Does LASIK hurt?
The laser procedure itself does not hurt. A slight pressure
may be felt during the procedure. There is, however, the possibility
of discomfort to some degree after the procedure for approximately
2 to 3 days. The discomfort is usually mild and does not require
medication.
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Can you guarantee me 20/20 vision?
We cannot guarantee a certain result from the surgery,
but we can accurately predict the probability of you achieving
20/20 vision. 95% of our patients with low or moderate
ranges of myopia and/or astigmatism achieve normal or
near normal natural vision from just one surgery. For
those who do not achieve this quality of vision from one
surgery, enhancement surgery can usually give the rest
of the desired correction. There is no extra charge for
necessary enhancement surgeries for a period of 90 days
from surgery date at Nationwide Vision Laser and Eye Center.
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Risks
and Side Effects of PRK
As with any surgical procedure, PRK laser surgery has some
possible risks. Serious complications are very rare. The greatest
risk is that of infection, but its occurrence is extremely
infrequent. Even if it develops, infection can usually be
cleared effectively with medications. Other possible complications
include scarring, induced astigmatism, and an over or under
correction. Most, but not all, complications are treatable
with medications or further surgery. Other possible risks
and side effects include:
As with any procedure it is impossible to create an exhaustive
list of possible complications, but these issues will be thoroughly
discussed with you during your consultation.
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Is this procedure permanent?
The laser procedure should last for the rest of your life.
Medical experience shows that once the cornea has been modified,
it tends to stay modified permanently. There are rare cases
of regression, which may be corrected with further surgery,
but the vast majority of corrected eyes continue to stay in
focus. You may however, through the natural process of aging,
develop a cataract late in life that will need cataract surgery.
If this occurs your cataract surgery will be the same as in
a person who did not have laser surgery.
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Can
both eyes be done the same day?
Yes, in most cases. This is considered on a per case basis.
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When
can I drive?
A
patient is legal to drive with one eye seeing 20/40 or better,
however, a patient should refrain from driving until they
feel comfortable with the vision in their operated eye. This
level of vision is typically achieved on the first day after
surgery, but this must be assessed on an individual basis.
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When can I return to work?
Generally speaking, a LASIK patient can return to work in
1 to 2 days post-operatively. If a patient has had bilateral
PRK, however, this may be extended for up to 1-2 weeks.
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If
I need to, can I wear contacts after surgery?
Most patients will not need to wear contacts after surgery,
but as long as the curvature of the cornea is within a normal
range, there should be little difficulty wearing contacts
after surgery.
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What
is an enhancement?
The
majority of patients at Nationwide Vision Laser and Eye Center
receive their entire refractive correction in one treatment
session. For the minority of patients who do not, an enhancement
procedure is usually possible. An enhancement is simply a
second treatment done to "fine tune" the results. Enhancements
are more common in people with higher refractive corrections.
An advantage of LASIK is that enhancements can be performed
without having to re-cut the corneal flap. For several months
after the initial LASIK procedure, the surgeon can use specially
designed instruments to identify and lift the flap thus accessing
the central cornea for reshaping with the laser.
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