WHAT IS LASIK?
LASIK, an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a refractive procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is the most common type of refractive surgery. Using targeted excimer laser beam energy, the procedure reshapes the cornea so that light rays are focused more precisely on the retina, producing clear, sharp vision. Dr. Aizuss has been performing the LASIK procedure for many years at his Encino, CA and West Hills, CA offices.
LASER EYE SURGERY PROCEDURE
LASIK is performed on an outpatient basis at either of our West Hills or Encino, CA locations.
- Using only numbing eye drops to reduce any potential discomfort. If requested, patients can receive an oral sedative prior to surgery to reduce any anxieties about the procedure. We often prescribe a low dose of valium preoperatively to reduce patient anxiety.
- The entire surgery takes less than 10 minutes to perform.
- During the procedure, the patient lies down in a reclining chair as the doctor positions the laser precisely over the eye.
- A lid speculum helps keep the eye open so that you don’t need to worry about blinking during the procedure.
- A corneal flap is created with our femtosecond laser.
- The surgeon then gently lifts the corneal flap, enabling the excimer laser to reshape the curvature of the cornea thus correcting the vision.
- The excimer laser delivers customized pulses of light energy based on each patient’s prescription. The measurements for customization are determined prior to surgery, with the precise positioning confirmed prior to the start of the procedure.
- The second eye is treated immediately after the first.
- Following the surgery, the patient is provided with a protective shield to protect the eyes.
RECOVERY AFTER LASIK SURGERY
After LASIK, patients may return home immediately. Eye drops are started the day of the procedure and for 5 to 7 days thereafter. The doctor will likely recommend a few hours of rest after treatment. Most patients are able to return to work and other regular activities the very next day. Patients who have undergone LASIK are instructed to avoid hot tubs, saunas and swimming pools for a least one to two weeks.
Typically, patients experience a significant improvement in their vision by the day after the procedure, but the full benefits of LASIK may not be apparent for several months. While patients can achieve clear vision from LASIK, this procedure does not prevent the development of presbyopia, the age-related vision changes that occur after the age of 40 requiring the need for reading glasses. Many patients will need reading glasses for this condition, but their distance vision will remain clear. Some patients may choose to under correct their nearsightedness thus creating monovision in one eye allowing good distance vision in one eye and good reading vision in the nondominant eye.
LASIK is considered a safe procedure, yet it is not ideal for everyone. A thorough medical evaluation of the patient’s eyes must be performed to determine whether the procedure is appropriate. Good candidates for LASIK are patients who:
- Are over 18 years old
- Not pregnant or nursing
- In general good health
- Have had stable vision for at least 6 months
- Have healthy corneal tissue, thick enough for a LASIK flap
- Have refractive errors that fall within the treatable range
It is also important for patients to fully understand the details and risks of the procedure, and to maintain realistic expectations for the outcome.
One of the primary benefits of LASIK is that patients immediately experience improved vision after surgery. For many people, laser eye surgery can correct their vision sufficiently to permit them to perform all, or most, of their daily activities without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Well over 90 percent of patients who have undergone LASIK achieve 20/20 to 20/40 vision as a result of the procedure.
LASIK has the advantage of being a short procedure that results in permanent vision improvement. Most patients who choose to undergo laser eye surgery achieve clear vision without corrective lenses while also benefiting from minimal downtime and only mild post-operative discomfort.
Risks Involved
Any surgical procedure carries some risks, and patients should be aware that changes to the cornea made during LASIK cannot be reversed. Nonetheless, LASIK is considered safe for most eligible patients. While rare, complications may occur after the procedure, including:
- Undercorrection or overcorrection of vision
- Astigmatism
- Dry eyes
- Flap complications
- Postsurgical infection
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Visual problems, such as halos or night glare
- Fluctuating vision
LASIK complications do not typically occur.
I am excited to announce the availability of the iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio system as part of my LASIK vision center’s newest equipment at Laser Vision Institute of the Valley.
The iDesign Advanced Wavescan Studio System captures more data than ever before to create a detailed picture of your eye’s unique characteristics in order to create the most accurate treatment plan for your eye and you alone. This 100% personalized LASIK procedure begins with a custom treatment plan which is created using the proprietary wavefront mapping technology from the iDesign System. The system included special high definition sensors that have five times the resolution of our prior technology. We can now correct higher levels of astigmatism up to 5 diopters in people who are nearsighted. Our new system captures 1200 data points from each eye to create a highly accurate 3D map of the surface of your eye. With iDesign a clinical study has shown that at 6 months after surgery, LASIK patients with iDesign were not limited in outdoor sports or activities, had little or no difficulty with the clarity of their vision and 97% were satisfied with their vision after surgery. I am happy to be able to offer this latest improvement in LASIK laser vision correction surgery to my patients.
Read more about iDesign Here!