Frequently Asked Questions

Is LASIK eye surgery safe?

While all surgery involves some risk, LASIK eye surgery is not an intraocular surgery, and therefore is less risky than more invasive procedures. The highly controlled LASIK process uses a computer-controlled light beam under the guidance of a trained and certified LASIK surgeon. Virtually all laser surgery patients experience significant improvement in their vision. A discussion with your eye doctor will help you to understand the risks and benefits of the procedure.

Is LASIK eye surgery painful?

LASIK eye surgery itself is painless. The eye is numbed with anesthetic drops before the procedure. General anesthesia is not necessary. A few patients experience temporary, mild discomfort following laser eye surgery. However, most LASIK recipients are pleasantly surprised at how little discomfort they have, and usually mention this when they talk about their experience.

How long has LASIK eye surgery been available in the U.S.?

Though excimer laser technology was developed in the U.S., most original patients received LASIK eye surgery elsewhere. This is because the U.S. FDA approval process requires a comprehensive, 5-year scientific and clinical study. FDA approval was finally granted in 1995. Nearly 2 million Americans have benefitted from LASIK laser eye surgery to date.

Is laser eye correction permanent and stable?

Yes. After years of follow-up study, it is clear that the correction achieved is extremely stable and that laser eye correction is permanent once healing is complete. This permanence and stability is one of the reasons that laser eye surgery is now so popular and well accepted. However, all eyes can change over time, and no surgery can prevent underlying changes such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and progressive myopia.

Can my vision results be guaranteed?

As in any medical procedure, particularly surgery or laser therapy, there can be no absolute guarantee of results in any specific case. Even though laser eye correction is exceedingly precise, variations in visual outcome can arise due to variations in healing and other factors. Be wary of any LASIK surgeon who guarantees a 20/20 vision result.

Can both eyes be done the same day?

Yes. Usually both eyes are treated in a single session. However, it is possible to treat one eye at a time. Your eye doctor can help you decide which option is right for you.

I'm considering LASIK eye surgery, what should I look for in a laser eye surgeon?

Look for a knowledgeable experienced LASIK surgeon.
There are many subtleties in laser eye surgery, that are only understood with experience and that significantly contribute to successful and predictable outcomes. Look for a fellowship trained cornea surgeon with the experience of thousands of LASIK eye surgeries.

Look for a surgeon that personally provides the pre-operative and post-operative care.
The surgeon is best qualified to analyze the data and determine whether laser eye surgery is appropriate for you. After surgery, the surgeon should personally provide all the post-operative care as well. He is best able to recognize a problem and intervene early to assure optimal outcomes.

Look for a surgeon with an in-office laser suite.
If a surgeon owns this equipment it generally indicates a significant commitment to and greater experience with refractive surgery. If a return to the laser suite is necessary it is readily accessible without delay. It a return to the laser suite is indicated it is readily available.

Consider seeking information from more than one LASIK surgeon or laser center. Then trust your intuition.

Can LASIK eye surgery help my vision?

If you are nearsighted or farsighted, LASIK eye surgery may be able to significantly improve your vision. With nearsightedness (myopia), the goal is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsightedness (hyperopia), a steeper cornea is desired. Astigmatism can also be corrected by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape. However, not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery.

How can I know if I am a good candidate for laser eye surgery?

Your candidacy for LASIK eye surgery can only be determined by an eye doctor. This will require a thorough eye examination to ensure that your eyes are healthy and suitable for laser eye surgery. You must also meet the following conditions: Be at least 18 years of age. Not be pregnant. Have stable vision with no significant changes in your eye glass prescription for about a year (very slight prescription changes may be okay). Have eyes free from disease and complicating injury. Have a prescription in a correctable range. Sign up for our FREE LASIK Screening

Can everyone have laser eye surgery?

Most people can. However, we advise about five percent of those we evaluate not to have surgery. This may be secondary to their medical history, ocular health, thickness of the cornea, or the amount of the eye correction. Are you eligible for LASIK surgery?

How long will the procedure take?

LASIK surgery takes ten to fifteen minutes. The actual laser time is usually less than a minute. The entire visit will be complete in about an hour.

Is there any pain during or after LASIK surgery?

During LASIK eye surgery, most patients report that they experience no pain beyond a mild pressure sensation as the flap is being created. After the procedure, some patients report mild sensations of scratchy, gritty, or watery eyes. These are temporary symptoms and are not a problem for most patients. Your doctor can prescribe pain medication if needed.

What if I sneeze during surgery?

We have never had that happen. However, it would not be a problem as the eye tracker would immediately stop the laser. Then when the eye was repositioned, the laser would be restarted.

How long until I'll be able to see?

Immediately after laser eye surgery most people can already notice that their vision is better. However, for several hours it will seem like you are looking through a foggy haze. This clears rapidly. By the next day approximately 80 percent see 20/20 or better. Nearly all have 20/40 or better which is the level of vision required to drive without glasses.

How much time do I need to be off work?

Most people feel that they could resume work the day after laser eye surgery. However, if possible we prefer that you take the next day off.

How long do I need to go without contacts?

Contact lenses can change the curvature of the cornea. Taking them out allows the cornea to return to its natural shape. The time out of contact depends on the type of contact lens:

• Soft contact lenses: One week prior to the pre-op exam and surgery.
• Soft toric lenses: Two weeks prior to the pre-op exam and surgery.
• Rigid gas permeable lenses: Four weeks prior to the pre-op exam and surgery. Plus an additional week for each decard over 10 years.
• True hard lenses (PMMA): Twelve weeks prior to the pre-op exam and surgery.

Will I be able to read without eye glasses?

If you are older than 45 years of age you will likely need eye glasses to read unless a monovision eye correction is performed. This is similar to a monovision contact lens fitting where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near vision.

Why do some patients choose to go to Canada for laser eye surgery?

In the past many people have gone to Canada for laser eye surgery thinking that they have a technology advantage. In 2000 we were part of a multi-center study that tracked outcomes in tens of thousands of eyes treated by very experienced surgeons in several centers in the United States and Canada. The data actually revealed that our outcomes here were one to four percent better in every category of refractive error when compared to patients in the Canadian centers. There is no longer a technology advantage in crossing the border.

Other considerations are that your legal rights change when laser surgery is performed in Canada! Your surgeon would not be doing your post-operative care, and if there are complications or an enhancement is indicated the return trip to Canada quickly makes the surgery more expensive.

How much should price and surgeon affect my decision?

Price should be far down your list in importance! Look for a cornea specialist with the experience of thousands of LASIK eye procedures who does the pre-operative and post-operative care himself, and has the right laser technology. Many surgeons dabble in laser eye surgery. Look for experience.

Corporate laser centers may be lower priced but may not be around for the long term. There have been four major Puget Sound area corporate laser centers close their doors in the last year. Their pre-operative assessment and post-operative care typically are not provided by the surgeon but by ancillary staff.

Want to know more? email Bellevue Lasik a question!