LASIK Evaluation and Eye Exam
A thorough LASIK evaluation is important as well as a detailed discussion of your options prior to pursuing refractive surgery. If any of the following tests and options are not included in your refractive surgery evaluation, we feel it is incomplete. This check list will help define for you a quality refractive experience.
Eye Exam
After undergoing corneal mapping, your visual capabilities are recorded, both with and without corrective lenses. The doctor will check your tear film, corneas, lenses, retinas, and optic nerves to rule out any presence of disease since refractive surgery must be performed on healthy eyes.
Following the exam, the doctor will discuss your eye health with you and your surgical options. If surgery is planned, a technician will review pre-operative and post-operative instructions. Your compliance with these instructions helps ensure the best possible result from your surgical procedure. Our surgery counselor will then discuss pricing and payment options and help you schedule your surgery date.
Tear Film Analysis and Dry Eye Evaluation
Dry eye, very common among preoperative LASIK patients, is the most frequent risk factor patients have that can delay recovery following the LASIK procedure. The cornea is the area of your eye where refractive laser surgery is performed.
If our exam and testing show that your eyes are dry, the doctor may elect to treat the condition prior to surgery. Frequent preservative free tear replacements throughout the day and use of different ointments at night are the first line of therapy. Other drops and medication combinations may be used. We have found that patients benefit from IntraLASIK since they have considerably less dryness postoperatively as compared to patients having traditional Lasik.
What can I expect?
The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes, involves only numbing drops to anesthetize the eye. During the procedure, a flap is gently lifted and folded back. The laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue by emitting a computer-controlled beam of light that removes the exact amount of tissue in a matter of seconds. The corneal flap is then placed back into its original position and allowed to dry for a few minutes. Due to the cornea's extraordinary bonding qualities, no stitches or patches are required. Your eye will be shielded with protective goggles overnight. You must have someone drive you home to rest and you will return to our office the next morning.
Complimentary consultations are available to find out if LASIK is right for you. Learn why patients trust Eyecare Associates of Texas, P.A. for caring service and excellent surgical results.
LASIK - The Differences In Technology...
Intralase has been found to be an integral part of laser vision correction surgery with optimal outcomes. In the past, the step of creating a flap in the cornea has been done with a surgical blade. By using the Intralase laser, the surgeon can achieve a higher level of accuracy resulting in more precise and predictable procedures. The Intralaser laser dramatically reduces the risk of complications. In fact, this newly raised level of precision is what has opened the doors to patients who were not previously candidates for laser vision correction.
The Bausch and Lomb excimer laser provides the latest in customized care. The innovative "flying spot" technology provides a smoother treatment resulting in less glare and haloing and more accurate surgery. Wavefront mapping technology used in combination with the Bausch and Lomb Zyoptix system provides your surgeon with information about your eyes that will be used to plan your completely individualized laser vision correction procedure. Even eye imperfections that could not be treated with conventional LASIK techniques are now being corrected with this personalized system.
In addition, the Bausch and Lomb laser provides the latest in safety features including the Active Eye Tracking System, which follows the eye even if the patient moves. During the FDA approval trials, the outcomes for the Bausch and Lomb laser far exceeded all other laser in terms of achieving 20/20 visual acuity with the lowest percentage of side effects such as glare and halos.
Conditions Treatable by LASIK
* Myopia, or nearsightedness with or without astigmatism
* Hyperopia, or farsightedness with or without astigmatism
* Those over or undercorrected after other refractive surgery or cataract surgery
LASIK - Are You A Candidate?
The ideal candidate for LASIK is 18 years of age or over. In addition to having a healthy cornea, patients should not have had a significant change in their prescription in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions may not be good candidates for LASIK.
LASIK - It's important to be realistic...
The decision to have LASIK is an important one that ultimately only you can make. It is important to have realistic expectations and that your decision is based on facts, not hopes or misconceptions. The goal of LASIK is to reduce your dependency on corrective lenses. LASIK does not always create 20/20 vision. People over 40 who have their faraway vision corrected with LASIK find that they still need reading glasses for up-close after their procedure.
LASIK - What Does The Fee Include?
The fee is a comprehensive charge, which includes all preoperative measurements and examinations, surgical and facility costs, post-operative care for one year, and any enhancement procedures indicated within that time period.
Attractive no interest or zero down payment plans are available. Please see "Insurance & Financing" for more information.