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Palisades Office:
970 Monument St. #204
Pacific Palisades, CA
(310) 454-5521

 

Studio City Office:
12229 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA
(818) 623-8900
 
How LASIK works | Am I a candidate for LASIK? | Who can have LASIK?
LASIK results | Your LASIK consultation
Your LASIK surgery | Possible side effects and complications

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 uses the excimer laser to reshape the clear dome-shaped cornea on the front of the eye so that light will be properly focused to achieve a sharp image on the retina:

 

 

STEP 1. After a drop of anesthetic is applied to the eye, an instrument known as a microkeratome is used to create a thin flap of corneal tissue, which  is folded back.
STEP 2.  While the patient looks at a blinking red light, the excimer laser removes a predetermined amount of tissue from the inner cornea to correct their refractive error. The cornea is made flatter to treat nearsightedness, steeper to treat farsightedness and/or more spherical to correct astigmatism.
STEP 3. The corneal flap is placed back in its original position where it bonds without the need of stitches. LASIK can treat low to very severe refractive errors. The procedure results in a rapid recovery, allowing most patients to resume to normal activity within one to two days. Results are overwhelmingly successful.

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

You are probably a good candidate for LASIK if the answer to the following questions is "Yes:"

1. Is your eye prescription stable? Has it been about the same for at least one year?
2. Are you 21 years of age or older?
3. Would you like to have the freedom from dependency on your glasses or contact lenses?
4. Do you have less than 12 diopters of myopia (nearsightedness), 5 diopters astigmatism, or 4 diopters hyperopia (farsightedness)?

AND the answer to the following questions is "No:"

Do you have any corneal diseases such as keratoconus or herpes infection of the eye?
Do you have an autoimmune disease?
Are you currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future?
Do you have any retinal disease?

LASIK results

The LASIK procedure is characterized by rapid visual recovery and little to no pain, and has fast become the refractive procedure of choice by both ophthalmologists and patients worldwide.

 

Benefits of LASIK

quick recovery time
minimal discomfort
preservation of the cornea
high degree of predictability
excellent ocular integrity post-treatment
low enhancement rate
low infection risk
outpatient procedure
low risk of scarring

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 

Preparing for your 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.
Your consultation
Your LASIK consultation will include a comprehensive eye examination and special testing to design a treatment plan for your individual needs. The testing will include:
  • A refraction (a measurement of the optics of your eye)
  • Certain patients will also require a topographic examination of the surface of your eye. Corneal topography 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.

Your LASIK surgery 

Preparing for your 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.
Your laser surgery
  • 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.
After your laser surgery
  • 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.
For more information, see our frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Possible side effects and complications

As with any type of surgery, complications are possible. Every effort is made to minimize risks, but serious or long-term complications can never be fully eliminated. Common side effects after refractive surgery include:
  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.