The name "LASIK" is short for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis. Like Photorefractive Keratectomy, which utilizes the Excimer Laser, LASIK reshapes the cornea with laser technology. The shape of the cornea is what determines whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, have astigmatism or have
normal vision. The Excimer Laser emits a "cool" laser light that can remove microscopic amounts of tissue with extreme precision. Physicians can program the laser to sculpt the corneas.

To determine whether LASIK is right for you, you should undergo an evaluation with your eye care professional. The evaluation can confirm that your degree of myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism is within the proper range, make sure that your are currently free of any eye disease and discuss other details of both your case and the LASIK procedure. At the time of the evaluation, you should bring your glasses or contacts with you.

You are probably NOT a good candidate for refractive surgery
if:

• You are not a risk taker. Certain complications are
  unavoidable in a percentage of patients, and there are no long-term data
  available for current procedures.

Probably not! At this time, most insurance companies consider LASIK surgery as a cosmetic surgical procedure. There are a few
employers who have put special riders on their company's insurance policy to
cover this procedure. Our staff will be glad to investigate if your insurance
policy will cover LASIK.

YES! Once your vision has been fully corrected the results are permanent. It is still possible to develop other medical conditions as you age that would change your vision.

What to expect before, during and after surgery will vary from doctor to doctor and patient to patient. This section is a compilation of patient information developed by manufacturers and healthcare professionals, but it cannot replace the dialogue you should have with your doctor. Read this information carefully and discuss your expectations with your doctor.

Most patients are very pleased with the results of their refractive surgery. However, like any other medical procedure, there are risks involved. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of refractive surgery.

YES! Other options are available. Patients not eligible for LASIK can explore other procedures available to correct their nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. You can discuss these options with your doctor. Alternative procedures may include Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and implantable contact lenses (soon to be available).

VISX CustomVue is an individual laser vision correction procedure that is WaveScan driven. This enables the doctor to measure and correct unique imperfections in each individual's vision. Many of these imperfections could never be measured before by standard methods used for glasses and contact lenses.