LASIK
LASIK Reading, Allentown, Lancaster and King of Prussia, PA
Do you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism? Do you find glasses or contacts cumbersome or uncomfortable, and wish you could reduce their prescription or discard them?
Imagine life without glasses or contacts. Activities like hiking, biking, swimming and golf are more convenient because you don't have to worry about losing a contact or breaking your frames. This freedom and comfort is what LASIK can do for you. We are able to treat most types of refractive errors including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness(hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia.
If you answered “YES” to either of these questions, you may be a good candidate for LASIK or other vision correction surgery. Before the decision can be made however, you must have an eligibility exam and complementary consultation. The doctor will ask questions about your medical history and give a thorough eye exam designed to determine if the procedure is appropriate for your individual case. The doctor will also talk about the benefits, risks, available options, and preparation and recovery associated with the surgery to ensure that your goals and expectations are realistic.
Contact us today to schedule a complementary consultation!
LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed and well known vision correction surgery. Using an excimer laser, Dr. Chesen re-shapes the cornea (the stationary refractive element at the front of the eye) so that images are focused to the correct spot on the retina (the light receptor of the eye). The success rate with this procedure is excellent, with most patients achieving 20/20 vision or better upon completion.
The LASIK procedure itself involves little or no discomfort (or pain) both during the procedure and through the recovery process. Also, eyesight improvement is almost immediate, and maximum vision is typically achieved within a few days.
Reasons to consider LASIK:
- Nearsightedness (myopia).
- Farsightedness (hyperopia).
- Astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea).
- Desire to decrease or eliminate dependence on glasses or contacts.
The Procedure
Prior to your procedure, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax. During the procedure, Dr. Chesen first administers a local anesthetic via eye drops, so the patient will feel no pain during the surgery. A speculum is then placed over the eye to prevent the patient from blinking. Next, the surgeon creates an extremely thin flap from the outer layer of the cornea, using a microkeratome (a small blade specially designed for this purpose). The flap is folded to the side, and the excimer laser, programmed with the individual map of the patient’s eye, removes excess tissue with quick pulses of concentrated light. This process usually takes less than a minute. Once this is done, the doctor gently places the flap back into position and the healing process begins immediately.
The Recovery
The patient may go home shortly after the procedure; however, you must arrange transportation as you will not be permitted to drive yourself. Patients will be asked to avoid rubbing the eye area for a period of time. There are follow up appointments with the doctor 1 to 3 days after the procedure and periodically over the following weeks and months. Vision should dramatically improve in the first few days following surgery. The patient often may return to work the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a good candidate?
Yes, if you're at least 18 years old, in good general health, and have good eye health with no diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma. Laser vision correction can treat a very broad range of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. In most cases, even patients with the most severe degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be treated. To find out if laser vision correction is right for you, talk with Dr. Chesen or call and schedule a complimentary consultation at Chesen Laser Eye Center today. At the consultation Dr. Chesen will confirm if you are a good candidate, explain the procedure, and answer your questions so that you can make an informed decision. He will explain what results you can reasonably expect by measuring your prescription and examining your eyes.
What kind of results can I expect?
While laser vision correction has proven overwhelmingly successful in reducing dependence on glasses and contact lenses, the degree of improvement may vary among individuals. How well and how quickly your vision improves depends on how well you heal and the severity of your prescription. Although we cannot promise patients "perfect" or 20/20 vision, 99% of patients with mild to moderate prescriptions do achieve 20/20 vision or are within 1 to 2 lines of 20/20 vision on an eye chart. This means they no longer need glasses or contacts to drive, play sports, watch movies and TV, or participate in careers requiring excellent vision such as police and fire departments. With these remarkable results, and an exceptional safety record, laser vision correction is considered the procedure of choice for most suitable condidates.
Will my vision be corrected forever?
People often ask how long the benefits of their procedure will last. Laser vision correction has been common in many countries around the world since the late 1980's. In addition, many clinical studies have analyzed the long-term effects of the excimer laser on the cornea. Every study performed so far has shown without exception that there are no long-term negative effects of the laser on the eye's integrity or strength. The first nearsighted patient's eye ever treated with laser vision correction was in the United States in 1987. Today, most experts around the world are confident that they will discover no long-term problems with laser vision correction. They also believe, based on the excellent results seen to date, that laser vision correction will remain the most commonly performed refractive procedure in the world. In general, the few patients who require an enhancement procedure or develop a problem will do so within the first few months following the procedure rather than years later.
What does the cost of the procedure cover?
Your surgery fee will include all of your post-operative visits for one year. It will also include a lifetime commitment should you require an enhancement.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Financing is available with monthly payments of less than $100.00 per month. NEW! Interest free financing for up to 24 months.
Is laser vision correction covered by insurance or flexible benefits programs?
Most insurance companies do not cover laser correction, but we encourage you to check with your provider. In the U.S., if your company has a flexible benefits program, you can usually use this for laser vision correction. Also, we can discuss the many payment options we make available to you.
Who will my doctor be and what will he do?
Dr. Chesen is involved in all three phases of your laser vision correction procedure: the pre-procedure consultation, the laser procedure, and post-procedure care.
Will the procedure hurt?
The LASIK procedure itself is virtually painless. There are no needles. Instead, anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye just before surgery begins. After your procedure, your eye may feel a foreign body sensation or irritation for a few hours, but most patients are quite comfortable after taking a short nap.
What will my recovery be like?
Most LASIK patients usually see quite well the day following their procedure and are able to resume most of their normal daily activities, including driving, but patients with higher prescriptions may recover more slowly. Although the speed of visual recovery depends on personal healing patterns, most patients notice dramatic visual results the day after their procedure.
Are there any risks?
There are risks associated with having a laser vision correction procedure. However, the chance of having a vision-reducing complication has been documented in a number of clinical studies to be less than 1%. There have been no reported cases of blindness resulting from laser vision correction. Dr. Chesen has performed thousands of laser vision correction procedures. The extensive training and experience of Dr. Chesen reduces the probability of any risks still further. Our commitment to patient care means that we will always do our best for you before, during, and after your procedure.
Will Dr. Chesen stand behind my results?
Dr. Chesen will stand behind your vision results for life. And, while we cannot guarantee that patients will have perfect vision for a lifetime, we will do everything we can to help you maintain your best possible vision for life. We know you want to have confidence in your selection of a laser center and at Chesen Laser Eye Center you are in the hands of a specialized eye surgeon who is dedicated to excellence.
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