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Am I a good candidate for refractive surgery? |
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A good candidate is at least 18 years old, in good health, and has good eye health with no diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. Refractive Surgery can treat varying degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. A consultation with Brown Laser Eye Care will confirm if you are a good candidate and the results you can expect given your current prescription. |
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What kind of results can I expect? |
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Many patients with mild to moderate prescriptions achieve 20/20 vision or near 20/20 vision, reducing the dependence on contacts or glasses for driving, sports, etc. Over 95% of patients will achieve 20/40 (driving vision) or better vision. |
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Will my vision be corrected forever? |
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The first patient ever treated with laser vision correction achieved 20/20 vision and is still 20/20 today.
Since laser vision correction was first practiced in 1987, there is no way to tell beyond 13 years of study, but to date, laser vision is a permanent solution for appropriate candidates. |
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Is it covered by insurance or flexible benefits programs? |
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Most insurance companies do not cover Refractive Surgery, but we encourage you to check with your provider. Flexible benefit programs often allow for refractive surgery. Depending on your filing status, refractive surgery can be tax deductible. |
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Will the procedure hurt? |
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The actual procedure is painless, except for an occasional pressure sensation. You may feel discomfort and irritation in your eyes post procedure.
Irritation usually only lasts for a few hours, but dryness might occur for several days to several weeks. |
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Are there any risks? |
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There is a less than 1% chance that there will be a vision-reducing
complication during Refractive Surgery. |
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What happens on the day of surgery? |
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Closer to your surgery time you will be brought in to the laser suite and placed in a reclining chair. You will be dressed with a hat and booties. Your eyelids will be cleansed with a betadine solution. There are no shots or needles involved in these procedures. At the time of treatment, you will be centered underneath the laser and given instructions as to where to look and what to do during the procedure. The actual treatment time is very brief and lasts only about five minutes per eye. Our staff will do all that is possible to make your surgery experience a pleasant one. Post-operatively, a plastic shiled will be placed over the surgery eye(s) to protect them during your initial recovery. We will ask you to keep both eyes closed for the rest of the day. You may open your eyes slightly to eat and use the restroom. The best remedy for a speedy recovery is to get as much rest as possible. |
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What is LASIK? |
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Laser in-situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, has become one of the most popular surgical methods for patients to improve their vision. For some patients, improvement of the vision is seen shortly after the procedure.
For patients who are nearsighted, the cornea is reshaped so that it less steep. The reshaping reduces the power of the eye and thus reduces your nearsighted prescription. For patients who are farsighted, the cornea is reshaped so that it is steeper. The reshaping increases the power of the eye and also reduces your farsighted prescription. Astigmatism describes the shape of the eye. If you have astigmatism, your eye is shaped more like a football instead of a baseball. The Allegretto Laser is approved to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
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Im interested in LASIK surgery, what should I do? |
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First, you need to know if you are a candidate for LASIK. You are welcome to call Alan W. Brown Surgical Eye Care to schedule a complimentary screening at our office. You should also discuss refractive surgery with your optometrist at your next eye exam. They know your eyes well and they will be able to answer many of your questions regarding LASIK surgery. Your eye doctor will recommend that you visit our office for a complimentary screening to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK surgery. We recommend that you be out of your soft contact lenses for 4-7 days before the screening, however, it is not a requirement for preliminary testing.
At your complimentary screening, preliminary testing is completed to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK or another refractive surgery procedure. We will discuss your vision, expectations, and help you formulate a surgical plan. If you are a candidate and are ready to proceed, you schedule a comprehensive eye examination and your LASIK surgery date.
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What do I do before my LASIK surgery? |
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Complete preoperative directions are discussed and provided to you when you schedule your surgery. A few items to keep in mind are discussed below. Stop wearing your soft-contact lenses a week prior to the surgery. You are prescribed an antibiotic drop to use four times a day four days prior to the surgery. Depending on your preoperative testing results, you may be prescribed other eye medications to start prior to surgery. On the day of surgery, no make-up, perfume, cologne we like you just the way you are! Dress warm as the surgical suite may feel cooler as it is maintained for the optimum temperature and humidity for LASIK. Only bring what you need on the day of surgery as you may be in different rooms for testing. Have a responsible driver with you as you will be unable to drive after LASIK surgery. You will be at the office for approximately 1½ hours on the day of surgery as many of the tests are repeated on the day of surgery. |
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What do I do after my LASIK surgery? |
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After surgery, it is best to go home and rest. We recommend a nice four-hour nap as your eyes may be irritated and watery after the surgery. You will sleep in goggles for a few nights and you must avoid rubbing your eyes. You will be seen the next morning at our office to ensure you are healing appropriately. Most patients notice a significant improvement in vision at day one and return to work within a few days after surgery. You will use prescription drops for two weeks after surgery and you should not swim for two weeks. You will notice small fluctuations in your vision during the first week and the vision will stabilize over the next 1-3 months. |
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Why choose Alan W. Brown Surgical Eye Care for your surgery? |
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- - - - - ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY - - - - -
Dr. Brown is committed to providing you with the best technology. The Allegretto Wave is the fastest laser system in the United States today, using Perfect-Pulse Technology to safely and accurately control every single laser pulse from start to finish. The Allegretto Laser represents a new generation of refractive technology that patients can rely on to improve vision night and day. Every procedure is tailored to the patients corneal curvature and refraction with the intention to preserve the natural aspheric cornea shape and to maintain or improve quality of vision and visual acuity.
Dr. Brown is also approved to implant the latest in presbyopic intraocular lenses (IOL) technology. These advanced implants require additional training and certification. Dr. Brown is delighted to offer this technology for their patients who have cataract or refractive lens exchange surgery.
- - - - - EXPERIENCE - - - - -
Dr. Brown has been practicing over a decade in the New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick County area. He has invented many instruments that have been patented to help surgeons perform surgeries safer and more efficiently.
Dr. Brown is board-certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and both are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. They have taught courses to other doctors at major national and international meetings of ophthalmologists.
- - - - - DEDICATED SURGERY CENTER - - - - -
Alan W. Brown Surgical Eye Care, a division of Surgical Eye Care, is a surgical specialty practice only. Our mission is to offer you the highest level of surgical expertise so you can reach your vision goals. Dr. Brown focus on eye surgery so they can provide you with the latest technology and peace of mind before, during, and after your surgery. We do not have an optical dispensary and we highly recommend yearly eye examinations by one of our area doctors. Click our Affiliate Physicians link to see a list of the area doctors who trust our office with their patients surgical needs.
- - - - - OUR MISSION - - - - -
We treat you like family. During your time with us, we will answer your questions and educate you on the best procedure for your visual goals. We will work hard to make you feel like you are our priority throughout every step of your care with us.
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Who are not candidates for LASIK? |
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Why You May Not Be Eligible for LASIK
You Have Unstable Vision
While your ophthalmologist would need to consider the root of your fluctuating vision to make a final determination about your eligibility, most surgeons believe that vision should be relatively stable for at least one year for LASIK to be indicated. Trying to operate on eyes with unstable vision is like trying to hit a moving target. Most doctors would consider a change of one diopter (1D) or more in 12 months significant.
You Are Pregnant or Nursing
Most doctors will not perform surgery on a woman while she is pregnant or nursing because the hormones produced during those time periods could cause temporary instability of the eye's refraction.
You Have Unstable or Uncontrolled Diabetes
LASIK is not recommended for those whose blood sugar levels are still fluctuating, as the fluctuation will affect the cornea's refraction. This makes achieving an accurate correction difficult. In addition, diabetics generally have a slower wound healing response than most patients do which condition could adversely affect healing post-operatively. Also, if there are any retinal tears or lesions resulting from diabetes, LASIK may not be indicated.
You Have an Autoimmune Disease, Collagen-Vascular Disease, or Take Drugs that Suppress the Immune System
Doctors debate the efficacy of performing LASIK on patients whose autoimmune system is compromised, either by a disease or by medications. Generally speaking, most surgeons are extremely cautious about performing refractive surgical procedures on those with such a history since it could affect the corneal healing process.
Your Eyes Are Amblyopic
Some doctors consider even mild cases of amblyopia, exotropia or strabismus in either eye a contra-indication to LASIK. Others will carefully evaluate the particular situation and patient's needs prior to scheduling surgery. Patients with amblyopia need to understand that since LASIK is a surgical procedure, there is a risk of losing vision. If you suffer from amblyopia, were a complication to occur in either eye, you could be without use of both. You should also be aware that LASIK could not correct you to better than your vision as it is correctable with lenses.
You Have Keratoconus
Patients who suffer from keratoconus have thinner corneas than normal. For these patients, removing corneal tissue has the potential to produce unpredictable results and post-surgical irregular astigmatism.
You Have Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a complicating factor that doctors must evaluate on a case-by-case basis. Some refractive surgeons will perform LASIK on patients whose condition is well controlled by medications. Others deem a history of glaucoma a contraindication to surgery. Glaucoma patients considering LASIK should be sure to speak with the doctor who is treating their condition prior to making any decision about the procedure.
You Are Under 18 Years of Age
Children's eyes are constantly changing, and the vast majority of surgeons believe that vision should be relatively stable for at least one year for LASIK. Most doctors would consider a change of one diopter (1D) or more in 12 months significant. Sometimes, even when a person turns 18, the major changes to the eyes have not finished taking place. Such people may not be deemed eligible for LASIK until their refraction has stabilized.
Cause for Pause
While none of the conditions below absolutely contraindicate surgery, your doctor will need to carefully evaluate your case prior to making a decision about surgery. If you have any of the below, you may wish to discuss this with your doctor in detail.
You Are Nursing or Expecting to Become Pregnant within Six Months after Having Had LASIK
Doctors debate how the hormonal changes caused by nursing affect the eye's refraction. Consequently, doctors take very different approaches to operating on women who are still lactating, and consensus has not been achieved regarding this issue. Essentially, ophthalmologists do not want to operate on eyes with an unstable refraction, as doing so makes performing an accurate correction difficult. Some ophthalmologists, therefore, take a conservative approach and consider nursing a contraindication to LASIK. Many will require that patients have several eye exams after patients have stopped nursing to indicate stable refraction. Only then will they recommend LASIK. Others maintain that, as long as refraction was stable during pregnancy and remains stable postpartum, stable refraction has been achieved. Therefore, LASIK is indicated.
It is generally not recommended that a woman become pregnant immediately after LASIK. It can take final vision several months to settle in post-operatively, and as a result, it can be difficult for your doctor to determine where your final refraction truly settled, were you to be pregnant in the first few months post-operatively. Moreover, it would be impossible to perform an enhancement procedure, should one be necessary.
You Have a History of Excessive Scarring with Injuries or Other Surgeries
Excessive scarring, even ocular scarring, in and of itself is not a contraindication to LASIK. It is not the scarring, but the origin of the scarring is what concerns ophthalmologists. This is because some types of severe scarring are associated with medical conditions that cause ocular surfaces to be highly unstable. There is an increased incidence of regression (vision returning to pre-operative levels) or over correction associated with unstable ocular surfaces in general. Other risks may be higher as well, depending upon the specific medical condition that causes the scarring.
The best way to determine if these conditions characterize your eyes is to undergo a full ocular examination by an ophthalmologist. Be sure to discuss your history of scarring after other surgeries with your doctor and to ask how this history could affect outcomes.
You Have Chronic Ocular Herpes Infections or Connective Tissue Disorders
The concern about herpes relates to a history of herpes keratitis in the eye. Several studies demonstrate that stresses including surgery, topical steroid medication, and exposure to ultraviolet light can reactivate the herpes simplex virus in the eye, thereby threatening vision. However, a number of cases have been documented in which patients with a history of herpes keratitis in the eye suffered no complications.
Some connective tissue disorders are associated with unpredictable or poor healing responses. Therefore, patients with such conditions need to tell their ophthalmologist of their medical history so that a full evaluation can be completed and discussed.
You Are Taking Medications Regularly
Certain medications can possibly affect the outcome of the surgery. Examples include Accutane, Amiodarone, Imitrex and tricyclic medications. Therefore it is important that patients provide Alan W. Brown Surgical Eye Care with an accurate listing of all medications they are taking regularly during their consultation.
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