Everyday, people with refractive vision errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism get LASIK in Los Angeles for an outstanding solution that helps them restore their eyesight. The LASIK eye center in Los Angeles such as Excel Laser Vision Institute confirms that the procedure has been approved by the FDA for over 20 years. As a result of this innovative eye surgery, millions of people have enjoyed the advantages of LASIK.
Based on data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 700,000 LASIK procedures are carried out every year in the United States. Furthermore, the American Refractive Surgery Council has informed us that around 99% of LASIK patients achieve 20/40 vision or better and over 90% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better. If you consider the number of patients who undergo LASIK, this is a remarkable success rate.
Undoubtedly, LASIK has generated positive results with almost no side effects and it has become very widespread in the process. However, a patient’s exact experience will depend on factors surrounding the doctor, the clinic, and the patient’s case. Before you book an appointment for LASIK in Los Angeles, and say goodbye to prescription eyeglasses and contacts for good, you should take into consideration the following important factors:
A Good Surgeon Is Important
You must find an eye surgeon that has ample skills and experience in LASIK surgery since this plays a role in achieving positive results. Also, you should understand that no two eyes are exactly the same. For that reason, your procedure has to be customized to tackle your specific vision problems. When you are with an excellent surgeon like Harvard-trained Dr. Ferzaad Moosa, who has performed thousands of procedures throughout his career, you can be sure that your unique vision correction goals will be met.
When you start to size up LASIK surgeons, be sure to think about the following questions:
- How many years has the surgeon been performing LASIK?
- How many LASIK procedures has the surgeon performed?
- What pre-operative and post-operative care is available for this procedure, and will there be an extra fee or is it included in the surgery cost?
- Is there an additional charge for any future enhancement procedures required?
- What has been the surgeon’s track record on patients with similar refractive errors?
- Will the surgeon be using the newest and best laser technology for the procedure?
Asking your surgeon about the equipment that they will be using for your procedure is crucial. It is best to work with a LASIK surgeon that uses the most advanced technology since it will refine the precision of your results, lower your risk of complications, and reduce your chances of requiring an enhancement procedure.
Find Out If You Are A Good LASIK Candidate
You should know that not everybody is a good LASIK candidate. Some determinants that may prevent you from a successful LASIK procedure include:
- Corneas that are too thin to sustain the creation of a LASIK flap
- Corneas that are severely misshapen
- Harsh vision problems (prescription stronger than +6.00 diopters for hyperopia, stronger than -12.00 diopters for myopia, and more than 6 diopters of astigmatism)
- A serious case of chronic dry eye syndrome
- Corneal scarring and other problems that affect the health of your eyes
Make Sure To Follow All Pre-Surgery Instructions To A ‘T’
There is a good reason why your doctor gives you pre-surgery instructions. You should follow them carefully, so you set yourself up for a successful procedure. If you choose to ignore them, you may increase your possibilities of complications.
The two most critical instructions you will get from your LASIK Los Angeles surgeon are:
- Stop wearing soft contact lenses for at least two weeks before your scheduled LASIK surgery. If you wear hard or gas permeable lenses, you should discontinue use at least three weeks before surgery.
- Do not wear makeup before LASIK
The first directive is the most crucial since wearing contact lenses changes the shape of your cornea. To allow the laser to properly adjust to the curvature of a person’s cornea, you will have to give your eyes time to go back to their original shape before LASIK is carried out. This takes several weeks to happen. Although the standard procedures listed above are only minimum requirements, you would benefit from giving your eyes even more of a break from contacts before your surgery day.
You should avoid wearing makeup before LASIK since this can help reduce the risk of developing an infection after the surgery has been performed. An infection can gravely impact a patient’s healing, comfort, and results. Not wearing makeup for a few days will be worthwhile in the end when you have a smoother recovery process.
You May Experience Mild Side Effects In The Recovery Process
Even though serious complications are very uncommon, it is typical to experience minor side effects during the healing process. These include the following symptoms:
- Halos and glare around bright lights
- Light sensitivity
- Dry eyes
- Blurry vision and changes in the quality of vision
- Tearing
These effects, if you experience them, will fade as your eyes heal and are usually nothing to be worried about. Nevertheless, you should always let your surgeon know about any symptoms so that he or she can monitor them throughout your recovery process.
LASIK Results
LASIK can, and often does, eliminate a person’s need for glasses and contact lenses. However, this is not a 100% guarantee. About 99% of patients will receive 20/40 vision or better after LASIK. This is usually the level of vision needed to operate a vehicle without corrective lenses. Therefore, in many cases, you won’t need your glasses after the procedure.
On the other hand, there are limitations to what can be achieved with LASIK. Patients with a severe prescription may experience great improvement in their vision after LASIK, but might still require glasses to have sharper vision.
During your consultation, you should discuss with your surgeon what type of results you can reasonably expect to achieve from your procedure.
If you want more information about LASIK surgery, do not hesitate to give Excel Laser Vision Institute a call at (818) 907-8606, or fill out our contact form today!
