Frequently Asked Questions
- What is LASIK and how is it done?
- What does the name of the LASIK procedure mean?
- How long has LASIK been performed?
- Why is LASIK considered an advancement in refractive surgery?
- Who can LASIK benefit?
- Who can’t have LASIK?
- I am happy with my contact lenses. Should I pursue having LASIK?
- How much does LASIK cost?
- What results can I expect from LASIK?
- Are the results achieved from LASIK permanent?
- If I have LASIK and my vision changes later in life, can it be redone?
- How long does the LASIK procedure take?
- Can I drive immediately after having LASIK?
- What type of anesthetic is used for LASIK?
- Does the LASIK procedure hurt?
- Can I have both eyes done with LASIK at the same time?
- How long will I be off work after having LASIK?
- Can I play sports after LASIK surgery?
- How long will it take before I can see well and how long will it take before I have my best vision?
- Will I need to wear glasses once my eyes have healed?
- Will my eyes look different after LASIK?
- How safe is the LASIK procedure?
- After LASIK, how will my vision be at night or in low light?
- Will my eyes be dry after LASIK?
- I wear bifocals now. Will I still need reading glasses after the LASIK procedure?
- If I am corrected for distance, will I lose my ability to see well up close?
- Does insurance cover this surgery?
- What is PRK?
- What is 20/20 vision?
- Can Excimer Laser correct every eye to get 20/20 vision?
- Do I qualify?
1. What is LASIK and how is it done?
LASIK is an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis. LASIK is a type of outpatient surgery where an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea without invading adjacent tissue in the eye.
2. What does the name of the LASIK procedure mean?
Laser in situ keratomilleusis means using a laser to reshape the cornea. In situ means to confine the surgery to the site of origin. Kerato is the Greek word for cornea. Mileusis means to shape.
3. How long has LASIK been performed?
Lasik has been performed internationally for over 15 years. The first clinical trials were done in the United States in 1995.
4. Why is LASIK considered an advancement in refractive surgery?
By combining the precision of the excimer laser with a corneal flap technique, the LASIK procedure has fewer complications, a faster recovery time, more comfort and requires less post-operative medications.
5. Who can benefit from LASIK surgery?
LASIK can benefit most people with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Candidates should have a strong desire to become less dependent upon corrective lenses and be willing to accept the risks of having surgery.
A full diagnostic examination by a doctor must be conducted to determine if a patient is a candidate for LASIK. Some pre-existing conditions may prevent some people from have surgery. Other conditions may complicate the surgery and increase the risk of developing complications. Patients with these conditions need to have a candid conversation with their doctors regarding eligibility and expectations.
7. I am happy with my contact lenses. Should I have LASIK surgery?
Your needs and your lifestyle should be factors in making your decision. All patients should evaluate the risks and benefits of having LASIK surgery.
All refractive surgery centres have different prices. Please call our office at 1-866-808-3937 for the latest pricing information.
9. What results can I expect from LASIK?
In a major report discussed on the American Academy of Ophthalmology Web site, 64 LASIK studies published since 2000 were reviewed with these results reported:
According to a major analysis of scientific literature by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reported in 2008, a worldwide satisfaction rate among LASIK patients is 95.4 percent.
10. Are the results achieved from LASIK permanent?
Yes. However in some people they may have a small regression which can be touched up with an enhancement procedure if there is enough corneal tissue available and medically advisable.
11. If I have LASIK and my vision changes later in life, can it be redone?
It is unlikely it will change later in life. However you could develop other conditions like cataracts or diabetes that may affect your vision.
12. How long does the LASIK procedure take?
The procedure is very fast by nature because the surgeon does not want the eye to dry up during the procedure to get the best result. Usually it takes five minutes for each eye from the beginning to the end of the procedure. You will be in the laser room for approximately 20 minutes for both eyes.
More about the procedure…
13. Can I drive immediately after having LASIK?
No. Your eyes will take at least 4 to 5 five hours before they stop being uncomfortable after the surgery. Unless your vision meets the driving requirements to drive without glasses you should not be driving. Your vision will probably be good enough to drive (or better) the very next day. You should really not be driving for 48 hours after the surgery. Check with your surgeon on the post-operative day whether your vision meets legal driving standards.
14. What type of anesthetic is used for LASIK?
The anesthetic we use is only one drop of local anesthetic at the beginning of the surgery. This is all that is required for you to go through the procedure without feeling any pain or major discomfort. There are no needles. No sedatives are given before the surgery as we find it is not necessary. If you feel very strongly about having a sedative before the surgery do not take any medication before signing the consent form.
15. Does the LASIK procedure hurt?
No, but some people may feel some pressure or minor discomfort when the speculum is used or with suction (which lasts only a few seconds).
16. Can I have both eyes done with LASIK at the same time?
Yes. We prefer it that way as it cuts down the time you have to take off for recovery and an extra journey you may have to make to the laser clinic. Thousands of people have had both eyes done in this clinic at the same time with no hesitation. If by any chance there was any complication during the first eye procedure, the surgeon will advise you to have the second eye done at a later date. This happens very rarely. If you feel like having one eye done at a time, it can be arranged but there will be an extra charge for it.
17. How long will I be off work after having LASIK surgery?
You should be able to go back to work in three days after the surgery, but if you have opportunity to have a week off you may find it useful. Very rarely if the vision is not good enough after surgery, you may be delayed for a few days.
18. Can I play sports after having LASIK surgery?
Please refer to the information package that can be downloaded from this website for a list of restrictions after surgery.
19. How long will it take before I can see well and how long will it take before I have my best vision?
It is quite common for the patient to see 20/20 or better the first day after surgery. In some people it may take longer to achieve this.
20. Will my eyes look different after LASIK?
No your eyes will look exactly the same.
21. Will I need to wear glasses once my eyes have healed?
If you are 40 or over you may need reading glasses. Occasionally cannot correct all of your prescription if there is not enough corneal tissue. In such cases he would have discussed with you the need for corrective lenses after the surgery. These may be ordered as soon as one week after the surgery. If you have any regression and you decide against enhancement, you will definitely need glasses to improve your vision.
22. How safe is the LASIK procedure?
The safety and effectiveness of LASIK continue to improve. Complications generally were more common in the early years of LASIK, when studies in the late 1990s indicated that up to 5 percent of people undergoing laser vision correction experienced some type of problem.
Experienced LASIK surgeons now report that serious complication rates can be held well below 1 percent, but only if surgical candidates are selected very carefully. For example, you may be eliminated as a LASIK candidate if you have certain pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, that may affect how well your eye heals.
It’s very important that you mention any health conditions you have and any medicines you take during your LASIK pre-operative exam and consultation. Your eye surgeon needs to know this information to properly assess your suitability for laser vision correction and your risk for complications. It is especially important to discuss any health condition you have that might hamper your ability to heal; this is one of the standard LASIK criteria used for assessment.
23. After LASIK how will my vision be at night or in low light?
See the night vision information at this website.
24. Will my eyes be dry after LASIK?
Some people feel the eyes are drier after lasik. It is advisable to use tear drops frequently for a period after surgery until the eye recovers its normal tear function. This may vary from person to person.
25. I wear bifocals now. Will I still need reading glasses after the LASIK procedure?
Yes. If you have both eyes corrected for the distance. However new procedures may be available which may even eliminate the need for reading glasses.
26. If I am corrected for distance will I lose my ability to see well up close?
If you are over 40 you may find that your close up vision will not be as good. However if you are within the ages of 18 to 40 your distance and near vision will be good.
27. Does insurance cover the procedure?
Some may, contact your insurance provider to determine your coverage.
PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy) once was the most common refractive surgery procedure before LASIK was developed as a more popular alternative.
Both PRK and LASIK are grouped under the umbrella “laser eye surgery,” but each is a little different when it comes to advantages and disadvantages.
LASIK patients have less discomfort and obtain good vision more quickly — whereas, improvement with PRK is gradual and takes days, weeks or even months. But many surgeons prefer PRK in circumstances such as when patients have thin corneas.
PRK was invented in the early 1980s. The first FDA approval of a laser for PRK was in 1995, but the procedure was practiced in other countries for years. In fact, many Americans had the surgery done in Canada before it was available in the United States.
PRK is performed with an excimer laser, which uses a cool ultraviolet light beam to precisely remove (“ablate”) very tiny bits of tissue from the surface of the cornea in order to reshape it. When you reshape the cornea in the right way, it more precisely focuses light into the eye and onto the retina, providing clearer vision than before.
Both nearsighted and farsighted people can benefit from PRK. With nearsighted people, the goal is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. Also, excimer lasers can correct astigmatism, by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.
20/20 vision means a person sees at 20 feet what a “normal” person can see at 20 feet. 20/40 vision means the person is seeing at 20 feet what a normal person should be seeing at 40 feet. In the metric system the same vision is expressed in meters e.g.: 6/6.
31. Can Excimer Laser correct every eye to get 20/20 vision?
No. If the eye has only 20/100 as the best corrected vision with glasses or contact lenses, the chances are that is all that the eye will see after treatment. Such low vision is due to so many causes that cannot be treated with Excimer laser. If the eye is very shortsighted and the vision is 20/50 with glasses Excimer laser treatment may “improve” the vision to 20/20 in the same way a contact lens will for that eye.
Laser eye surgery isn’t for everyone. The six general guidelines below are a good start for determining if LASIK or PRK is for you.
1. Your eyes must be healthy. If you have any condition that can affect how your eyes respond to surgery or heal afterwards, you must wait until that condition is resolved. Examples are chronic dry eyes, conjunctivitis and any injury. Your eye surgeon may want to prevent dry eyes after LASIK by giving you treatment such as prescription eye drops as a precaution. Some conditions, such as that interfere with your vision, keratoconus and uncontrolled glaucoma, may disqualify you completely.
2. You must be an adult. By law, certain procedures require you to be 18; others, 21. Younger patients can be treated as an exception.
3. You must have stable vision for at least a year. Many young adults experience changes in their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions in the teenage years. Vision stabilizes most often sometime in their 20s. Usually, it is nearsightedness that gradually becomes worse, but there may be other changes as well. Younger people are not good candidates until their eyes have “settled down” into one prescription. Your doctor can tell you whether your prescription is stable.
4. If you are pregnant, certain hormonal changes will cause fluid levels in your body to rise. This can change the shape of your corneas leading to changes in your vision. Surgery should not be performed until your hormones and vision has “normalized” after pregnancy. This could take a few months. Dry eyes are often seen in pregnant women as well, and as mentioned above, you should postpone LASIK until your eyes are healthier. In addition, some medications that would normally be used before or after surgery to promote healing (such as antibiotics and steroids) may be risky for your baby, whether unborn or nursing.
5. Degenerative or autoimmune diseases may be disqualifiers, too. Some examples are Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, HIV, and AIDS. Basically, if your body has any trouble with healing, your refractive surgery outcome may not be very good. Opinions vary among LASIK surgeons as to which diseases are automatic disqualifiers and which ones might pose acceptable risks in certain cases.
6. Your prescription must be within certain limits. For example, very high amounts of myopia, which would require removal of too much corneal tissue, may preclude LASIK or make another type of refractive surgery a better option, such as insertion of artificial lenses known as phakic IOLs or implantable lenses.
Excimer laser vision correction is used for nearsightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism and is performed in many countries worldwide. Eyetech Laser Lasik Winnipeg uses one of the most technologically advanced and state of the art Excimer Laser systems in North America. Learn more about how laser vision correction (Lasik Manitoba or Winnipeg PRK) is performed and the types of vision problems it helps to correct.
Set up a consultation appointment with us to discover if Laser eye surgery Winnipeg is the right treatment option for your vision condition.
