LASIK Consultation

How does LASIK work?

LASIK is a common refractive procedure used to treat nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia), as well as astigmatism. To understand how LASIK works, it’s important to know a little about how your eyes function.

Your eyes work tirelessly to convert light signals into images that are processed by your brain. As light passes through your lens — where it’s focused just like a camera — cones and rods (photoreceptors) in your retina turn the light waves into electrical impulses. These impulses get sent to your brain where images are processed.

When your vision isn’t clear, it can mean that your cornea — your eye’s outermost lens — is too curved or too flat to process light correctly. Or it could mean that your eyeball is too short. In any case, the purpose of LASIK is to correct how your eyes process light.

During surgery, your physician thoroughly numbs the surface of your eye, creates a thin flap, and uses a specialized excimer laser to reshape your cornea. This reshaping process helps any light that enters your eye focus correctly on your retina in the back of your eye. The result is improved, clearer vision.

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

Your optometrist at Eyes on Hartz Optometry spends time evaluating your medical history and current eye health to determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. This revolutionary procedure might be right for you if you:

• Are over age 18
• Have enough corneal tissue to reshape
• Have had a stable vision prescription for at least two consecutive years

With advancements in medical lasers over the years, more and more men and women are becoming candidates for LASIK than ever before. Even if you were previously told that LASIK isn’t right for you, there are plenty of similar laser eye corrective surgeries that can help improve your vision.

Will I need glasses after LASIK?

Generally, no. LASIK eye surgery can improve your vision to up to 20/20, meaning you’re going to be able to see clearly — both near and far — without corrective lenses. In some cases, you might need eyeglasses or contact lenses for special circumstances.

For instance, if you have poor night vision, wearing prescription lenses with anti-reflective coating can minimize issues with refractive error, so you can see more clearly while driving. You could also need reading glasses, simply because seeing things clearly up close becomes more difficult as you age.

During your LASIK consultation at Eyes on Hartz Optometry, your optometrist can let you know if you’re likely going to need any corrective lenses after surgery. If you do, they offer everything you need right in the office.

Find out if you’re a candidate for LASIK by scheduling a consultation at Eyes on Hartz Optometry. Book online or over the phone.