Frequently Asked Questions about lasik eye surgery in Fort Erie Ontario

Can refractive surgery really make me see without glasses?

Over 90% of people who undergo State-of-the-Art refractive surgery such as LASIK are able to function most or all of the time without glasses, for their distance vision.

People over 40 years of age may need glasses for near (reading) vision. For specific activities, such as night driving, many people need glasses for optimal focus. The results for an individual person depend on the health of the eye and the amount of correction needed.

I have to change my glasses almost every year. Will I need to have refractive surgery every year to keep my vision clear?

No, the vast majority of people can be corrected once and enjoy good vision for the rest of their life.

Fitting someone with glasses is a different process than measuring someone for refractive surgery. With glasses, the prescription is not always matched to the full correction of the vision, for a variety of reasons.

While this serves certain purposes, and may work with glasses, it results in the need for periodic adjustments. With refractive surgery, the full correction is given, and future changes in the eye are often anticipated, so the vision stays clear.

The minority (perhaps 5%) of patients with progressive elongation of the eye - called pathologic myopia - may require repeated surgery. The best procedure for these patients is LASIK, since LASIK allows for future corrections to be performed with relative ease.

Can refractive procedures get rid of reading glasses?

Yes and no. The need for reading glasses usually begins at age 40 to 45, and is caused by a hardening of the natural lens of the eye. This hardening process results in an inability to focus at near, and reading glasses or bifocals become necessary. This condition is called presbyopia, or "old vision".

Refractive surgery cannot, as of yet, restore youthful softness to the natural lens of the eye. However, just as many people do with contact lenses, refractive surgery can set the focus of one eye permanently for near vision, so it can read.

This is called monovision, because the individual then reads with one eye, and sees at distance with the other. With monovision, the non-dominant eye is usually set for near vision, and the dominant eye (usually the right eye) is set for distance.

Monovision works very well in most individuals, but it is not for everyone. Monovision patients often need glasses for driving at night. Middle-distance activities like looking at a computer screen, or a music stand, may also require glasses. It is best to try monovision with a contact lens, as part of the pre-operative examination, before you decide to have a monovision surgical procedure.

Are refractive procedures safe? What are the risks?

In general, serious complications with refractive surgery are very rare, occurring in less than one in one thousand eyes. By contrast, over 10% of contact lens wearers experience sight threatening infections at some point.

The worst complications of refractive surgery are infection, and injury to the eye just after surgery. These are both very uncommon events, and usually can be treated without permanent damage. Long term, sight-threatening complications from accepted forms of refractive surgery (such as LASIK, PRK, and radial keratotomy) are very uncommon, occurring in perhaps less than 1 in 1000 cases.

Are refractive procedures done with a laser?

There two major types of lasers used in refractive surgery. Both types are in use at The Fort Erie Laser Eye Institute. In fact, we have three lasers - two excimers and one Holmium - permitting us to offer the very best technology available.

The excimer laser is a very precise instrument that allows the surgeon to reshape the cornea to improve the eye’s focus. It removes tissue in ¼ micron increments, which is amazing when you consider that a single ply of tissue is about 75 microns thick. The excimer laser is used in the LASIK and PRK procedures, which are described elsewhere in this Web Page.

The second major laser in refractive surgery is the Holmium laser, which is used in the treatment of farsightedness. This laser changes the shape of the eye by heating the edges of the cornea and causing it to shrink. Multiple controlled applications around the circumference of the cornea act like a tightening belt, and steepen the center of the cornea, indirectly.

Is this a good time to have a refractive procedure? Will something better come along in the near future?

The decision of when to have a refractive procedure is highly personal.

Some of the considerations depend on the individual, such as age (you should be an adult, with no further growth changes anticipated - but young enough to benefit from the effects of the procedure), visual needs (most prescriptions can be corrected with current surgical techniques, although some cannot), and personal attitudes (how do you decide when to buy a computer? Next year will certainly bring new models.).

Other considerations are related to the technology involved. It would be discouraging to think that refractive surgeons will not improve their current abilities, we certainly will come up with innovations. The current status is this: all ranges of nearsightedness, low to moderate ranges of farsightedness, and almost all cases of astigmatism can be effectively corrected with today's techniques.

If prescriptions change over time after surgery, some procedures permit eyes to undergo additional procedures to correct the changes. Others do not. One of the advantages of LASIK is that it can be repeated in the distant future, should the need arise, with no harmful effects.

The question of when to have a procedure is difficult, and the answer will depend on the individual. One thing is certain: there are no guarantees with any type of surgery. If you require a guarantee to make your decision, then the answer is clear - do not have a procedure at this time.

How do I know which center is the best for my condition?

In most situations, it is very difficult to know how good your doctor is. In refractive surgery, it is relatively easy -- just ask about results. Any competent refractive surgeon constantly monitors the outcome of his or her surgery.

At Lasik Centers of America, results are constantly monitored. We offer a full range of refractive procedures, unlike many centers which feature just one procedure and try to treat all eyes with that one procedure.

Am I a good candidate for a refractive procedure?

The only way to know whether or not you are a good candidate for a refractive procedure is to be examined by a qualified refractive surgeon. Your prescription alone, or a brief "screening" examination, provides only an estimate of your suitability. At the Lasik Centers of America, we make it easy for you to schedule an appointment for an evaluation.

Several conditions can disqualify you from surgery. Only with a comprehensive eye exam can you be confident of your suitability for a procedure. In this exam, the pupils are dilated and corneal mapping with a computerized topographer is performed. You will have the opportunity to discuss your condition with your doctor.

Is it painful to have a refractive procedure?

Your doctor and staff will make every effort to keep you comfortable before, during, and after your procedure. Before your procedure, you will be given medicine by mouth to relax you (for example Valium). Eye drops (not needles!) are used to numb the eyes. Procedures last only a few minutes, and are not uncomfortable with modern techniques.

A common comment is, "that was much better than the dentist -- more like a haircut". Afterwards, drops are provided to keep you comfortable and asleep, allowing the eyes to heal, usually without the use of patches. With LASIK, healing occurs in just a few hours. Useful, functional vision is usually restored the next day.

One of the hallmarks of our care at the Lasik Centers of America is the comfort of our procedures. Our attention to comfort has had a great deal to do with our success.