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Will I lose my sight?
In fact, no patients in any FDA test nor any of our own patients have ever had a significant
decrease in vision resulting from excimer laser treatment. If it were to occur, the vision
can be restored by a repeat laser procedure or an additional surgery. It is important to
know that your surgeon truly believes in the LASIK procedure you want. You should know that
Dr. Robbins has had LASIK.
Can I really eliminate my glasses completely?
The answer is YES and NO. Greater than 99% of our patients do not need glasses to pass a
drivers license test; however, sometime after the age of forty all of us will need glasses
to read. In some cases Dr. Robbins corrects one eye to read more clearly than the other eye
does and thereby totally eliminate the need for glasses.
Will I have to be without my contact lenses prior to the surgery?
Depending upon the type of soft contact lens that you wear, this may be as short as one
or two weeks. Rigid gas permeable contacts lens wearers need to stop wearing them for a
minimum of six weeks. In all cases, Dr. Robbins will not proceed until she is sure that
your corneal and visual measurements are stable. The information that is put into the laser
computer is dependent on the absolute accuracy of these readings.
What are the long-term results of laser vision correction?
Excimer laser surgery has been performed since the 1980s. Long-term results show that
this surgery is stable and that the health of the eye is not jeopardized. LASIK really lasts!
Will it hurt?
LASIK is virtually painless. During the procedure Dr. Robbins administers topical anesthetic
eye drops to numb your eye. After the procedure is completed and when the effect of the drops
wears off, you are left with a slight dry feeling. You are given a pair of dark goggles to
wear and we recommend that you relax and keep your eyes closed for four hours after
the procedure. This minimizes any further discomfort.
What if I blink or move during the procedure?
Your eye is kept open by an eyelid retractor. Should you accidentally move Dr. Robbins
discontinues the laser treatment until she feels it is safe to finish. Dr. Robbins is
holding your head and talking to you, so you can be confident that she is in total control
of the beams' application.
What will I experience during the actual procedure?
The laser beam is an invisible ultraviolet light that is applied to your eye from anywhere
between five seconds to sixty seconds, depending on your prescription. All you are required
to do is to look at a flashing light.
What are my responsibilities after the surgery?
Immediately following the procedure, you should keep your eyes closed (take a nap)
for four hours. Use medicated eye drops as prescribed. You should protect your eyes from
rubbing, poking and scratching by wearing the goggles. The goggles also provide a
moisture chamber for your eyes. You should avoid contact sports and swimming for four
weeks. Post-operative visits are scheduled within the first 24 hours and again on
day four or six.
Are there any common problems that are encountered after the procedure?
Some patients report some minor fluctuations in their vision usually associated with mild
dryness. We have all our patients use lubricating eye drops for 3 or 4 weeks. Some
patients experience minor halos or "star bursting" at night but these usually
disappear within the first few months.
Will my eyes look different?
Your eyes will look exactly the same. With LASIK there are extremely faint scars
on the cornea that can only be seen with magnification.
Will I need a "touch up"/enhancement?
Approximately 4% of our patients will return for a touch up. Dr. Robbins does this
when she believes that an enhancement can safely and substantially improve the final
visual result. This is performed at no charge during the first year. The national average
for "touch ups" is approximately 15-20%.
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