LASIK Eye Surgery Questions and Answers

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Question:

I had RK in 1985. My eyes regressed back to the original condition. Is it possible for me to have LASIK correction?

Answer:

Yes, it is certainly possible to have LASIK after RK. Andrew Caster, MD

Andrew Caster, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills, CA

Question:

My mother has glaucoma and has to take drops every day forever.She was mid- fifties when it was discovered.I'm told I am a high risk for also developing it-I'm 35 now. Would that be a reason not to have LASIK surgery done?

Answer:

I don't think your increased risk of glaucoma has any impact on your results from LASIK. If you develop glaucoma in the future, you will simply need to start drops at that time. Andrew Caster, MD

Andrew Caster, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills, CA

Question:

Most lasers used for LASIK operations, with the exception of the LADAR system, emit beams that are perfectly geometric in shape, while the formations in the cornea that cause myopia and astigmatism are not. How if at all does this affect the outcome of LASIK surgery and does the LADAR system address this problem?

Answer:

You are refering to truly customized ablations. VISX and Autonomous(LADAR) and others are researching the best approach. It is not as simple as we had hoped.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

Can you please recommend a doctor for LASIK surgery in Atlanta, GA. I am considering going to see Dr. Alan Kozarsky or Dr. Jonathon M.Woolfson. Any thoughts?

Answer:

Doyle Stulting or Keith Thompson at Emory

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

Hello! I've got an astigmatism in both eyes and am farsighted. I've had a consultation with a Lasik Center and was told by the optomistrist I would need a specific lasor which is not located in Tampa but Boca Raton, FL. I'm trying to find out if my "dry prescription" is as follows, do you have the Lasor to perform the surgery: Right: +0.25-1.25x099 Left: +0.50-1.25x085 Please let me know, thank you for your time! I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Sabrae Garrett :)

Answer:

yes we do. you can reach us at 1.800.776.6645 ext. 223

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

Is there any way to predict who may develop chronically dry eyes following Lasik surgery? Also, when can someone return to an active sport such as softball. Thanks for response!

Answer:

Yes. Patients with a past history of dry eye will still have a dry eye after LASIK. Patients who have had contact lens related tear dysfunction or are otherwise having dry eye symptoms are more likely to be aware of this sfter LASIK. Finally, patients who have an untreated tear dysfunction will notice that after LASIK they are more comfortable with the prescribed regimen of lubricants. Thereafter they become aware of symptoms that they had been used to. Activity after LASIK inour practice is only limited by no swimming for three days and no rubbing the eyes for three months. You could return to softball the next day if you flt you could see well enough. We do recommend the use of eye protection just as we would for anyone engaged in sports.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

If you have had lasik done, how many enhancements can you have done on each eye if your vision is not corrected?

Answer 1:

One is usually all that is needed. A few patients may need more than one. The limitations are primarily determined for each eye. Therefor there is no specific number of enhancements that is a limit. It is rare to need more than one. If you have had more than one enhancement and are not satisfied you may want to get a second opinion from someone that has an Orbscan.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Answer 2:

Usually only one enhancement is needed, but more than one is certainly safe. We do not know if there is an true upper limit, but certainly a few enhancements are safe, if properly performed. Andrew Caster, MD

Andrew Caster, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills, CA

Question:

I'm 44 years old. I have been wearing glasses and/or contacts for over 30 years. I've been considering the lasik surgery. I've found that in the last few years my eyes have been changing. I can now see close up better without any glasses or contacts on but my nearsight vision is still the same. I heard that at my age this is normal for the eyes to change a little. Should I wait awhile for the lasik surgery to be done or does it not matter. Thank You

Answer:

Having LASIK will improve your distance vision at the expense of your near vision. You need to decide if you'd rather wear glasses to read or remain as is.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

Dear Doctor, I had lasik performed one year ago. I was 20/20 but after several months I have now regressed to over -1 in the right eye & -2 in left eye because I had that eye done for close up. Im 56. I have very poor night vision. Need glasses all the time now at night, watching tv, driving etc. Not sure I would do the left eye for close up again. Of the patients you have done that for, are most of them happy with it? Do you recommend it? I didn't want to wear reading glasses all the time. I am considering an enhancement. Can you tell me are there greater risks on a 2nd surgery i.e. scar tissue after 2 cuts, your eye being more fragile etc. I was very nearsighted, -6, could that be why I would have regressed?? Do most doctors do the enhancement at no charge? Also what is this double carding I have been hearing about?? Would I have had that?? Thank you, JoAnn Richardson

Answer:

Enhancements are usually part of the original fee unless you went to a discount lasik center. The risk is similar to the original procedure. You may want to enhance your dominant eye irst. Then, if you do not like the monovision, have the other eye enhanced and start wearing full time reading glasses. In most cases double carding should be considered as second rate, poor surgical planning. Double carding is a bad way to do what the more advanced software can do better.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

I had lasik done on both eyes in april. Then an enhancement on my right eye in june. I see well out my right eye, but it hurts, it feels like there is something pulling. I am getting ready to have an enhancement on the left eye 8-24-00, so there is alot of difference in how the two eyes see. Could this be why I feel the pulling and will it stop after the left eye is enhanced?

Answer:

Yes and maybe. Let us know how you do after the second eye is enhanced.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

Question:

Thank you for responding, Dr. Stratas. My question continues... I had the lasik done the second time on my right eye eliminating the double vision and allowing me to see about 20/50 on good days with shadowing and the spokes and halos at night and dryness. The cornea was over-corrected in the first attempt and after the second time which eliminated the double vision, the cornea is too thin to do anything more with it to help me see distance. The lens insertion and a gas permeable contact lens if needed after the lens insertion is what is suggested to help me see distance. A cornea transplant is also an option in the future to replace the scarred and wrinkled cornea that is causing my shadowing as the light bends through the dips and valleys and scarring. I know this entails a lot more followup care in the future but my sight is at stake. Is the custom ablation guided by a wavefront analysis something that will attempt to fix my cornea even if too much material was removed by the over-correction? I need more power for vision. Please reply.

Answer:

As I said before I would do nothing further at this time. Wait for wavefront guided treatments to be available. A corneal transplant is very serious. I would try the custom ablation first. Also, I would seek a second opinion.

Byron Stratas, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Wilmington, NC

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