LASIK

What Happens During The LASIK Procedure? Step-by-Step

LASIK surgery can change the way that you see the world around you. With its typically quick recovery and mostly painless procedure, it’s easy to see why LASIK is one of the most popular eye surgeries in the US. If you’re considering it, too, it’s important to know what exactly to expect if you undergo the surgery.

We’ll discuss pre-procedure preparation, what will happen during the surgery, and what you can expect after in terms of recovery.

How To Prepare For LASIK Surgery

What To Expect

The first step on your journey to LASIK is to set up a consultation. At this point, your doctor will walk you through the process, explain the benefits, and warn you about the risks.

The benefits of LASIK include:

LASIK can give you improved vision that reduces your reliance on glasses or contacts
About 99% of people have vision of 20/40 or better after the procedure without glasses
More than 90% end up with 20/20 vision

There are some risks, though, including:

Issues with your cornea that require further treatment or surgery
Corneal ectasia, which is the weakening of your cornea
Inflammation or infection that will need to be treated with medication
Vision that’s worse than before you had LASIK, which will require treatment

Some side effects that you may experience are:

Glare around lights
Reduced night vision
Blurred vision
Tiny red or pink spots on the white of your eye
Sensitivity to light
Dry Eyes

Comprehensive Eye Exam

After your consultation, they will perform a comprehensive eye exam to determine your eligibility for the surgery. During your comprehensive eye surgery, they will look at:

Your general medical history
Any medications you’re currently taking
The shape and thickness of your cornea
Your pupil size
Your refractive errors
Any pre-existing ocular conditions

Once you’re approved, you can get your surgery scheduled.

Pre-Procedure Instructions

Your preparation for your LASIK surgery will need to start a couple of weeks beforehand.

Be Informed

Make sure that you’ve read any information that’s been given to you about the surgery, and ask any questions that you have. It’s better to go prepared with knowledge of what’s going to happen than to be surprised during the procedure.

Avoid Contacts

If you’re wearing soft contact lenses, most surgeons will ask that you stop using them about two weeks before your surgery.

If you’re wearing rigid contact lenses, then it may be asked that you stop using them about four weeks before your surgery.

Stop Using Make-Up and Lotions

On the day of your procedure, or even a couple of days before, make sure that you are not wearing make-up, perfumes, or facial moisturizers. These products can get into your eyes and increase your risk of infection.

Arrange For Someone To Drive You

After your surgery, you should not drive until your doctor has given you permission to. You will need to ask someone to drive you home after the procedure, as well as for your check-up the next day.

The LASIK Procedure: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Arrival and Pre-Procedure Prep

You are asked to arrive promptly at the appointment time for your procedure, especially if there is paperwork that needs to be filled out.

Anesthetic Eye Drops and Lid Speculum

Before the procedure begins, numbing eye drops will be administered to ensure that the surgery is as pain-free as possible.

Next, a small, metal instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open and in place for the surgery.

Creating The Corneal Flap

Once the lid speculum is in place, a precision flap-making instrument will be meticulously put into position. You’ll be asked to focus on a special fixation light and the surgeon will activate the precision instrument electronically. This will fold away a corneal flap, making the middle layer of the cornea accessible.

Reshaping the Cornea

After, the cornea is reshaped by an excimer laser. This is done differently depending on which ocular condition you are trying to treat.

Myopia

The cornea is flattened to reduce the converging power of the eye. This is done by removing more tissue from the center of the cornea than around.

Hyperopia

The central cornea is steepened to enhance the converging power of the eye. This is done by removing more tissue from the periphery than the center.

Astigmatism

The cornea will be made more spherical by changing the pattern of the beam, which can remove tissue in one direction more than the other.

Repositioning The Corneal Flap

Once the reshaping is finished, the flap will be put back in place and will naturally be held there by the moisture in your eye for fast healing.

Immediate Post-Procedure Steps

Once the surgery is completed, you will be prescribed eye drops to help reduce inflammation and avoid infection while your eyes heal. It may cause slight stinging when you start using them, but this is normal and they should continue to be administered as directed by your doctor.

You may also be prescribed artificial tears to avoid dry eyes after surgery. The artificial tears should keep your eyes full of moisture and comfortable. They may also provide you with a shield to protect your eyes and stop you from touching them.

What to Expect After The LASIK Procedure

LASIK Recovery

In most cases, recovery from LASIK surgery is extremely fast.

Many can return to work within a few days and, with caution, can start driving again. A side effect of LASIK surgery is blurred vision, so be aware of the state of your vision before you get behind the wheel.

Some activities should be limited while your eyes heal. It is situational, but the general guidelines are:

Wait three days before exercising
Wait two weeks to use make-up or lotion near your eyes
Wait at least one month to play contact sports
Wait one to two months to swim or use hot tubs

Healing Timeline

Most people have 90% of their best vision possible after the procedure. Within a couple of days, you will notice an improvement. But it will take three to six months for your eyes to fully recover and heal.

For the first week after your surgery, you may experience:

Dry eyes
Watery eyes
Sensitivity to light
Discomfort or mild pain in your eyes
Puffy eyelids

It’s vital that you do not touch your eyes during this week so that they can heal.

Long-Term Care

For long-term recovery, you will need to attend check-ups with your doctor to monitor your progress. After your post-op check-in, you should be checking in with your doctor about once every one or two years, unless they recommend more frequent visits.

The LASIK Procedure With Specialty Eye Institute

LASIK surgery is a life-changing procedure with the ability to vastly improve your vision and reduce your reliance on glasses or contacts. It’s a huge decision that can cause monumental change, and you should only let the most experienced, skilled doctors help you make it.

The trusted team at Specialty Eye Institute is here to help you every step of the way, from deciding to undergo LASIK surgery, to efficiently and safely performing the procedure, to ensuring that your recovery goes smoothly.

If you’re interested in discussing LASIK surgery with us, call us at 866-435-8935 or request an appointment on our website. You can also take our LASIK self-test online for free.

See our list of FAQs about LASIK surgery for more information.

LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery: What To Expect, Timeline, & Results

The LASIK Recovery Process

Laser eye surgery is a great option for people who want a lasting, cost-effective vision solution that gives them the freedom to do what they love free of glasses or contacts. However, enjoying these benefits may not be as simple as going in for a LASIK procedure and then going right back to your day-to-day routine for everyone. Here are a few things you should know about your LASIK recovery time and what can affect your LASIK eye surgery recovery.

How Long is the LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery Timeline?

There are various stages of the LASIK surgery recovery timeline. A lot of people notice significantly enhanced vision immediately following their LASIK eye surgery. Most patients can return to their normal routine in just a few days.

After laser eye surgery, it will be important to use the eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor. This will maximize the healing process and prevent any infection. For each stage in the LASIK recovery timeline, keep in mind that there are different expectations in terms of visual results, steps in your aftercare, and tips to speed up the healing process.

The First Day After LASIK Surgery

To ensure a smooth recovery at the conclusion of LASIK eye surgery, it’s important to wear a protective eye covering on the first day after the procedure. In addition, you will need to be driven home by a friend or family member. Wear this covering until the next morning and swap it with any protective sunglasses you received from your doctor. You can shower after the first day, but avoid irritating your eyes with water or soap.

You may experience some eye discomfort on the first day of the LASIK surgery recovery. Usually, this means dryness, blurriness, itchiness, and light sensitivity. However, these symptoms should be alleviated with lubricating eye drops prescribed by your doctor and over-the-counter pain relief medication. If you experience worsening pain, contact your physician.

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The First Week After LASIK

Your physician will want to see you at least a couple of days following your eye procedure to ensure you are navigating the LASIK eye surgery recovery timeline correctly. During the first week and onward of your healing process, you should be using the eye drops and pain medication as often as prescribed.

You will need to avoid touching your eyes, using eye makeup (and remover) and creams, doing yard work, night driving, and exercising. Avoid coming into contact with general eye irritants (e.g. dust, smoke). This will prevent infection and allow the incision to heal.

To maintain the safety of your eyes throughout the healing process, wear UV-protective eyewear or protective goggles outside and during physical activity or home improvement tasks.

After the First Week

The eye discomfort and light issues you may have initially experienced should be gone or at least substantially better. You will be visiting your eye doctor periodically over the next year so they can check on the progress of your LASIK eye surgery recovery and vision improvements.

Although uncommon—if you’re experiencing vision issues after your procedure, your doctor may recommend getting a LASIK enhancement surgery to improve your eyesight further.

Factors That Affect LASIK Recovery Time

There are a few factors that can affect your LASIK eye surgery recovery timeline outside of just following your laser eye surgeon’s guidelines. Not using your eye drops as directed, dry eyes, and other vision issues can extend your recovery time after LASIK. Individuals with a more extreme eye prescription may also expect a longer recovery time.

FAQ: Laser Eye Surgery Recovery

Will I Have 20/20 Vision After LASIK?

There’s no guarantee that LASIK surgery will give you perfect vision, but it is highly successful. Most patients can expect quick, notable results after LASIK eye surgery so close to 20/20 vision that they may no longer depend on corrective lenses.

How Long Do the Effects of Laser Eye Surgery Last?

While your vision will continue to change as part of the aging process, LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea. Most patients enjoy their new vision for years to come.

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Will My Activities Be Restricted During LASIK Recovery?

Depending on how quickly you tend to heal, you can typically return to most normal activities in a few days. Your surgeon will go over any restrictions at the time of surgery and following your 1-day post-operative appointment. Some temporary restrictions immediately following surgery may include driving, showering, rubbing your eyes, reading, swimming, exercising, and sports. It is also recommended that you stay away from dirty and dusty environments. These restrictions are only temporary and your doctor will instruct you on when you can resume these activities.

What Are the Most Common LASIK Recovery Complications?

Some common LASIK recovery complications include irritation, discomfort, and night glares. To minimize any recovery complications, visit your eye doctor for several follow-up visits within the first year of your procedure. These follow-up visits allow your eye doctor to follow your healing timeline. If you experience any vision issues following your LASIK procedure, we advise you to contact your eye doctor immediately.

Picking an experienced surgeon is important when considering laser eye surgery. The staff of ophthalmologists at Specialty Eye Institute offers various types of eye care solutions such as LASIK eye surgery, dry eye treatments, cataract surgery, keratoconus treatments, and glaucoma options. Schedule your LASIK consultation to learn more! Give our staff of ophthalmologists and optometrists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to talk about the benefits and recovery timeline of a LASIK procedure.

Tips & Insights: What Is An Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Eye Surgery?

How Much Does LASIK Eye Surgery Cost?

The cost of LASIK eye surgery can be a concern for many individuals, even though it is an extremely common procedure and millions of people have had this surgery to correct their vision. These surgeries have a success rate of over 90% and are generally considered safe, quick, and incredibly successful.

LASIK eye surgery is a procedure in which the shape of your cornea, the clear covering in front of your eye, is permanently changed to improve your vision and reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses. You can have this procedure done within 30 minutes and can walk out of the surgical center the same day. The recovery time is very quick, and the risk of complications is not high.

It is genuinely a life-changing procedure that is an excellent choice for most people who want to drastically improve their vision. However, the cost of LASIK eye surgery can be a concern for many.

Let’s discuss how much LASIK costs, the factors that can affect those costs, and the different options you have for paying for the procedure.

What Factors Influence the Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery?

There are a couple of factors that can cause the price of LASIK eye surgery to fluctuate. Typically, they are out of your control and will entirely depend on the state of your vision, which technology your surgeon believes is best for your surgery, and the level of experience that your surgeon has.

Required Vision Correction

Depending on the state of your vision, your LASIK eye surgery cost could be less or more than the average. If your vision is in a poorer condition, then the cost of your surgery will most likely be raised.

Laser Technology

The cost of the surgery also depends on the type of technology that’s being used. Newer technology, like custom LASIK, often costs more than older technology that can be used. Additional charges that are placed on surgeons by manufacturers of laser devices may get passed on to the patient.

Surgeon Skill

Your LASIK surgery price can also vary based on your eye surgeon’s level of expertise. The more experienced they are, the higher they will charge.

Does Insurance Cover LASIK?

Because LASIK is an elective surgery, insurance typically doesn’t cover the full cost of it. However, many providers will offer discounts for the surgery, and there are financing options available to help pay for it.

Financing Options for LASIK

Payment Plans

There are a lot of providers that offer payment plans to ease the upfront cost of your LASIK eye surgery. They will usually put you on a finance plan that spreads out the upfront cost into lower payments over a certain period of time. Be sure to pay attention to any interest rates to ensure they’re not too high and be informed of the exact amount you will be paying.

Credit Card Payments

Putting the surgery on your credit card is also a viable option for payment that allows you to spread out the initial cost of your surgery. Your credit card may offer points or benefits for spending so much on it, and you can make monthly payments to chip away at the cost over time. It’s important to take note of the APR when doing this, so you don’t end up paying more than you should due to high interest.

FSA or HSA

Using the money saved in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Saving Account (HSA) is an excellent way to pay for your LASIK eye surgery, particularly because you save money through pre-tax dollars. Many are able to pay for the majority or full amount of their procedure this way.

Why Choose Specialty Eye Institute for Your LASIK Procedure?

Getting LASIK eye surgery is a big decision to make and having the right support is vital. At Specialty Eye Institute, we will be there for you every step of the way, from your first appointment to discuss your options, to your post-operation care.

Specialty Eye Institute uses the most cutting-edge IntraLase Method for our LASIK surgery, ensuring that you are receiving industry-leading treatment. We have a commitment to providing the very best care, and we are able to do that by following our four core values:

Excellence
Patient-Centered Advocate
Compassion
Integrity

If you’re considering LASIK eye surgery, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable staff. We’re also happy to provide our other services, like comprehensive eye care, corneal transplants, cataract surgery, and much more.

Call today or Schedule an Appointment!

Teacher Appreciation Discount $500 Off LASIK

This year more than ever, a teacher's job can be difficult, especially when glasses or contacts get in the way. That’s why we would like to show our support for our local teachers and make their jobs and lives a little bit easier.

Teachers can take advantage of $500* OFF LASIK! Schedule your FREE LASIK Consultation by filling out the form below.

*$500 off discount ($250 off per eye) is applicable towards bilateral LASIK or PRK. Cannot be combined with other offers or insurance.