Common Questions
Q: Will I be able to see the laser?
A: The laser itself is invisible and painless, but you will be given a mild oral sedative to help you relax. There is nothing frightening about LASIK; most patients are pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to undergo LASIK.
Q: Does LASIK hurt?
A: Typically, LASIK is pain-free. Some patients experience pressure for approximately 20 seconds during the procedure and some notice mild discomfort for a few hours after surgery, similar to wearing dry contact lenses.
Q: What happens if I move my eye during surgery?
A: Nothing. Dr. Shapiro uses a laser equipped with three dimensional eye tracking systems which allow the laser to follow even the smallest and fastest movements of the eye. With this system, Dr. Shapiro can create laser sculpting with billionth of an inch accuracy on a moving target.
Q: Are there any restrictions after the procedure?
A: The eye must be protected from injury and infection. For example, any rubbing of the eye, swimming and contact sports are best avoided for one month. There is, however, no restriction on vigorous exercise. Most patients are able to go back to work, and to their normal lives, the day after surgery.
Q: What about night vision after LASIK?
A: Night vision is typically excellent with the most sophisticated forms of LASIK. Earlier forms of LASIK often did give excessive glare around lights at night. The most advanced forms of conventional LASIK tend to give night vision equal to that of glasses or contacts. A recent study showed 95% of patients undergoing conventional LASIK had night vision similar to their glasses or contacts. With customized wavefront LASIK, the night vision is often even better than with glasses or contacts. In FDA studies of customized wavefront LASIK, 4 times as many patients preferred their night vision after wavefront LASIK than did before surgery with their glasses or contacts. In this FDA study, some patients with wavefront LASIK had equal night vision to their preoperative levels, but none had worse night vision. Of course, no guarantees can ever be made with surgical results, but these data on night vision outcomes are typical of the excellent results we see today.
Q: Why are their such great variations in prices for LASIK that I see?
A: The results of your LASIK depend on three factors: the surgeon, the type of equipment used, and the thoroughness paid to its calibration. Complication rates vary dramatically depending on these factors. Safety and accuracy, not price, should always be your primary concern when selecting where to have LASIK.
