Lasik FAQ

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Provided by Shroff Eye (Dr. Anand Shroff)
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Q: Will I need glasses after LASIK?

A: If thoroughly evaluated and performed in the right candidate with the latest technology, patients who have LASIK do not generally require glasses for most activities. However, patients who are over the age of forty must wear reading glasses after LASIK (if both eyes were corrected for clear distance vision). Some patients will choose “monovision”, in which one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye is corrected for near. Whether you are a candidate for monovision will be determined during your consultation with your doctor.

Q: Can I have both eyes operated upon at the same time?

A: It has been demonstrated in several large, clinical studies that LASIK results and safety are identical whether the procedure is performed on both eyes simultaneously versus one eye at a time. Most patients elect to have both eyes operated upon the same day out of convenience, less time out of work, and avoiding imbalance between the two eyes.

Q: What about the health of my eyes 20 or 30 years from now?

A: LASIK has been performed since 1991 and its safety is established. Twenty year follow-up data are not available. Still, the likelihood of delayed problems is extremely low. LASIK is a variant of lamellar surgery, which has been performed for 50 years, and these patients have not been noted to develop late problems.

Q: What if I move my eye during the laser treatment?

A: While the treatment is performed, you will be asked to look at a light under the laser. You are required to look steadily at the light throughout the operation, since this keeps the eye centred under the laser. However, if you temporarily look away or lose the ability to look at the fixation light, do not be concerned. The WaveLight Allegretto 400 laser is equipped with a special eye tracker that tracks the eye at 400 times a second throughout the procedure.

Q: Any instructions for people who wear contact lenses?

A: Yes, if you wear soft contact lenses, we prefer you to take them out 3 (three) days prior to your initial evaluation in order to obtain an accurate reading for the topography test. For soft or soft toric contact lenses, you need to take them out 7 days prior to the laser procedure. If you wear rigid gas permeable studies show that 3 or more weeks are necessary for the eye to stabilize. In these cases, we try to put our patients on soft disposable lenses for 3 to 4 weeks and then reevaluate after 3 days with no contact lenses.

Q: Can I drive home after the surgery?

A: No, you will need a designated driver! For the first couple of hours your eyes will be sensitive to light and the vision blurred, so you should wear the special dark glasses that we provide.

Q: I have a “lazy” eye; can I still have Lasik to correct myopia?

A: Lazy eye encompasses a wide range of visual problems and levels of visual acuity. The only way to know for sure if you are a candidate for LASIK is to come to the office for a consultation with the doctor for a thorough evaluation to determine if LASIK will help you. Many patients with lazy eye have enjoyed their results following LASIK because they no longer need glasses or contact lenses to achieve their best acuity.

Q: What precautions do I need to take and what activities should I not do after LASIK on my trip?

A: The precautions are fairly simple and would be similar to all irrespective of LASIK done. The fear is of catching an eye infection. The first week after LASIK you will be on eye drops which are antibiotics so that aspect is anyways taken care of. However, some general and basic rules of hygiene such as not rubbing your eyes with unclean hands, carrying a hand sanitizer to keep the hands clean etc helps. We ask you to wear a pair of good UV protecting sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from dust, strong sunlight and allergens. Only swimming underwater is to be avoided for a few days. Those looking forward to enjoy our beaches can swim in the sea or pool, but with swimming goggles for protection.

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