What Is Lasik Eye Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is the most common vision improvement procedure for anyone suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, eye conditions which are typically caused by the shape of the cornea.

Using a high-powered laser, a skilled eye surgeon at New York Laser Vision can alter the shape of your cornea, improving your vision and restoring your quality of life in a major way.

Is Lasik a Safe Procedure?

LASIK is an FDA-approved eye surgery that has been performed millions of times and is extremely safe and effective.

We evaluate and consult every patient with the utmost of care, and are careful to only recommend LASIK surgery when we find it to be fully appropriate. According to statistics, most patients achieve their desired outcome from LASIK with just one procedure. In rare instances, one eye may need retreatment to optimize visual acuity.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Lasik?

While LASIK surgery is very popular, it’s not right for everyone.

There are certain criteria a potential patient must meet to be eligible for LASIK:

Eye health
Corneal thickness
Prescription limits
Pupil size
Age
Stable vision for a year
Pregnancy
Overall health

What Are the Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery results in clearer vision, allowing you to enjoy life without the need for contact lenses or corrective eyeglasses. Studies indicate that LASIK is successful in achieving 20/20 vision in 85% of patients, with 95% of patients achieving at least 20/40 visual acuity with LASIK. Results are long-lasting, and most patients don’t require follow-up procedures.

The actual LASIK procedure is extremely brief, and involves little to no downtime, meaning you can resume your normal activities after taking some time to rest on the day of their procedure.

Patient Testimonial

Can Lasik Fix Other Eye Conditions Such as Glaucoma, Dry Eye, or Cataracts?

LASIK surgery addresses refractive errors by reshaping the cornea, allowing it to remedy issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

It cannot fix other eye conditions such as glaucoma (where pressure builds inside the eye), dry eye (where the eye’s tear production is deficient), or cataracts (a clouding of the eye’s lens due to protein buildup). These each demand separate procedures. If a person has glaucoma or cataracts, this usually precludes them from having LASIK.

How Long Does Lasik Eye Surgery Take?

LASIK surgery is a short procedure that we conduct in the office in less than half an hour. Patients can expect 10 minutes or less to be spent on each eye. However, the entire office visit on the day of surgery may take about 90 minutes.

Is Vision Correction Painful?

LASIK patients do not experience pain during their procedure. Anesthetic eye drops are administered to numb the eye entirely. As we work on the eyes, slight pressure may be felt in surrounding tissues.

What to Expect After Surgery

After surgery, a mild grittiness or sensation of having an eyelash in the eye may be felt. This is a temporary side effect that decreases within a few hours. At home, most patients take over-the-counter pain relief medication to manage comfort.

How Long Will Vision Correction Last?

Long-term studies on laser vision correction have demonstrated the potential for permanent results from procedures like LASIK. In one study, published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, results from laser vision correction held strong beyond 18 years after initial treatment.

When Can I Return to Work and Normal Activities?

Recommendations after LASIK may include:

Having someone drive you home from your surgery, and to your follow-up appointment.
You can drive once the legal vision requirement has been confirmed through a standard eye exam in our office.
You’ll need to keep water out of your eyes at first, but it’s safe to shower starting the day after surgery.
You can return to work within one to two days.
Artificial tears may be used for a few weeks to reduce dry-eye, especially if you routinely use a computer.
Avoid wearing eye makeup for the first week after LASIK. To significantly reduce the risk of infection, many doctors suggest buying new mascara and eyeliner rather than using the products that were used before surgery.
Mild exercise may be resumed within a few days, taking care not to let sweat drip into the eyes.
Swimming and hot tub use can be resumed after two weeks.

Your doctor will go over your detailed aftercare recommendations during your consultation for LASIK surgery, to make sure you’re fully briefed on everything you need to know.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects with Lasik?

Complications such as vision loss are very rare with LASIK, but there are certain side effects that are somewhat common, including dry eye and temporary vision issues.

Risks with Lasik

Dry eyes — LASIK surgery causes a temporary decrease in tear production. This can last for up to six months; eye drops can help manage this.
Glare, halos, double vision — Your night vision could be affected after your surgery, with halos and glare showing around bright lights. Double vision can develop, as well. These usually last for a period from a few days to a few weeks.
Undercorrection or overcorrection — If the laser removes too little or too much tissue, you may not have the correction you desire. This can be easily addressed with a second procedure for undercorrection.
Astigmatism — If tissue removal is uneven, it can create astigmatism.
Flap problems — The flap created to access the cornea can develop complications such as infection or unusual epithelium growth.
Vision loss — In very rare cases, patients have experienced vision loss due to surgical complications.

What Will Recovery Be Like After Lasik?

LASIK eye surgery is an incredibly quick procedure, taking only around 10 minutes. Afterwards, we’ll examine your eyes, and provide you with some prescription eye drops to prevent infection and inflammation and keep your eyes moist.

You might have some slight itching or burning in your eyes, and you will have some additional tearing. These are all normal signs that your eyes are healing.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

The healing process is very quick. For most of our New York Laser Vision patients, vision is normal within eight hours and then continues to improve over time. In some cases, it can take a few months to reach the full extent of your vision improvement. But in other patients, results are realized within a few weeks with a dramatic improvement in just hours.

Watch Patient Testimonial

Can I Have Lasik When I’m Pregnant?

LASIK is not allowed for women who are pregnant or still nursing. This is not a safety issue with the laser; it is a hormonal issue. During these times women’s hormones fluctuate, and this can change the shape of the cornea.

Lasik Surgery