- What
is nearsightedness?
- What
is farsightedness?
- What
is astigmatism?
- If
I have LASIK, will I achieve
20/20 vision?
- Does
it hurt?
- What
are the side effects?
- How
long will I be off work?
- What
if I move my eye during
the
procedure?
- Are
there any long-term
complications?
- I've
heard I may still need reading
glasses after LASIK. Is that true?
- Is
LASIK covered by insurance?
What is nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness (myopia) occurs because the curvature of
the cornea is too steep; the focus of the rays that enter
the eye fall short of the retina. The result is a blurry
view of distant objects.
What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness (hyperopia) occurs when an eye is too short
for the cornea's curvature. Light rays entering the eye
focus behind the retina; as a result, a blurred image is
produced.
What is astigmatism?
Astigmatism can exist alone or in combination with nearsightedness
or farsightedness. With this condition, your cornea is oval-shaped
like a football instead of round, causing distortion of
the image.
If I have LASIK, will I achieve 20/20 vision?
More than 80% of patients can see 20/20 and 98% of patients
can see 20/40 or better. Actual results may vary.
Does it hurt?
You may have some mild discomfort during surgery but the
actual laser procedure is painless. To eliminate any eye
irritation, you will be instructed to go home and rest your
eyes until the next morning.
What are the side effects?
As with any treatment or operation there are risks, even
though they are rare. The risks and benefits will be thoroughly
explained to you by a professional staff member during your
consultation.
How long will I be off work?
You can have the procedure and return to your day-to-day
activities very quickly. Most people return to work in one
or two days. During your consultation, we will discuss this
with you so that you know your options
What if I move my eye during the procedure?
Our state-of-the-art technology automatically and instantaneously
tracks the minute movements of your eye during the laser
treatment and will shut off if your eye is not in proper
position. This means you will no longer have to hold your
eye still, which is a challenge for many patients.
Are there any long-term complications?
More than 5 million people, worldwide, have had LASIK surgery.
From all the information available to date, there have not
been any significant long-term problems.
I've heard I may still need reading glasses after LASIK.
Is that true?
After you reach age 40, you may need reading glasses (presbyopia).
Laser vision correction cannot eliminate this. However,
we may be able to perform a new procedure called
CK (conductive keratoplasty) to eliminate the need for
reading glasses.
Is LASIK covered by insurance?
Generally, it is not covered by insurance, but you should
check with your individual insurance company.
Diana Watson, Castleman Eye Center's Surgical Coordinator, answers Ken’s questions.
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