LASIK Questions
Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma, WA
Q. Is LASIK eye surgery safe?
While all surgery involves some risk, LASIK is not an intraocular surgery, and therefore is less risky than more invasive procedures. It treats your eye’s surface rather than working on any structures inside the eye. The LASIK flap does peel away the cornea’s surface cells in the treatment area, because the laser needs access to the next layer down, the stroma. These are layers within the cornea, the eye’s surface. They are not layers inside the eye.
Most complications that arise after a LASIK procedure stem from the corneal flap – how it was made and how it heals afterwards. If your eyes are not suitable for flap creation, Dr. Leavitt will see that, and might suggest the alternative technique of ASA, where no flap is created.
Your particular treatment plan would be determined very precisely ahead of time, and the diagnostic information gathered by Lasik Surgeon, Dr. Leavitt’s LASIK system would guide the treating laser. Dr. Leavitt can stop treatment at any moment as it is all under his highly-trained control. Virtually all LASIK patients experience significant improvement in their vision. A discussion with Dr. Leavitt will help you to understand the risks and benefits of the procedure in your own unique treatment.
Q. Is LASIK eye surgery painful?
No, the LASIK eye surgery itself is painless. The eye is numbed with anesthetic drops before the procedure. General anesthesia is not necessary. A few people experience temporary, mild discomfort afterwards and moisturizing eye drops can help with that. However, most LASIK recipients are pleasantly surprised at how little discomfort they have, and usually mention this when they talk about their experience.
Q. How long has LASIK eye surgery been available in the U.S.?
Though excimer laser technology was developed in the U.S., the early 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 benefited from LASIK laser eye surgery since that date.
Q. Is laser eye correction permanent and stable?
Yes. After years of follow-up study, it is clear that the correction is extremely stable and 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 change over time, and no surgery can prevent changes such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or progressive myopia.
Q. Can my vision results be guaranteed?
As in any medical procedure, particularly surgery or laser therapy, there can be no guarantee of results in any specific case. Even though LASIK is exceedingly precise, variations in visual outcome can arise due to differences in healing and post-surgery self-care. Be wary of any LASIK surgeon who guarantees a 20/20 vision result.
Q. 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. Dr. Leavitt can help you decide which option is right for you.
Q. I'm considering LASIK surgery. What should I look for in a laser eye surgeon?
- Look for a knowledgeable and 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 fully-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist who has done several thousand LASIK procedures.
- Look for a surgeon who personally provides the pre-operative care. The surgeon, rather than an assistant, is best qualified to analyze the data and determine whether laser eye surgery is appropriate for you, and if so, how exactly it should be done. 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 an optimal outcome.
- 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.
Consider scheduling consultations with more than one LASIK surgeon or laser center. Ask all your questions. Then trust your intuition.
Dr. Leavitt’s training and experience qualified him early on to perform laser eye surgery. He has been performing and teaching about it since 1989. He is also a member of three major national ophthalmology organizations and the Washing Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Please bring your questions and concerns to him by contacting us for a personal Lasik eye surgery consultation. We look forward to meeting with you.