5 Common Questions About LASIK

Are you tired of wearing glasses or daily contact lenses? Well then, LASIK surgery may be for you! At Wang Vision Institute, we care about your eye health and are committed to helping you achieve your vision goals. We were the first center in the state to perform Soft-Touch LASIK which implements the latest tools and techniques to further maximize your surgery. Here are five frequently asked questions about LASIK to help put your mind at ease before the procedure.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate?

With new advancements in LASIK technology, more men and women are being considered as good candidates. Only an experienced ophthalmologist can determine whether someone is an ideal candidate for laser correction surgery, but there are a few requirements relevant to many surgeons. An ideal candidate for LASIK must be at least 18 years of age, have plenty of corneal thickness, have healthy eyes, and not be pregnant at the time.

Will LASIK hurt my eyes?

LASIK eye surgery is generally painless. Before the procedure, our surgeons will place anesthetic numbing eye drops in your eyes to maximize comfort. The procedure itself is incredibly fast and should last no longer than a mere 10 minutes from start to finish.

What happens during the procedure?

Once the eyes are completely numbed, a suction device will be placed over each eye to prevent blinking. Our ophthalmologists will then use an innovative laser to gently introduce a thin corneal flap. They will fold the flap upward and use the laser to recontour underlying tissue. Once this is finished, the flap will be moved to its original position to self-heal without stitches. 

How long is the recovery period?

After the surgery, patients are recommended to directly go home and rest. As the anesthesia wears off, patients could feel a faint burning sensation causing irritation in the eyes. Try to not scratch or rub your eyes for about two weeks as they heal. Many patients notice clear vision within a day after the procedure while others report having hazy vision for a day or so after. Our surgeons require a follow-up visit to check on a patient’s healing process and often prescribe antibiotic and lubricating eye drops for a few weeks following the procedure.

Are the surgery results permanent?

Eyes typically take around 3-6 months to stabilize and heal after LASIK. After the stabilization period, your vision will be improved for the long-term. As with any surgical eye procedure, there are no guarantees that a patient will receive 20/20 vision. 20/20 can only be achieved in patients who have the potential to obtain 20/20 vision. Any additional need for glasses will be the result of the normal aging process that befalls everyone. 

To learn more about LASIK, attend our FREE Online Vision Seminars every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CST to hear more from Dr. Ming Wang, Harvard & MIT (MD); PhD.