LASIK and Photo Refractive Keratectomy Eye Surgery Options
LASIK
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a minimally invasive refractive surgery to improve vision. It corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. With LASIK, a thin flap of cornea is created using a femtosecond laser. An excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea beneath the flap to improve the patient’s vision without glasses and/or contact lenses. The flap is then gently laid back in place covering the area that was reshaped.
LASIK Surgery Process
During the procedure, you will receive numbing eye drops to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. The surgeon will create a thin, customized corneal flap with a femtosecond laser. Then, the surgeon will gently lay back the corneal flap. The surgeon will then use an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The corneal flap is then gently laid back down and acts as a natural bandage as the eye heals. This entire process in completed in just a few minutes.
After LASIK Surgery
Directly after the eye surgery, you should rest a bit and have a friend or family member drive you home. You will be given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to be used after the surgery. Typically, little pain or discomfort is noticed after LASIK surgery. It is normal for your vision to be blurry for the first few hours after the surgery. As this period passes, many patients will notice a significant improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours. You will be seen the next day and at a couple more follow-up visits to ensure that everything is healing properly.
If you have any questions about LASIK or need to know how to prep for the procedure, reach out to the Summit Eye Center team at anytime. We will make sure that you are as prepared as possible for this life changing experience!
Lasik FAQ
What is LASIK eye surgery, and how can it improve my vision?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses laser technology to change the shape of the cornea to correct a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. The procedure is quick and virtually painless.
Is the LASIK surgery process safe?
There are more than 30 years of clinical experience with LASIK. The evidence over this period shows that LASIK is a safe procedure with a risk of complication of less than 1 percent. The key to maximizing safety is a thorough pre-operative evaluation by a trained, experienced eye doctor.
How long does the LASIK eye surgery procedure last?
The entire procedure takes about 15 minutes. The laser treatment that reshapes the cornea takes less than 3 minutes. You can expect to be at the surgery center for about 90 minutes on the day of your surgery.
Is the LASIK operation a one-time procedure, or are there follow-up treatments?
About 1-2 percent of patients will need an enhancement within the first 12 months. Each year afterwards, about 1 percent of the original patients per year will need adjustments, as people’s eyes can change over time. In other words, at 10 years after LASIK, about 10 percent of patients may need an enhancement. An enhancement is a repeated LASIK procedure to address any residual vision correction that may be present after the eye has healed from the original LASIK surgery.
How long is recovery time for LASIK surgery? When may I resume normal activities?
Recovery from LASIK is quite quick. During the first few hours after the surgery, there may be some mild soreness or discomfort that is typically soothed with lubricating eye drops. Most patients will notice a significant improvement in their vision before they go to bed the evening of the surgery. Most patients can drive, return to work, and resume regular activities after their 1-day post-op exam. You will want to use eye protection while sleeping for the first week after surgery. Also, you will want to stay out of the pool the initial few weeks after surgery.
After my surgery, is blurry vision expected before vision improves?
The level of a person’s vision prior to LASIK will determine how dramatic an improvement a patient notices. Many patients note improvement in their vision before they head home after the surgery. It is common to have a “haze” or “fog” to one’s vision initially after the surgery. This typically resolves over the first few weeks.
What is the difference between LASIK and Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) surgery? Which procedure is right for me?
LASIK and PRK both use the same laser technology to correct one’s vision. The difference in the procedures is how the laser is applied to the eye. With LASIK, the outer layers of the cornea are lifted, and the laser is applied to the tissue beneath. With PRK, the laser is applied to the surface of the cornea. Because of this, the healing time is a bit longer with PRK than LASIK. The visual result after the eyes have healed is equal though. PRK is an excellent alternative for patients that are not good LASIK candidates for a variety of reasons, like having a thin cornea.
What are the risks or side effects of LASIK eye surgery?
The most common side effects are experienced as part of the normal healing process after the surgery. They include the following visual symptoms: seeing glare, halos, ghosting, and starbursts. Dry eye can also be felt after the surgery. Typically, these side effects will resolve over time. For the very few patients who experience these side effects beyond the couple-week healing period, there are often therapeutic treatments that can help.
What age of a person makes a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery?
You want to have reached “ocular maturity,” which typically occurs around age 18-21. At this age, people often have stable prescriptions, meaning that it hasn’t changed significantly for at least 2 consecutive years. As a people age into their 40s, they will develop presbyopia, a stiffening of the natural lens in the eye that limits one’s ability to focus at near. During this stage, LASIK is still worth considering, but you want to have a thorough discussion with your eye care doctor to decide what will best fit your lifestyle and expectations. In our 50s, procedures like a Refractive Lens Exchange are worth discussing with your doctor, although LASIK is still a viable option. Cataract surgery is something that commonly enters into the discussion after the age of 60. In summary, LASIK is an option after the age of 18-21, and as a patient enters later stages of life, it is still part of the discussion with other procedures that address the aging changes of the eye.
Are there any medications I will need to take or will take before or after the LASIK eye procedure?
After LASIK surgery, a patient will be on an antibiotic and a steroid eye drop for 1 week. Patients will also want to use artificial tears to lubricate the eyes for the first few weeks after the surgery.
How much does the LASIK eye surgery cost? Will insurance cover this procedure?
The national average cost for LASIK is about $2,100 per eye. LASIK prices may vary depending on the technology that is used to perform the surgery. Custom LASIK uses wavefront technology and possibly corneal topography to provide the most precise correction of one’s vision. These newer technologies will often cost more that older technology. Also, all-laser LASIK, where a laser is used instead of a blade to create the corneal flap, will cost more then blade LASIK. When researching and calculating the cost of LASIK eye surgery, you want to make sure you know what is included in the price of the procedure. Insurance does not typically cover the cost of LASIK. However, one can use an FSA or HSA to use pre-tax dollars to pay for the procedure.
Isn’t it cheaper to just stick with glasses or contact lenses instead of paying for LASIK eye surgery?
LASIK costs an average of $4,200 for surgery on both eyes. Contact lenses and contact lens solution will average $350 - $450 per year. Eyeglasses can cost $300 to upwards of $800 for designer frames and premium lens technologies, which can accumulate every few years over 10 years. While LASIK eye surgery is more expensive initially, it is an investment for the next decade and for your life. LASIK surgery is more economical than contact lenses or eyeglasses over time, where you may recuperate your costs in as few as 7 years.
How long does the improvement in vision from LASIK eye surgery last?
LASIK permanently corrects a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism that is present prior to the surgery.
Given natural or external effects, corrected vision from LASIK eye surgery may not last forever though. Like all living things, a person’s eyes can change over one’s lifetime. For example, presbyopia is an aging change of the natural lens within the eye that causes one to lose his or her ability to focus on near objects. Even if you were born with perfect vision or corrected your vision with LASIK, you could still be hit by presbyopia at some point in your 40s, which could affect your vision even if you've already undergone LASIK eye surgery.
Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK vs. LASIK Eye Surgery
Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is a minimally invasive refractive surgery to repair vision. PRK is similar to LASIK surgery, where the procedure corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The difference between LASIK and PRK is that during the PRK procedure, the corneal skin (epithelium) is polished off before the laser treatment where during LASIK surgery, a small flap is cut in the epithelium. LASIK has a quicker healing time where the healing process takes a little longer after PRK. Sometimes, PRK is the best procedure for specific patients. Your pre-operative evaluation will determine which procedure is best for you.
PRK Surgery Process
During the procedure, you’ll receive numbing eye drops to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. The surgeon will gently remove a center surface area of corneal cells, then a laser is used to reshape cornea’s outer surface. This process is typically done within a few minutes and you’ll be awake for the entire process. Once finished, our patients receive a soft bandage that is placed over the cornea to protect the eye and improve comfort during the healing process. The new epithelial cells should grow back within 4-5 days and once it does, your eye doctor will then remove the bandage from the cornea.
After the PRK Surgery
Directly after the eye surgery, you should rest for a bit and have a friend or family member drive you home. You’ll receive topical antibiotics and pain medication to help with any post-procedure eye pain and discomfort, as well as an anti-inflammatory. In order for us to monitor the healing process, you’ll have a couple of follow-up appointments with us to ensure everything is healing properly for your safety. While the recovery takes longer than LASIK, it may be a couple of weeks before your vision recovers, and longer to everything to equalize.
Advantages of PRK:
- Deepness of laser treatment is less than with LASIK
- For those with a thin cornea, PRK is the most suitable option
- There isn’t a risk of corneal flap issues
- Lessened risk of compromised corneal thickness
Disadvantages of PRK:
- Recovery process is slower than it would be with LASIK surgery
- Final vision takes longer to achieve
- The risk of post-procedure infection is a bit higher
- During early recovery phase, there’s some eye discomfort
Have questions about photo refractive keratectomy surgery or need to know how to prep for the procedure? Reach out to the Summit Eye Center team and they’ll make sure you’re as prepared as possible
