Why should I consider LASIK vision correction?
Are you dependent on glasses or contact lenses to see clearly to drive? Does having to wear glasses or contacts seem like a burden? Are you an active outdoors person? Would not having to wear glasses or contacts make you feel better about yourself? Do you sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and stumble about without your glasses or contacts? Would you like to have clear, unaided vision 24 hours a day? LASIK vision correction can eliminate the need for wearing glasses or contacts.

How do I know if LASIK is right for me?
The best thing to do is to contact us for a complementary, no obligation evaluation. At the Rahmani Eye Institute you will be asked a series of questions that can help you determine if LASIK might be the clear answer you're looking for.

How do "RK", "PRK" and 'LASIK" surgical procedures differ?
RK ("Radial Keratectomy") is a surgical operation that uses a fine diamond blade to make cuts around the hub of the cornea. This relieves pressure so that the center area of the cornea flattens slightly. The flatter cornea changes the angle and focal length of light entering the eye. RK was an early, less exact surgical procedure that has essentially been replaced by PRK and LASIK surgery. PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) refers to the first "Excimer laser" procedure that was approved for use in the United States. PRK makes no incisions and requires no sutures. PRK uses a "cool" beam of light to remove and reshape microscopic areas of both the inner and the outer corneal layers. LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most advanced procedure of laser eye surgery available today. LASIK does not reshape the outer protective surface of the cornea (epithelium). Instead, a "microkeratome" (a high precision surgical device used in LASIK procedures) lifts back a microthin flap of the tough outer cornea. The Excimer laser then reshapes only the curvature of the inner cornea. The corneal flap can then be safely laid back in place. It seals naturally in only a day or two, typically without requiring any sutures. With the LASIK process, vision correction is more accurate, healing and recovery times are faster and more comfortable and there is much less risk of infection than with other procedures.

Does LASIK surgery provide lasting results?
Yes. LASIK surgery creates a permanent change in the shape of the cornea and thus a lasting correction. LASIK surgery does not affect the inner lens of the eye. As part of the process of natural aging the lens tends to lose some of its flexibility. The result is a loss of fine tuned focus and a corresponding difficulty reading small print. Reading glasses may eventually be required after the LASIK procedure as would be the case with the aging of the inner lens of any normal eye.

Is the laser painful?
No. Anesthetic eye drops numb the eyes before the procedure. The Excimer laser itself emits a cool beam of light which precisely shapes the cornea in extremely brief pulses that smooth surfaces in mere millionths of an inch at a time.

Has laser eye surgery been around long?
Laser vision correction has been available since about 1987. In that time there have been more than two million laser vision correction procedures performed around the world. Approved by the FDA for use, the Excimer laser has been recognized as exceptionally safe and effective. Clinical trials conducted by the FDA showed 100% of patients diagnosed with mild to moderate myopia achieved significantly improved vision following laser vision correction surgery.

Are all patients who wear glasses or contacts good candidates for LASIK eye correction?
Not necessarily. LASIK produces good results for almost every degree of myopia or 11 nearsightedness". And LASIK can also treat mild to moderate cases of hyperopia or "farsightedness". But vision problems due to the aging of the lens of the eye (presbyopia) and extreme cases of farsightedness may best be corrected by other methods which Dr. Rahmani may discuss with you.

What kind of improvement can I look forward to with LASIK vision correction?
While it is evident that no result can be absolutely guaranteed with any surgical process, a recent study showed 98% of patients who were treated for nearsightedness" and/or astigmatism achieved 20/40 vision or better from laser vision correction.

How long does the LASIK procedure take?
The surgery itself actually takes only a few minutes. But including a preoperative examination and a short (20 to 30 minutes) in-off ice recovery time, you may plan on about two to three hours from the time you arrive at the Rahmani Eye Institute until you are ready to leave.

What will my vision be like the day after I have LASIK surgery?
Patients may see an immediate improvement in their vision. But you will normally be able to see much more clearly without your contacts or glasses within a day after your LASIK surgery. Improvement of your vision usually continues over the first week or so after your LASIK vision correction

Is LASIK covered by my insurance?
Ask your insurance carrier to be sure. Generally, refractive surgeries are considered an "elective procedure". As such they are often not covered.

Why IntraLase?
Traditional LASIK is a very good procedure. While the risk of complication is very minimal, all surgery carries some degree of risk. Now, an advanced computer controlled laser technology is available that significantly reduces the risk of complications. It is known as IntraLase.

The IntaLase laser is uniquely safe, uniquely precise, and offers patients predictably better visual results. The advanced IntraLase technology has given many patients more confidence when considering laser vision correction. Surgeons frequently prescribe the INTRALASE™ FS laser because it provides micron level accuracy and significantly reduces the possibility of risk and unpredictable outcomes.

How is IntraLase different from traditional LASIK?
LASIK is actually a 2 step process. First, a flap of corneal tissue must be created and then folded back. The cornea is the transparent dome-like structure that covers the iris and pupil of your eye. By creating a flap in the cornea, the surgeon is able to perform the laser vision correction treatment on the inner layer of the cornea, which practically eliminates any patient discomfort and allows for a rapid visual recovery.

Traditionally, the surgeon has created the corneal flap with a hand-held mechanical device which utilizes a surgical blade. This method has worked well over the years; however, the performance of these devices can be unpredictable. And although LASIK complications are rare, this mechanical device is frequently the source for many of the reported complications.

With the IntraLase laser, the surgeon uses the precision of a laser to create the corneal flap. The accuracy of the laser (100 times more accurate than a blade) is unparalleled by any other technology in vision correction surgery. This advanced technology allows the surgeon more control during the procedure, and even allows customization of the corneal flap for every individual patient. Because of its consistent accuracy, IntraLase now makes it possible to treat many patients who were dismissed as candidates for laser vision correction due to thin corneas.