifetime. Q. Will I still need reading glasses? A. Yes, but you'll be less dependent upon them. Many patients choose to have "monovision" which allows for good distance vision 'in one eye and good reading vision in the other, further reducing the need for reading glasses. Hyperopia is often confused with presbyopia. Presbyopia is a condition that occurs as a normal part of the aging process. The lens of the eye begins to lose flexibility, making it difficult to read. This typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 50, requiring the use of reading glasses or bifocals. The laser has no effect on the lens or the focusing muscles attached to the lens. Patients with hyperopia often develop presbyopia earlier and benefit greatly from hyperopic laser vision correction. In general, patients who wear bifocals prior to the procedure will only need reading glasses (non-bifocals) after their procedure. Q. Is this treatment different from PRK or LASIK? A. PRK and LASIK are two different outpatient techniques that have been used to correct nearsightedness (or myopia) and now hyperopia. When treating hyperopia, LASIK is by far the most commonly used procedure. During LASIK, the surgeon creates a protective corneal flap revealing the inner corneal tissue. Using advanced scanning technology, the laser beam then gently reshapes the cornea to the desired prescription and the flap is closed without stitches. With LASIK, the surgeon treats the inner corneal layer allowing for a faster visual recovery. PRK works by correcting the prescription on the surface of your eye. The basic techniques used to correct hyperopia and myopia are almost identical, with the only difference being the pattern in which the laser pulses are applied.
A. The procedure itself is painless and usually takes about 10 minutes. There are no needles. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye at the time of surgery. After surgery, the majority of patients may experience irritation or a foreign body sensation for a few hours. Dryness in eyes can last up to two days. Very rarely do patients experience pain. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within a few days. Q. Is it covered by insurance? A. Most insurance companies do not cover LASIK and PRK, but we encourage you to check with your provider. In Canada, while LASIK and PRK are deemed elective and not covered, they may be tax deductible. Please consult your accountant. Also, your Custom Laser Eye can discuss the many financing options we make available to you. Q. What are the risks? A. While this is one of the safest surgical eye procedures performed today, any surgery has risks. In this case, risks include over corrections and under corrections, infections, haze, blurred vision, and glare. The vast majority of these complications can easily be treated, but up to 1% of patients may lose some visual sharpness related to poor or irregular healing. Most importantly, there has never been a case of blindness reported as a result of laser vision correction. And that includes over a million procedures, performed worldwide for more than 10 years. Q. How do I get more information? A. It is always best to visit your own eye doctor. Your doctor will fully examine your eyes and discuss all your options with you. If you've ever wondered what life could be like without depending on glasses or contact lenses, find out more about laser vision correction, today. |
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