Laser Vision Correction FAQs

What is laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction is a procedure that improves vision by permanently changing the shape of the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) with laser. Often referred to as LASIK, it is the most commonly performed type of laser procedure and an effective treatment for a wide range of vision problems.

What is a laser?
A laser is a technology that utilizes ultraviolet light to precisely reshape the inner layers of the cornea. This reshaping is capable of correcting nearsighted, farsightedness and astigmatism using the wavefront technology.

How does the laser know what to correct in my eyes?
Laser vision correction is based on precise measurements of the imperfections in your vision. The measurements are taken with a powerful measurement tool known as the WaveScan®. The WaveScan information is transferred to the laser to guide the treatment.

What is a WaveScan® and a WavePrint® Map?
WaveScan technology provides a measurement and a visual representation of your vision based on the behavior of light waves. It compares light passing through your eye to the same light pattern from an eye that needs no vision correction. The WavePrint Map is the output of the WaveScan. It captures the unique imperfections of a person’s visual path.

How accurate is WaveScan technology?
WaveScan technology identifies and measures imperfections in an individual’s vision 25 times more precisely than standard methods used for glasses and contact lenses.

How does the WavePrint system work?
In the diagnostic phase, we use a device called the WaveScan™, which makes a WavePrint Map—a detailed, thoroughly personalized map of your vision.

In the treatment phase, the doctor uses information from the WavePrint Map to perform a personalized vision correction, using the VISX 3D ActiveTrak™ laser.

What is 3D ActiveTrak™?
The unique 3D ActiveTrak element means that you no longer have to hold your eye perfectly still, which is a challenge for many patients. Instead, it automatically and instantaneously tracks the minute movements of your eye during the laser treatment.

What kind of testing is done before the procedure?
All patients begin with a complete surgical evaluation, which involves a complete eye exam, a corneal topography and a WavePrint Map, described below. All of this information is provided to the surgeon, who will confirm whether you are a good candidate for any procedure and will discuss your options with you.

The WavePrint™ system adds the WavePrint Map, which provides a precise and more detailed analysis of your vision—like a "fingerprint," so to speak. The doctor uses information from the WavePrint Map to plan a personalized treatment for you.

What about other lasers I have heard and read about?
We have something we feel is much better. The VISX® WavePrint system is the preferred system because of its reliability and stability of results. Other systems don't have the capabilities of the WavePrint system, so we feel this offers the most advanced solution.

I have concerns about "night vision."What if my pupil size is very large or very small?
You need to discuss these concerns with your doctor to determine if you are a good candidate. The technology we use provides the doctor with the necessary flexibility in planning your personalized treatment.

Is laser vision correction safe?
Laser vision correction is extremely safe. With the skill and direction of our experienced ophthalmologists, a computer to gently reshape the outer surface of the cornea guides the excimer laser. Since 1987, it has been used to perform several million laser vision correction treatments around the world. Laser vision correction has rapidly been gaining acceptance as the most advanced and revolutionary method of eliminating glasses since contact lenses were introduced more than two decades ago.

What procedures are performed using the excimer laser?
Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), Hyperopic Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (HLASIK), Hyperopic Photorefractive Keratectomy (HPRK) and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Wavefront–guided LVC (LASIK)(PRK) are the procedures performed using the VISX S4 excimer laser.

What is the difference between PRK and LASIK?
LASIK is an enhanced and preferred version of PRK among more experienced and skilled surgeons. LASIK involves lifting a flap of the cornea and then applying the laser treatment below the surface. This is a technical procedure that allows for a more controlled healing process. With PRK, the laser treatment is applied to the surface of the eye, so it takes much longer for the eye to heal.

What is the first step in the process?
A pre-operative consultation and examination is necessary to determine whether a person is a good candidate for laser vision correction. An ophthalmologist or optometrist will review specific details of the laser procedure, including what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

Is there anything else a patient must do before laser vision correction?
Soft contact lenses must be removed at least two weeks prior to laser vision correction. Toric lenses, two to three weeks prior, and hard or gas permeable contact lenses must be removed for at least four weeks. Patients should arrange to have an adult drive them home on the day of treatment and to their post-operative appointment the following day.

Is laser vision correction painful?
No. The procedure itself is brief and completely painless. The surface of the eye is numbed with eye drops to eliminate any discomfort. No needles are used! Patients who have LASIK can expect to have little or no discomfort following their treatment. PRK and HPRK patients experience some irritation, light sensitivity, and watering of their eyes for a few days after their procedure. Medication is supplied to relieve this discomfort.

How long does laser vision correction take?
The excimer laser removes less than 20 percent of the cornea’s thickness. Even the most severe cases of myopia and astigmatism require only about one minute of laser application and do not weaken the eye. This makes it an ideal procedure for active individuals, such as athletes, police officers, and firefighters.

How long does it take the eye to heal?
Vision stabilizes more rapidly after a LASIK procedure. Most patients are able to drive the next day, and will see a dramatic improvement in their vision by the end of the first week. With PRK, because the epithelium has been removed, the patient must be monitored for two to three days post-operatively. During this time the vision is blurry.

Can both eyes be treated on the same day?
Most patients choose to have both eyes treated at the same time. This necessitates just one healing period, with most patients being able to drive four to five days after PRK and one day after LASIK. Patients who choose to have just one eye treated can have the second eye treated at any time that they feel ready to have it done. A contact lens can be worn in the untreated eye or the spectacle lens can be changed to plain glass in front of the treated eye until the other eye is treated.

When are patients able to return to work?
It is generally advisable to rest and stay home from work the day of treatment and possibly the first day following laser vision correction. By the end of the second day, most patients are able to return to work and resume normal activities, including sports. The risk of infection is low; however, patients must be careful for the first week to avoid certain activities like swimming and gardening.

Will the vision remain stable after laser vision correction?
Results indicate that most patients remain stable after six months. However, the laser will not stop the natural growth or aging processes of the eye, so candidates with a relatively stable prescription do best. Patients who require an enhancement or develop a problem will typically do so within the first few months following the procedure, not years later.

Does laser vision correction affect night vision?
Unlike radial keratotomy, where night driving may be compromised by haloes or starbursts from car headlights, the VISX STAR excimer laser corrects a large enough area of the corneal surface to reduce or eliminate night glare. Although very rare, it is possible to be left with some night glare.

How many visits are required after laser vision correction?
Patients require periodic visits for the next year to ensure proper healing of the eye and to measure visual progress. Proper follow-up care is as important as the actual procedure. Patients are usually seen once or twice during the first two weeks, then one, three, six, and 12 months after laser vision correction. After the first year, an annual eye examination should be performed regularly.

What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the term used for the loss of reading vision that everybody experiences after age 40. Typically, one wears reading glasses or bifocals to compensate for the loss of reading vision.

When laser vision correction is performed, patients can choose to preserve some of their near vision by having their non-dominant eye left mildly nearsighted. This is called monovision and is a very successful approach to providing patients with both distance and reading vision.

What has been the success rate of laser vision correction?
Experience has shown that laser vision correction has been overwhelmingly successful in reducing myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. Overall, more than 95 percent of patients do not need to wear glasses after being treated. These patients are able to drive comfortably, play sports, or just watch TV without the hassle of corrective lenses.