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LASIK Eye Surgery

What is LASIK?

Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a safe, reliable, and painless way to improve your vision and reduce your reliance on glasses and contacts. At Florida Eye Clinic, our expert LASIK surgeons perform 100% bladeless LASIK, incorporating advanced laser technology that optimizes precision, accuracy, and visual outcomes. 

How Does LASIK Work?

LASIK corrects common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These vision problems cause light to hit the retina at the wrong spot, resulting in blurry, unfocused vision. LASIK fixes this by changing the way light is bent or refracted as it passes through the cornea so that it properly focuses on the retina and allows objects to be seen clearly.

Benefits of LASIK

Millions of patients have chosen LASIK to correct their vision, enjoying excellent benefits like:

No More Hassling with Visual Aids

After LASIK, most patients no longer need glasses or contacts for clear vision. This eliminates frustrations like constantly wiping smudges off your glasses or worrying about having enough daily contact lenses to last until your next box.

Clearer Vision

Because LASIK corrects your specific refractive errors, patients often enjoy clearer vision than they ever did with glasses or contacts. Whether you love looking out across the mountains at the end of a long hike or watching a new movie in theaters with your friends, imagine how much better those moments would be in high definition! 

Advanced Visual Acuity

After LASIK, you can enjoy benefits like enhanced visual acuity, depth perception, and field of vision. This is especially beneficial for patients who play fast-paced sports requiring quick reaction times or engage in hobbies like painting or crocheting that involve precision and attention to detail. 

Visual Freedom

Freedom from visual aids also means that you’re free to live a more spontaneous lifestyle after LASIK. You won’t have to bail out on a night at a friend’s house because you didn’t bring extra contacts for the morning or struggle to enjoy a beach day because you forgot to pack your prescription sunglasses. You also won’t have to make room in your luggage when you travel for things like contact solution or backup glasses, meaning you can use the extra space for fun mementos to bring home!

Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?

The ideal LASIK candidate is someone over 18 years old with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, stable vision, and a healthy cornea thick enough for the corneal flap to be made. You should also:

• Not be pregnant or nursing 
• Not have eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or severe dry eye, 
• Not have autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, or lupus 
• Have realistic expectations about what LASIK can do for your vision.

At your LASIK consultation, your eye doctor will consider these factors and conduct a thorough eye exam to ensure the procedure is right for you. If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, they may recommend another vision correction procedure like PRK. 

Is LASIK Worth the Cost?

Although LASIK has a higher upfront cost, many patients actually end up saving money over time by choosing LASIK over visual aids. On average, glasses and contacts tend to cost around $500 a year. 

However, LASIK is just a one-time cost and can be easily budgeted with financing options. Once you’ve paid off the cost of your procedure, you’ll no longer need to spend hundreds of dollars a year on glasses and contacts, and can instead put that money towards savings, hobbies, or travel! 

What Happens During LASIK?

During the blade-free LASIK procedure, your eye surgeon creates a thin flap on the surface of the cornea with a device called a femtosecond laser. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia so that pain is minimized.  

The corneal flap is then lifted, and an excimer laser beam reshapes the cornea’s curvature to improve vision. Finally, the flap is replaced.  

The entire procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes per eye. Your LASIK surgeon will monitor you for a short period of time and give you postoperative care instructions.

What to Expect During LASIK Recovery

You’ll need to arrange for a friend or loved one to drive you home after your LASIK procedure, as you won’t be able to resume driving until your eye doctor clears you. Fortunately, after the procedure, patients often experience quick vision improvement and can return to work and drive the next day. 

As you recover, you’ll need to follow certain instructions and restrictions, including:

• Applying prescription eye drops according to your eye doctor’s schedule 
• Avoiding rubbing your eye 
• Wearing an eye shield while you sleep 
• Not swimming or getting water in your eye 
• Refraining from strenuous physical activity 
• Wearing UV-protective sunglasses while outside 

At your follow-up appointments with your LASIK surgeon, you’ll receive more specific directions about when you can return to certain activities based on how your eyes are healing. 

What Will My Vision Be Like After LASIK?

While recovery times vary from person to person, many LASIK patients begin noticing visual improvements immediately. Your vision will likely continue to improve gradually, reaching peak clarity several months after the procedure.

 Are you ready to achieve the vision of your dreams with LASIK? Schedule a consultation at Florida Eye Clinic in Orlando, FL, today to find out whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure!