LASIK Frequently Asked Questions

What are the odds of eliminating my glasses?

Overall, 99% of patients will see well enough without glasses to pass the DMV eye test (20/40), 90% will have 20/25 or better vision without glasses, and 84% will have 20/20 or better vision without glasses. The results are even better with the wavefront-guided custom cornea technology: 99% have 20/25 or better uncorrected vision, and 96% have 20/20 or better vision without glasses. The general rule is: more accurate results will be obtained in people who require less treatment.

What will my vision be after the LASIK procedure?

This varies among patients. Studies, in which we have participated show that in general, 95 percent of patients in general achieve 20/40 or better vision (that needed to pass the driver's test) and about two thirds achieve 20/20 or better. Results may be better or worse depending on a patient's degree of refractive error.

Will I need glasses or contact lenses after the procedure?

The LASIK procedure is designed to decrease your dependency on glasses and contact lenses, not necessarily eliminate them for all tasks. For instance, some patients may need glasses for reading, night driving, or other specific tasks. Most patients note that they can do most things without glasses or contacts after the procedure.

Can I lose much vision from excimer laser treatment?

This is the most important concern that patients have. No patient in any of the extensive FDA tests and none of our patients have ever lost their vision from excimer laser treatment. Even if it were to occur, the vision could usually be restored by a repeat laser procedure or by an additional surgery.

Does the treatment hurt?

There is only mild discomfort during the Lasik procedure, usually less than having your teeth cleaned. During the first few days after Lasik, there is minimal discomfort.

How much time must I take off from work following the procedure?

This depends on your job. In general, LASIK patients can return to work either the day after the procedure or they take one day off. For those jobs in which good visual acuity in both eyes is critical, it may take several days for vision to return to a level in which you can perform your job properly.

How often do I return for follow-up examinations after the procedure?

In general, there are short checkups one day and two weeks after the procedure. We then examine you at three months, and six months and one year if necessary. The examination schedule is tailored to your specific situation.

How long does the procedure take?

Expect to be at the center for about one to two hours the day of the procedure. The treatment takes about 20-30 minutes.

How soon will I notice improvement in my vision after the treatment?

After LASIK, visual improvement is usually noted the day after the procedure and continues for a few weeks. After PRK, most patients start to notice visual improvement after about three days.

Are the results achieved from LASIK permanent?

Based on results of a clinical trial we published in 1998, approximately 93% of patients achieve stable improved vision 6 months after LASIK. For most patients, the visual results of LASIK appear to be permanent. A few patients may have long term changes, but such changes are generally small compared with the original visual problem.

After LASIK, how will my vision be at night or in low light?

Depending on your night vision with glasses or contact lenses before LASIK, some patients will note improved night vision, others little change, and others worse night vision. Testing before LASIK can help to identify patients who may have night vision problems. If so, the treatment plan may be modified to minimize any night vision effects, or we may decide that you are not a good candidate. If you do have night vision problems after LASIK, many resolve over time. Night driving glasses, contact lenses, or laser retreatment may help the problem in others.

If I'm corrected for distance will I lost my ability to see well close up?

The need for reading glasses is age dependent. As you get older, the natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible and less able to focus up close. LASIK is used to improve distance vision without glasses or contact lenses. Since it is like wearing permanent contact lenses, your reading vision after LASIK will be similar to that with your contact lenses.

If I wear bifocals now will I still need to wear reading glasses even after LASIK?

If both eyes are corrected the best possible for distance vision, then you will still need reading glasses. In some cases, monovision, or blended vision, is used for older patients to retain some reading vision without reading glasses. In this approach, one eye is made as good as we can for distance vision, and the other eye is tuned for reading vision. There is one drawback to this approach. Although reading vision is retained, since the reading vision eye is not as clear for distance, overall distance clarity may not be quite as good. In such cases, glasses for driving may be necessary.

Will my eyes be dry after LASIK?

There may be some dryness in the first few weeks after LASIK. This is usually well controlled with artificial teardrops. In rare cases, dryness may persist. During the examination before the laser, we will check to see if you are at particular risk for a dry eye.

Will my eyes deteriorate in the future?

Excimer laser surgery was first performed in 1988. Lasik is a more accurate variation of ALK, which has been performed for over 25 years, and has been proven safe in long-term studies. Extensive testing has been performed around the world by many different sources and it has been determined that there are no long-term health problems to the eye from these procedures.

Will I be able to see anything during the procedure?

Yes. During the procedure, you will be asked to look at a light. Seconds after the procedure is completed, you will notice a dramatic improvement in your vision. Many of our patients say that this is one of the most memorable moments in their entire lives.

What if I blink during the procedure?

The eye is held open by a device known as a retractor, which doesn’t usually hurt.

Will I need to wear an eye patch after the procedure?

No. However, some patients will wear a contact lens overnight to promote healing.

Will scars form from the procedure?

There are only extremely faint scars that cannot be seen except with a microscope.

Will the treatment cause cataracts, or influence the treatment of cataracts?

Laser vision correction does not cause cataracts and does not affect the removal of cataracts.

If I don't get a full correction, will I be able to wear contacts after the treatment?

Very rarely, patients do not get a full correction and will want to wear contact lenses. The general rule is: if you could wear contact lenses before the procedure, then you should be able to wear them afterwards.

If I don't get a full correction, will I be able to have a repeat procedure to improve the results?

Approximately 7% of our patients return for an enhancement procedure. These patients have had a dramatic improvement in their vision, but have not achieved a full correction. "Touch-up" procedures are extremely quick and easy, and there is no additional charge.

Will my insurance cover the procedure?

Although most insurance companies consider laser vision correction procedures to be elective surgery (which isn't covered), all plans and individual policies are a little different.

How safe is laser treatment?

When performed by the proper surgeon, Lasik treatments are extremely safe.  Like any laser or surgical procedure, these treatments are subject to complications, but the complication rate is very low.  The complication rate is much lower when a doctor very experienced in Lasik, performs the treatment.  Most complications can be corrected through eye drops or a repeat procedure. In order to decrease the risk of complication, we at Georgia Eye Consultants take many steps that go far beyond the minimum standards of most laser centers.  Our laser is calibrated before every single procedure to ensure the most accurate results, whereas many laser centers only calibrate the laser every six patients, or even just once per day.  We monitor and control the temperature and humidity in our laser room, which improves the accuracy of our results. One of the more important steps to avoid complication is in the rigorous testing of our patients.  After the brief initial screening exam and prior to undergoing a procedure at Georgia Eye Consultants, we will perform a most thorough evaluation; some important measurements will be performed two or more times, and will be further repeated if necessary. At Georgia Eye Consultants, we will only perform Lasik on you if we believe that we can obtain an excellent result.  Approximately 30% of the patients that come to us for Lasik are advised not to have the procedure, because we believe they are less than ideal candidates. By far the most common complication is under-correction or over-correction.  In the case of an under-correction or over-correction, the vision will be dramatically better, but a small amount of focusing error still remains.  Further laser treatment, known as an “enhancement” or a “touch-up”, can then be used to improve the vision further by decreasing the remaining nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. About 25% of excimer laser patients will experience optical aberrations during the initial healing phases, including glare, halos at night, or ghost images.  In 99% of cases, this will disappear within several months.  Careful attention to detail in centration and calibration of the laser, as well as measurement of pupil size, substantially lessens the incidence of optical aberrations.

How can I find out if I am a candidate and which procedure is best for me?

Call (404) 765-2020 to arrange an appointment.