Lasik Procedures

The rain was coming down in buckets. James Hall, OD, an optometrist from Ardmore, Penn., peered through the windshield as he maneuvered his car through the streets. Despite the weather conditions, he could clearly see his way.

"The day before, I had LASIK surgery done," he recalls. "Then I was driving in that thunderstorm. My vision had been extremely poor before the procedure, but the day I drove in the rain, it was 20/30."

Remember when you were a kid and you could wake up from a nap--and see clearly without having to grab for eyeglasses or run to insert your contacts? LASIK is a procedure that uses laser surgery to improve the uncorrected vision of people who normally need glasses or contacts to see clearly.

LASIK, which is the acronym for the tongue-twisting phrase "laser in situ keratomileusis," has been performed in the United States since the early 1990s. Studies show that about 93 percent of LASIK patients can expect to achieve 20/40 vision, which most states consider good enough to drive without having to wear corrective lenses.

Who is eligible for LASIK?
Most people with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (an imperfectly shaped cornea that leads to image distortion) are good candidates for LASIK surgery. LASIK, however, doesn't correct presbyopia, which is what happens as the lens ages and becomes less flexible.

Your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will do extensive tests before surgery to make sure LASIK will help you, and to prepare for the surgery. Some people with very large pupils or a condition called "dry eye" may not be good candidates for the procedure.

The surgery
Prior to the LASIK, you will be given eye drops to numb your eye, and perhaps a light sedative to relax you. Then an instrument is gently placed on your eye to make sure that your eye stays open while the doctor works. The ophthalmologist cuts a thin layer of the cornea, gently lifts it and folds it back. Next, the doctor uses a computer-controlled excimer laser to remove a precise amount of tissue. This creates the exact shape needed to correct your vision. The flap is then repositioned over the cornea.

The whole operation takes about 15 minutes. Your doctor will advise you on what to do in the hours right after surgery and how long it will take for your vision to recover. In some cases, follow-up minor surgical adjustments will be needed to provide optimal vision.

Most surgeons in the United States charge between $1,800 and $2,800 per eye for LASIK.

Getting advice
LASIK surgery doesn't mean a life without corrective lenses, however. And like all surgeries, LASIK carries some risks. There may be increased glare, halos, and starburst effects in some patients. You need to decide if reducing or eliminating your need for corrective lenses offsets any possibility of complications. Your chance of complications is reduced with a surgeon who has done thousands of the procedures, points out Dr. Hall. "Find out how many operations the doctor has performed." Some will have performed hundreds.

You also may need reading glasses after surgery. Some people may need glasses to reduce glare during night driving.

"I had read all the reports before I decided to have it done," Dr. Hall says. "It was everything they said it would be. I was back to work in 24-hours with 20/30 vision. I also have many patients who have had LASIK done, and they are very satisfied."

He says people who are considering LASIK may want to talk to their optometrists first. Even though Hall is delighted with his newly-found vision, he says he is objective about LASIK when he talks to his patients. "The optometrist who does your corrective lens knows your eyes and can help you make an unbiased decision about whether to pursue the surgery," he says.

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