Division of Ophthalmology
The eye care experts in the Division of Ophthalmology provide a full range of care, including advanced medical and surgical treatments, as well as education and research opportunities.
LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery
Treatment to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses
Laser Vision Correction
Refractive surgery is commonly called laser vision correction. The goal of laser vision correction is to reduce your need for corrective lenses.
How Does Refractive Surgery Work?
During these procedures, an ophthalmologist uses an excimer laser to correct vision conditions:
- Astigmatism
- Farsightedness
- Nearsightedness
Patients receive numbing drops before a procedure. The excimer laser uses a cool beam of ultraviolet light. The laser reshapes the cornea. It removes microscopic layers of tissue.
Laser vision correction is accurate, precise and safe. The excimer laser is most often used to perform these two procedures:
- LASIK, an acronym for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
What is LASIK?
LASIK treats refractive errors. During the procedure:
- Your surgeon uses a microkeratome to create a thin protective flap in the cornea to provides access to the tissue below the cornea.
- The surgeon applies a predetermined, precise amount of laser pulses.
- The laser removes tissue, reshaping the cornea.
- The flap is laid back in position and naturally re-adheres.
Many people choose LASIK for laser vision correction because it offers:
- Consistent outcomes.
- Little pain.
- Rapid return of clear vision after surgery, usually by the next day.
For some patients, both eyes can be treated on the same day.
What is PRK?
PRK directly applies the excimer laser to the cornea’s surface. During a procedure, the surgeon applies laser pulses to reshape the cornea.
PRK provides highly predictable, good outcomes. Recovery, however, takes a bit longer than LASIK. After a PRK procedure, you can expect:
- Mild discomfort or irritation for one to two days after surgery.
- Discomfort easing once the cornea surface regenerates.
- Vision improvements as the eye becomes more comfortable.
- Good visual acuity within three days to a week (your best vision may not be achieved for up to three months).
We do not treat both eyes on the same day.
Common Questions About Laser Vision Correction
Who is a good candidate for laser correction surgery?
To find out if you are a good candidate for surgery, learn as much as you can by:
- Scheduling an exam with your doctor.
- Understanding your eye prescription.
- Having realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve for you.
Laser vision correction surgery works to reduce your need for corrective lenses. The procedure:
- Does not always create 20/20 (or even 20/40) vision.
- Cannot correct presbyopia (aging of the eye).
Aging of the eye occurs around age 40. Many people older than 40 may need reading glasses, even after laser vision correction.
An ideal patient:
- Has a healthy cornea.
- Saw no significant increase in their prescription in the past year.
People who are pregnant or have certain medical conditions may not be good candidates.
Which Laser Vision Correction Treatment is Best for Me?
LASIK and PRK both offer excellent vision correction.
You and your doctor can discuss which procedure is best for you. To understand your visual needs and activities, your doctor completes a few tests. These include a comprehensive eye exam and laser vision correction consultation to design a treatment plan just for you.
What results can I expect after surgery?
Laser vision correction is approved to treat up to:
- 15 diopters of nearsightedness.
- 5 diopters of astigmatism.
- 4 diopters of farsightedness.
There is no evidence that eye changes over time negate the results of laser vision correction.
How long is recovery after laser surgery?
The haziness that occurs after a procedure goes away within a few hours. Visual recovery varies with each patient.
If you had LASIK surgery:
- Good visual acuity occurs the day after your procedure, in most cases.
- For some people, clear vision can take longer. This is true if your correction is for higher levels of near sightedness or far sightedness.
- You may experience small changes in your vision for the first few weeks after surgery.
If you had PRK surgery:
- You can expect a slower visual recovery.
- Your vision will be blurred for two to four days.
- Vision will slowly improve for one to two weeks.
Most patients return to work the day after LASIK surgery. Others may take one day off after surgery.
What is the cost of laser vision correction?
The cost of surgery depends upon the time and equipment needed. LASIK, PRK, and other refractive surgeries vary in price based on each patient’s specific needs. Your doctor can provide an overall summary of the procedural costs.
At Lahey, we believe anyone who is a candidate for laser vision correction should have less dependence on contact lenses and glasses. You may find less expensive providers for laser vision correction, however, we offer:
- Care from highly experienced eye surgeons.
- An unsurpassed commitment to patient care.
Does insurance pay for laser vision correction?
Most insurance companies do not cover the costs of laser vision correction. The procedure is considered elective and not necessary. Check with your insurance carrier about your coverage. You can also contact our Laser Vision Correction Center Coordinator for guidance.
Do LASIK or PRK procedures hurt?
There is very little discomfort with LASIK. You get anesthetic eye drops before surgery. This lets you be awake and alert during the procedure.
Most patients say they don’t feel any pain during their procedure. Afterward, patients only feel mild scratchiness. Most patients do not need a common pain reliever after surgery.
After PRK, mild discomfort and a scratchy feeling last for one to two days.
Are there age limits?
At Lahey, we do not perform refractive surgery on anyone younger than 18 years old. This ensures vision changes that take place in childhood and adolescence are complete.
There is no upper limit on age for laser vision correction. If the eye is healthy, people in their 60s and 70s can be good candidates for surgery.
Is laser vision correction safe?
The excimer laser is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in:
- LASIK to correct astigmatism and near sightedness.
- PRK to correct farsightedness.
Like any surgery, laser vision correction carries risks. However, complications are uncommon. Be sure to talk to your surgeon about the risks of surgery.
What are the drawbacks of traveling for LASIK?
You should decide which surgeon you feel most comfortable with when having LASIK.
Some patients choose to travel for LASIK. The expertise of surgeons performing LASIK in other cities or countries may or may not be better than surgeons close to home.
Here are some points to consider when deciding to travel for LASIK:
- LASIK is safe, but there are risks with any surgery.
- If you develop a complication after your return home, it may be difficult to get the appropriate treatment.
- You may need multiple visits with your surgeon if an uncommon but serious complication occurs.
- Accessing follow-up care if you flew across the country or outside the U.S. can be difficult.
Without expert follow-up care by your surgeon, you risk a poor result.
