LASIK Eye Surgery

Our highly-trained staff can ultimately determine whether you’re a candidate for LASIK during your free consultation. A complete eye exam will confirm whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, and/or have astigmatism. Additional measurements will be taken during your pre-operative evaluation regarding the thickness of the cornea and a corneal surface mapping. Schedule a consultation online now.

When searching for “laser vision correction near me,” you should look for a qualified surgeon that meets the following basic criteria: board certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology, with advanced training in cornea and refractive surgery; skills and experience with a prominent ophthalmology practice, having performed thousands of LASIK and refractive surgical procedures; and the ability to help patients understand potential outcomes and complications. It is important to keep in mind that you are making a lifetime investment when choosing to have LASIK, so you should take your time and select the right surgeon for you.

The procedure usually takes 5-7 minutes per eye. To keep you comfortable during the procedure, we use topical anesthetic drops. During LASIK, an instrument called the Intralase Femtosecond Laser creates a corneal flap. After the laser treatment, the flap is laid back into position and kept in place by natural suction, with no sutures. Eye drops are used, and plastic shields are placed over the eyes to protect them until the following day. Results are almost immediate, with minimum discomfort during the first 24 hours.

Recovery from LASIK is typically fast. The first couple of hours after surgery, your eyes may feel somewhat irritated, with a burning sensation and some tearing. Vision is typically blurry during this time. Most patients nap for a couple of hours to rest the eyes. After several hours, the irritation should go away, and the vision will begin to clear. The day after surgery, most irritating sensations are gone and vision is remarkably clear.

Many patients who desire LASIK surgery have dry eyes. They have become intolerant of their contact lenses because the dryness makes them uncomfortable. LASIK occasionally worsens dry eyes, but typically, this is temporary and usually treated with frequent artificial tear lubrication. In special cases of severely dry eyes, special punctal plugs placed in the lower eyelid tear ducts can be inserted with a significant improvement in dryness. These are easily removed in the office once the dryness resolves, or they can be left in place permanently.

A mild sedative is available prior to surgery to encourage relaxation during the procedure. It can also help to encourage sleep afterward. The surgeons and operating room technicians often talk throughout the procedure to put your mind at ease.

It’s ultimately your choice to do both eyes simultaneously or one at a time. Some patients may prefer to have each eye done on different days. In most cases, however, both eyes are done on the same day. This avoids the period of imbalance that occurs if one eye still needs correction while the other one doesn’t. This is a discussion that you should have with your counselor during your free consultation to decide what is best for you. Toledo LASIK & Cataract does not charge more if you choose to pursue one eye at a time.

As with any procedure, there is not a guarantee of perfect vision. However, almost everyone experiences improved vision, and most see well enough to pass a drivers’ test without corrective lenses. Will LASIK interfere with my lifestyle?

Unless your surgeon approves protective eyewear, active sports should be postponed for two weeks or until the eye is fully healed. Swimming, hot tubs, and saunas should be avoided as well. After a full recovery, normal activity can resume, and the ability to play sports without glasses makes them more enjoyable for many patients.

LASIK is a permanent procedure. In some cases, however, an enhancement procedure may be required. Some patients’ eyes may change throughout their lifetime, which can happen with glasses or contact lenses as well.

Fluctuation can occur, but visual improvement is almost immediate following the procedure. Most patients feel that major fluctuations have stopped after about two weeks. At the same time, it may take additional time for swelling in your eyes to resolve and fluctuations to cease. Many patients do have healing that, in a minor sense, may continue to improve over six to nine months.

The procedure is very low risk. However, as with any surgical procedure, there are potential complications. Vision-threatening complications do exist, but they are extremely rare. These include infections (a statistical incidence of 1 in 5,000) and irregular healing processes that can lead to something called “irregular astigmatism” that glasses cannot correct, and contact lenses or further surgery may be required to improve. There are also potential complications which may lead to temporary blurriness, temporary dependence on glasses or contact lenses, or a need for additional surgery. In most cases, the patient can still do well and recover with good vision.

For this reason, LASIK patients should confirm the experience of their surgeon to determine if they have specialized training in cornea surgery. Because LASIK is performed on the cornea, knowledge of the healing properties of the cornea and management of any complications are critical to the patient’s well-being. Knowing how to handle a complication should one occur can make a significant difference in the patient’s outcome.

Success depends on several factors, the most important being the degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Depending on the prescription, the surgeon can help determine the likelihood of reaching 20/40 or greater vision. Approximately 95% of eyes treated with LASIK reach 20/40 or better vision with one procedure, which is the requirement for driving legally without correction. If a patient does not achieve his or her goal with one procedure, additional correction often improves their vision to a satisfactory level.

LASIK only corrects the vision for distance, and does not eliminate the need for reading glasses. Beginning at around the age of 40, a condition called presbyopia usually appears in adults, requiring reading glasses or bifocal correction. If you develop presbyopia, there are surgical options that Toledo LASIK offers that can assist with this, such as the KAMRA corneal inlay. When a patient gets a KAMRA inlay, the surgeon uses a laser to create a pocket inside the cornea. Then the surgeon places the inlay inside of the pocket. The inlay allows the patient to keep a good distance while gaining better reading.