LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most popular and versatile of vision correction procedures known as refractive surgery. LASIK uses the excimer laser to reduce or eliminate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by modifying the eye to improve your vision.

How LASIK works

LASIK results

Most LASIK patients achieve unaided vision between 20/20 and 20/40. This is functional vision for most people, permitting many ordinary activities such as sports, watching television and driving. Vision improvement is rapid with much of the improvement already apparent on the first day after the procedure. While slight fluctuations in vision can occur in the first week, most patients return to regular activities the next day.

Your LASIK consultation 

• Please bring your current glasses, previous glasses or your contact lenses to the examination.
• Please do not wear soft contact lenses three days before the consultation or hard contact lenses for two weeks before your consultation. This will allow the surface of your cornea to resume its normal shape.
• Your eyes will be dilated during the examination; therefore you should bring sunglasses to assist you in driving home after the examination.

• A refraction (a measurement of the optics of your eye)
• Certain patients will also require a topographic examination of the surface of your eye. This computerized image maps the curvature of the cornea, similar to a geological relief map (see example at right). Each color represents a different steepness of curvature. The exam mapping shown at the right, from an actual LASIK candidate, indicates a good profile for laser correction of nearsightedness combined with astigmatism.
• A dilated refraction to verify your prescription
• A comprehensive discussion of your individual eye health and recom-
  endations for your refractive laser surgery.

• Please do not wear soft contact lenses three full days before the laser surgery or hard contact lenses for two weeks before your surgery. This will allow the surface of your cornea to resume its normal shape.
• If you have any questions regarding your surgery please call us at 310-454-5521 and we will be happy to help.
• After your surgery you should expect to go home and rest quietly for the remainder of the day.

• You will check in one-half hour prior to your scheduled surgery time. Upon arrival your consent forms will be signed and collected. You will receive your post-operative instructions for review.
• You will be called into a preop room and given a mild sedative to help you relax. 
• When ready for surgery our nurse will bring you to the laser surgery suite.
• You will remain awake and comfortable during the laser procedure. A numbing topical anesthetic drop will be put into your eye and you will be prepared for the laser treatment.
• Dr. Sawusch will then begin the LASIK procedure. This procedure will take approximately 8-10 minutes per eye, and you will remain lying comfortably on a reclining chair throughout the laser procedure.
• When the surgery is complete, a nurse will escort you to the waiting room where you will rest for about 10 minutes.
• Dr. Sawusch will then examine your eyes and then you will be ready to go home.
• Please remember all patients need to be escorted home from the surgery. You should plan to be at the Laser Center for approximately 1 hour.

• For the first day and night your eye will be protected with a clear plastic shield. The shield will stay on until your post-operative appointment the next day.
• Upon arriving home, sleep and relaxation for the eye are best for recovery.
• You will need to follow post-operative instructions for the eye drop medications beginning the day after your laser procedure.
• While most patients experience little or no discomfort after LASIK surgery, some do experience low to moderate pain.
• You will return to Dr. Sawusch's office the next day for your one-day post-operative exam. At this exam your shield will be removed and your vision measured. The vision will be improved but may remain partially blurry. You will begin to see noticeable results right after surgery. At your one-day exam you should have 70%-90% of the achievable vision.
• A schedule of post-operative and follow up appointments will be made for you. It is very important to carefully follow all medication and post-operative instructions and to attend all scheduled appointments.
• Please remember to be particularly careful to avoid having any foreign matter in the eye for at least two weeks. This includes avoiding soap and water in the eye, do not wear eye makeup or other cosmetics around the eye, and do not swim or get water in the eye for at least two weeks.
• You will then be able to begin a lifestyle with the freedom of new vision.

1. Light sensitivity may rapidly improve over days to weeks; however, a few individuals have ongoing light sensitivity for six months or longer.
2. Glare from bright light sources, such as oncoming headlights while driving at night may occur but generally improves and often resolves over the first six months after the procedure. In a few cases, patients use eye drops to keep the pupil small, thereby reducing glare.
3. Shadowing, doubling of vision, or "ghost images" usually resolves on its own, but sometimes needs 2 or more further treatments.
4. Variable vision may occur depending upon the procedure for weeks to months after the procedure. Some individuals experience a small fluctuation in the precise focus over the course of the day. This daily fluctuation generally subsides during the month after the surgery.
5. Overcorrection and undercorrection occurs in some patients who feel that the uncorrected vision is not as good as desired. This may require the use of glasses, contact lenses, or further laser procedures.
6. No list of complications can be complete. Any medical or surgical procedure has innumerable potential risks, both foreseen and unforeseen.