LASIK Surgery

LASIK Minnesota
How LASIK works
About LASIK laser vision correction

LASIK actually stands for Laser in-situ keratomileusis, which is the most commonly performed type of laser eye surgery today. The LASIK eye surgery procedure is quite effective, and has very few side effects. LASIK is a great option for many individuals considering laser vision correction for a variety of very personal and professional reasons. LASIK eye surgery may not promise perfect vision, however; it is a highly successful procedure that can at the very least reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The lifestyle benefits can be tremendous for active and social people. These benefits can enable people to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities or career options. LASIK has been performed in the United States since its FDA approval in 1995. At the 2005 AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) meeting a 10-year study of the effectiveness and safety was presented and showed overwhelming success of the procedure. If LASIK eye surgery is something that you think might help your vision please feel free to call us anytime or complete our LASIK self-evaluation TEST and one of our LASIK eye surgery coordinators will contact you.

What vision disorders does LASIK correct?

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Nearsighted individuals typically have problems seeing well at a distance and are forced to wear glasses or contact lenses. The nearsighted eye is usually longer than a normal eye, and its cornea may also be steeper. Therefore, when light passes through the cornea and lens, it is focused in front of the retina. This will make distant images appear blurred.

Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

Farsighted individuals typically develop problems reading up close before the age of 40. The farsighted eye is usually slightly shorter than a normal eye and may have a flatter cornea. Thus, the light of distant objects focuses behind the retina unless the natural lens can compensate fully. Near objects require even greater focusing power to be seen clearly and therefore, blur more easily.

Astigmatism

Asymmetric steepening of the cornea or natural lens causes light to be focused unevenly, which is the main optical problem in astigmatism. To individuals with uncorrected astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed. Astigmatism can accompany any form of refractive error and is very common.

What happens during the LASIK eye surgery procedure?

Step 1 – The patient is escorted into the laser suite where the surgery preparation takes place. The eyelids are cleaned thoroughly.

Step 2 – The eyelid speculum is positioned on your eyes so your eyelids will be held back and no blinking can occur.

Step 3 – A flap is created with a microkeratome or femtosecond laser. The flap is lifted back and the eye is ready for the laser treatment.

Step 4 – The excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea according to the prescription programmed into the laser.

Step 5 - Next, the flap is folded back into place where it bonds quickly. Healing is rapid with LASIK eye surgery and most people can return to work the next day.

 

How should I choose my LASIK surgeon?

Comparing LASIK Doctors

At Family Eye Center we aim to help answer any questions that you may potentially encounter. Additionally we are ready to let you hear from one of our many patients that have undergone LASIK eye surgery in Minnesota. If at any moment in your research process you uncover a difficult point or need further clarification just send us an email question or give us a call. We are always here for our patients from day one.

The points listed below will give you some of the major aspects to consider when selecting a LASIK surgeon

• How many surgeries has this LASIK surgeon performed?
• What do other patients say about their LASIK experience with this LASIK doctor?
• What is the educational background of the surgeon?
• What are the clinical results of surgeries performed?
• What is the Post-Operative care schedule?
• Is the doctor concerned about seeing patients after the surgery and why?
• Does the practice offer the latest technology?
• How does the staff react?
• What does the surgical environment look like?
• Are the doctors board certified by AAO?
• Does the doctor stay up on technology and continuing education?
• Does this practice offer only LASIK or other vision correction procedures?

Selecting a surgeon for your LASIK eye surgery is a very important decision that will ultimately affect your vision for the remainder of your life. It is important to discuss your personal situation with a surgeon and ask your questions directly to the doctor or staff if possible. Choosing a Minnesota LASIK surgeon that has high quality and safety standards can often times reduce unnecessary surgical risk. Experience with LASIK eye surgery is also a very important factor when selecting your surgeon. Not all Minnesota eye doctors share the same level of training or experience in refractive surgery. Numerous studies have depicted that surgeons do experience a learning curve and that they can get much better overtime. A surgeon with a vast amount of experience should also be able to show you some basic information regarding outcomes. When constantly analyzing surgical outcomes, the better surgeons find that the consistency and predictability of their results gets better. If a surgeon tracks outcomes this actually demonstrates his or her concern with achieving the best possible results.

Some Minnesota eye care practices and surgeons aim to keep up with the latest technology in order to provide the best possible equipment for the best visual outcomes. Please feel free to inquire about the latest technology at Family Eye Center from the cataract surgery facilities to LASIK eye surgery operating room. Thank you for taking the time to read through our LASIK eye surgery information. If you are seeking LASIK in Minnesota be sure to come for a complimentary evaluation.

Family Eye Center LASIK Post Operative Care

The doctors at Family Eye Center always ask our patients to use extreme caution with their eyes during the first 24 hours after the surgery. We always suggest that after your LASIK eye surgery you go home and get rest in a comfortable environment. When you are asleep your body goes into a healing mode. You should not drive a car, operate machinery, or attempt stairs immediately following surgery. You will be given an eye shield to protect your eyes. Please wear the shields for the first nights after surgery and the following two nights at bedtime to prevent you from rubbing your eyes while sleeping.

Please Protect Your Eye After LASIK eye surgery

The corneal "flap" is not sutured or glued down. It will adhere by itself over the course of 1-2 weeks. Therefore, it is very important that you not rub the eye vigorously or go swimming during this period. You can wipe the eye with a tissue or washcloth, but do so gently. If you know that you will have a tough time keeping your hands away from your eyes, or are a rough sleeper, we can provide you with temporary eye shields.

For a complete list of post operative instructions please feel free to call us. For additional questions regarding laser vision correction or alternative vision correction options do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email us directly.