Lasik
Embrace a Life of Crystal-Clear Vision
Do you want to achieve your best vision and enjoy freedom from glasses and contacts? Our expert team of ophthalmologists at OC Eye Associates can help make your dream eyesight a reality through LASIK.
Dr. Driver and Dr. Lang combine advanced technology with personalized care to ensure you receive the highest quality treatment throughout your journey toward clearer vision. We'll be there every step of the way, from your initial consultation to your final follow-up appointment.
Schedule An AppointmentWhat is Lasik?
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that involves reshaping the cornea with specialized lasers to give patients crisp, clear vision. It can correct common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, reducing your reliance on glasses and contacts.
During the procedure, your LASIK surgeon will precisely adjust your cornea to refract light onto the retina at the best spot for sharper eyesight. This allows patients to enjoy vivid, high-definition vision for decades and eliminates the hassle of visual aids.
LASIK Technology at OC Eye Associates
At OC Eye Associates, we use the most advanced LASIK technology available to help you achieve the best visual outcomes. Our state-of-the-art system combines the VisuMax® Laser and the Alcon WaveLight EX500 excimer laser.
The VisuMax® Laser is known for its speed, gentle technique, and precision. Working together with the WaveLight EX500 excimer laser, this technology helps ensure consistent, high-quality results for your vision.
During your procedure, the laser system tracks your eye movement a thousand times per second and automatically adjusts to stay perfectly aligned, maximizing safety and precision. This also allows us to provide personalized treatment options like Custom Wavefront LASIK and topography-guided Custom Ablation Treatment (T-CAT), tailoring the procedure to your unique vision needs.
Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK?
While LASIK has brought millions of patients life-changing results, it's not the right procedure for everyone. That's why OC Eye Associates provides thorough LASIK consultations to carefully evaluate your candidacy and recommend the best vision correction solution for your individual needs.
At your consultation, your ophthalmologist will perform a comprehensive eye exam, discuss your medical history, and help you understand all your vision correction options. If you are not suitable for LASIK, they may recommend an alternative procedure, like PRK.
Schedule Your LASIK Consultation- Are 21 years or older
- Have had a stable prescription for at least two years
- Have healthy corneas that are thick enough for LASIK
- Have had a stable prescription for at least two years
- Are not pregnant or nursing
- Don't have certain autoimmune conditions that could affect LASIK recovery
- Don't have eye conditions like severe dry eye, glaucoma, or cataracts
- Have realistic expectations about the outcomes of the procedure
How is PRK Different from LASIK?
PRK is often a great alternative for patients who do not qualify for LASIK due to thin corneas or severe dry eye. This is because of differences in how the cornea is accessed during each procedure.
LASIK involves creating a small flap in the cornea, reshaping the tissue underneath, and then folding the flap back over to act as a natural bandage while you heal. This process speeds up recovery times and makes the procedure less invasive.
However, if you have thin corneas, creating this flap is unsafe. It also affects more nerves in the eye, which could worsen severe dry eye syndrome.
Instead, PRK involves removing the entire epithelium, the cornea's outer layer, and reshaping the tissue underneath. Because the epithelium needs about a week to regenerate, PRK recovery times are longer than LASIK.
However, it's an excellent vision correction option for patients who may not be good candidates for LASIK and provides the same visual benefits.
What Happens During LASIK?
Before beginning the procedure, your LASIK surgeon will administer numbing eye drops and offer you a mild sedative if you're feeling nervous to ensure you are comfortable. Then, they will use the VisuMax femtosecond laser to make a small flap in the cornea.
This flap will be gently folded back so your LASIK surgeon can reshape the underlying corneal tissue with the WaveLight EX500 excimer laser. They will put the corneal flap back in its place to complete the procedure, a process that typically takes just ten minutes.
Before having a friend or loved one drive you home, you'll spend about 30 minutes in our recovery room while Dr. Driver or Dr. Lang gives you post-operative care instructions.
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What to Expect During LASIK Recovery
During the first few hours after your procedure, we recommend resting with your eyes closed to help minimize any side effects like irritation or dryness. You'll also need to take certain precautions during recovery, including attending your follow-up appointments, applying prescription eyedrops, and refraining from:
Your eye doctor will provide specific guidelines about when you can resume these activities, but most patients can return to their routine after just one to two days.
What Will My Vision Be Like After LASIK?
Many patients notice visual improvements right away after their LASIK procedure, with vision continuing to improve as the eyes heal. While it can take three to six months to reach peak clarity, you'll be enjoying your crisp, clear vision long before then.
After your LASIK procedure, you can expect vivid, high-definition eyesight without needing glasses or contacts. Whether you want to explore the sights of an international city with crystal clarity, bring your A-game to your favorite sport with sharper vision, or leave the hassles and costs of visual aids in the past, there is so much to look forward to after LASIK.
Schedule An AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions About LASIK
On the day of your consultation, bring your completed new patient registration and medical history form. If you don't have them completed, you can fill them out upon arrival.
Bring the eyeglasses you wear most often and/or your contact lens prescription, even if they no longer help your vision. Old eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions are also helpful as they provide essential information about your eyes' past condition.
Contact lenses change the shape of your eyes and can interfere with crucial measurements. You must be out of your soft contact lenses for three days or hard contact lenses for at least one month before your consultation and LASIK surgery.
You will be awake during the LASIK procedure, but you won't feel any pain because your eyes will be completely numbed. Your LASIK surgeon will talk you through the entire procedure and offer you anxiety medication if you are feeling nervous.
Because our advanced laser system tracks your eye movements automatically, you won't need to worry about keeping your eyes still.
While LASIK is generally safe and effective, there are potential side effects and complications. Most patients experience some dryness immediately following surgery, which usually resolves within a few months.
If you have dry eye syndrome, it can be treated before LASIK to minimize this side effect. Glare and halos are less common with newer lasers but can still occur.
Loss of vision from LASIK is extremely rare, especially with proper patient screening.
At OC Eye Associates, we perform thorough testing to ensure you are a suitable candidate.