LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery is a common procedure that corrects certain vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. It is intended to eliminate the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is the most common type of refractive surgery. Refractive surgery changes the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. This procedure can be quite effective and has very few side effects. That is why we give the Naples and Fort Myers area a team of LASIK surgeons that help you every step of the way.
LASIK is a great option for many individuals throughout the Naples and Fort Myers areas considering laser vision correction for a variety of very personal and professional reasons. Lifestyle benefits can be tremendous for active and social people. These benefits can enable people to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities and allow you to see the great sights and sounds the Naples area has to offer.
There is perhaps nothing more important in the LASIK process than determining your candidacy. Your candidacy begins with a thorough eye health evaluation to check the overall health of your eye as well as the corneal thickness and shape. Schedule an appointment at our Naples location today!
What to Expect at the LASIK Consultation
During your initial screening at our Naples location, we will examine your eyes and perform comprehensive testing to make sure that LASIK eye surgery is the right procedure for you. A medical and eye history will be taken and several tests will be performed, including dry eye testing, visual acuity, refractive error, screening visual field, pupil size, eye pressure, general eye health and a detailed corneal evaluation (thickness and shape).
Dr. Ginsberg is not only an experienced LASIK and refractive surgeon but also a fellowship-trained cornea specialist. This specialty makes him the best type of ophthalmologist to determine who is the right candidate for LASIK and who is not. If you are not an appropriate LASIK candidate and still desire freedom from spectacles and contact lenses, he will guide you as to which of the alternative procedures can help you to achieve your visual goals.
LASIK Eye Surgery in Naples
During LASIK surgery, we will numb your eyes using a local anesthetic. Then, we will create a thin, hinged flap on the surface of the cornea. This flap is then gently moved back to expose the inner layers of the cornea. The next step is to reshape the eye using an excimer laser. This will improve the way that light refracts onto the retina, allowing for clear vision. Once the eye is properly reshaped, the flap will be smoothed back over. There are no stitches required after LASIK, and the recovery time is quite fast!
The LASIK Procedure
What Can I Expect After LASIK?
First 24 hours
During your LASIK procedure, you will not feel anything because of numbing eye drops. Within a few hours post-surgery, these drops will wear off.
Your eyes might start feeling uncomfortable or sensitive. You should take some ibuprofen and rest for a few hours.
When you wake up, your eyes should feel a lot better. You should still avoid activities that can strain your eyes like reading or using a computer. You will probably notice small improvements to your vision when you wake up.
First Month
The day after your surgery, you will experience better vision. You need to go to your follow-up appointment the next day to make sure that your eyes are healing correctly.
Your doctor will instruct you to use eye drops every hour. It is important to follow these instructions as directed. The eye drops help prevent infection and inflammation.
Also, it is also important to use artificial tears to help keep your eyes moist. After LASIK, it’s likely that your eyes will feel more dry than normal. If you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye syndrome, artificial tears can make a difference.
Within the first week, you should skip touching your eyes. They will be sensitive and still healing. This includes keeping things out of your eyes like soap or face wash in the shower.
If you are near contaminated water (rivers, pools, hot tubs, etc.), you should keep it away from your eyes too. Other things to keep away from your eyes include mascara, eyeliner, brushes, and creams. This helps prevent infections. For the best results, you shouldn’t wear any makeup for at least the first week or two after LASIK.
You can start exercising within a week of having LASIK, but use machines and keep sweat out of your eyes.
Around two weeks post-LASIK, you will not need the eye drops, but you might still need the artificial tears. By the end of the first month, you can take part in contact sports without wearing eye protection. Until then, make sure to wear goggles to keep your eyes safe. By the end of the first month, you won’t even remember what wearing glasses or contacts was like.
If you experience any pain during the recovery process, please contact your doctor. It can mean that there is a complication and it is important to get care immediately.
PRK or ASA
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) or ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation) is a laser eye surgery that corrects common refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. This procedure is meant to reduce or eliminate dependency on glasses and contact lenses.
This procedure is best suited for those who are not good candidates for LASIK surgery. The procedures are very similar, except that during PRK there is no corneal flap created. This is typically better for people whose corneas cannot withstand a corneal flap.
PRK Process
To begin the surgery, we will numb your eye using a local anesthetic. Next, we will remove the first layer of the cornea (the epithelium) using a buffing tool and an alcohol solution. The next steps are the same steps used during LASIK. The Excimer Laser will reshape the eye. Once reshaped, we will place a contact-lens bandage over your eye to keep it safe and promote healing. Healing after PRK takes longer than after LASIK, but the results are comparable.
With the option of PRK of LASIK Eye Surgery at our Naples location, schedule a consultation with our LASIK surgeons today. We have a convenient location and give each of our patients individualized care. Ditch the glasses and contacts and start the journey to the clear vision that you have always wanted. Contact our Naples office today!
What is the difference between LASIK and PRK?
LASIK FAQs
What can I expect during LASIK?
Dr. Ginsberg will create a very thin, superficial flap in your cornea with a small surgical tool called a microkeratome or with a femtosecond laser. Dr. Ginsberg will then fold back the hinged flap to access the underlying cornea (called the stroma) and remove some corneal tissue using an excimer laser. After the laser ablation reshapes the cornea, the flap is then laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed. The flap seals to the underlying cornea during the healing period following surgery.
Can anyone get LASIK?
The qualifications of a good candidate for LASIK surgery include being 18 years of age, having a stable eyeglass or contact lens prescription for at least 2 to 3 years, and stable vision over the past year.
Will LASIK be painful?
LASIK is generally painless except for the tiny amount of discomfort you’ll feel after the procedure. Your eye is numb because of the anesthetic eye drops.
What if my prescription is “too strong” for LASIK?
Extreme nearsightedness is sometimes not curable with LASIK, as surgeons need to remove corneal tissue to make vision clear. People with extreme needs may need a large amount of tissue removed, and there may not be enough left behind to result in a healthy eye. If the prescription is too strong, some surgeons may advise their patients to avoid LASIK.
Why is LASIK performed using lasers instead of blades now?
Traditionally, LASIK was performed using a blade, but the bladeless option is becoming more common. The primary difference between the two LASIK types is how the surgeon creates the corneal flap. Outside of the creation of the flap, both types of LASIK work the same way.
What is the recovery process like after having LASIK?
The immediate recovery period for LASIK generally lasts six to 12 hours, but it varies by patient, depending on several factors. Most patients see clearly within 24 hours after vision correction surgery, but others take two to five days to recover.
Is LASIK a permanent procedure?
LASIK eye surgery is a permanent way to reshape the cornea to correct vision conditions including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism and it’s a way to rid yourself from the hassle of glasses and contacts, which may interfere with your lifestyle.
Will I still need to wear glasses and contacts after I have LASIK?
While LASIK can greatly reduce the use of glasses or contact lenses throughout the day, it does not claim to eliminate the need completely. Everyone responds to the surgery slightly differently. Depending on your age and other vision conditions, glasses may still be needed after LASIK, particularly for reading.
