LASIK FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
– PRIOR TO LASIK –
1. WHAT IS LASIK VISION CORRECTION?
2. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR LASIK?
Most individuals who wear glasses or contacts are candidates. Patients must be 18 years or older, have a stable prescription, and cannot be pregnant or nursing. There are certain diseases of the eye that can make you a poor candidate. Give us a call for more details.
3. WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?
Call Davis Vision at 801-590-0864. Set up a FREE screening. This appointment is to determine the right procedure based on your prescription and take some preliminary photos to map the surface of your eyes. We will discuss whether or not you are a good candidate.
4. WHAT IS THE SECOND STEP?
5. HOW LONG DOES THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE TAKE?
6. WILL I BE IN PAIN?
7. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO NOT WEAR CONTACT LENSES BEFORE LASIK?
8. IF I HAD A PREVIOUS EYE INJURY CAN I STILL HAVE LASIK?
9. CAN I AFFORD TO HAVE LASIK?
10. WHAT IF I LIVE OUT-SIDE THE SALT LAKE VALLEY?
Dr Davis has a numerous patients who come from all over the state and the World. Call our office and arrange a consultation. In most cases your family eye doctor is able to co-manage with Dr. Davis and perform all pre-operative as well as post-operative visits. You should plan on being seen at Davis Vision Center the day following your procedure. We do have a great relationship with local hotels that give our LASIK patients a fantastic overnight rate. Often a shuttle is available to and from our center on surgery day.
11. HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED TO TAKE OFF WORK?
Most patients see well enough to drive after their appointment on the day following the procedure! We generally perform the procedure on Thursday or Friday and recommend you not return to work until the following Monday.
12. HOW ARE LASIK AND PRK PERFORMED?
13. ARE THESE PROCEDURES FDA APPROVED?
14. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BECOME BLIND WITH THE SURGERY?
15. HOW LONG WILL THE EFFECTS OF THE SURGERY LAST?
16. WHY DAVIS VISION?
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Davis was one of the first surgeons in Utah to perform LASIK and has preformed over 26,000 LASIK/PRK procedures. Dr. Davis also is an electrical engineer and has been involved in the research and development of lasers for eye surgery beginning in 1985. He continues to be involved in research studies and is held in high regard by fellow medical professionals.
NEWEST TECHNOLOGY: We at DAVIS VISION CENTER have the latest technology including the newest FDA approved excimer laser, the latest version of the INTRALASE laser flap creation machine, as well as the Bausch and Lomb Zioptix Custom/Wavefront excimer laser.
COST: We make LASIK affordable. Even with all our experience and technology, we think you’ll find that we have excellent prices. We also have 0% financing available.
17. I CAN’T WAIT! HOW DO I PROCEED?
– POST LASIK –
1. AFTER MY PROCEDURE WHAT EYE DROPS DO I TAKE?
During your LASIK procedure you will receive an anesthetic drop, an antibiotic drop, and an anti-inflammatory steroid drop. You will continue the antibiotic and the anti-inflammatory drops four times daily generally for the first week only. If you have the IntraLase laser flap creation, you may be taking the anti-inflammatory steroid drop every hour the first day while awake. You will also apply a preservative-free artificial tear drop every half hour while awake the day and evening of the procedure. Dr. Davis will advise you how often and how long to continue your drops during your follow-up visits. Generally you will be taking the artificial tears at least four times a day for the first three months following your procedure. If PRK is performed your drops will be similar to patients who have LASIK but you will be taking the anti-inflammatory steroid drop, such as Prednisolone Acetate typically four times a day for three months following your PRK procedure. You will also be taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drop typically four times a day for one week. You should wear UV-protecting sunglasses for at least the first year following your PRK procedure.
2. WILL I NEED READING GLASSES AFTER LASIK?
3. HOW MANY TIMES WILL I NEED TO BE SEEN AFTER LASIK?
4. WHEN CAN I BATHE OR SHOWER?
5. WHAT RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIVITIES ARE THERE FOLLOWING MY PROCEDURE?
6. WHEN CAN I WEAR EYE MAKEUP AFTER LASIK?
7. WHEN CAN I DRIVE AFTER LASIK?
8. HOW FAST WILL MY VISION IMPROVE?
9. WHEN CAN I BEGIN TO EXERCISE?
10. IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE PAIN AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
It is not common to have a lot of pain after your LASIK procedure. Some people describe the irritation as similar to having hair or grain of sand in the eye. If you are having more pain than this and particularly if your vision is quite blurry then you should call DAVIS VISION CENTER.
11. WHAT IS THE OPTIMUM ACTIVITY FOR ME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MY PROCEDURE?
12. WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM AFTER MY PROCEDURE?
13. WHAT IS 20/20 VISION?
By looking at lots of people, eye doctors have decided what a “normal” human should be able to see when standing 20 feet from an eye chart. 20/20 vision is considered “normal” vision.
If you have 20/40 vision, then when you stand 20 ft from the chart you can only see what a “normal” human (someone with 20/20 vision) can see when standing 40 feet from the chart. If you have 20/100 vision then when you stand 20 feet from the chart you can only see what a “normal” person standing 100 feet away can see. 20/200 is the cutoff for legal blindness in the United States.
You can also have vision that is better than the normal. A person with 20/10 vision can see at 20 feet what a normal person can see when standing 10 feet from the chart.