Is LASIK Eye Surgery Right for You? (video/podcast)

Eyeglasses and contact lenses can be great options to correct blurry vision, but they’re not always ideal ― especially if you’re active, enjoy water sports or find wearing them inconvenient or uncomfortable. If glasses or contact lenses aren’t working well for you, laser surgery to correct your vision may be a solution.

In this video, San Diego Health host Susan Taylor discusses how LASIK eye surgery corrects vision and who is a good candidate for the procedure with Peter Krall, MD, an ophthalmologist at Scripps Clinic Jefferson in Oceanside and Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines.

LASIK is a type of refractive surgery, which is surgery that corrects vision by reshaping the front part of the eye, called the cornea.

“The cornea is like the front window to the eye. It helps bend light into the back of our eyes so we can see clearly,” explains Dr. Krall. “For people who are nearsighted, we flatten the front cornea using our sophisticated laser technology. People can then see clearly without the need for glasses.”

During LASIK surgery, the patient is awake but may be given an oral medication to help them relax. After applying numbing eye drops to desensitize the corneas, the surgeon reshapes them with a laser. There may be a slight sensation of pressure as the laser is applied, but the treatment is not painful. The entire procedure takes about 20-30 minutes for both eyes. Vision improves almost immediately.

Following LASIK surgery, the eyes may water a bit or feel mildly uncomfortable. Patients typically use eye drops for about a week. Most people can return to work within 24 to 48 hours and resume normal activities after four or five days.

Generally, LASIK surgery is best for people who:

• Are in their 20s and 30s
• Have a stable prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Have no history of dry eye or major rheumatologic diseases
• Want to stop wearing glasses or contact lenses

“In order to get the most out of your LASIK and to not have to redo it, you really want a stable glasses prescription. We’re typically looking for at least two years of stability in your prescription,” says Dr. Krall.

The process starts with a consultation and a screening test called a topography. This looks at the curvature of the eye and helps determine if LASIK would be a safe procedure.

Additionally, because the laser removes tissue from the cornea as it reshapes it, the cornea needs to be thick enough to allow safe removal. 

Surgery is usually done at an outpatient surgical center. On the day of surgery, a technician will numb your eyes with eyedrops. Your surgeon will review your current prescription and ensure you are ready for the procedure.

Surgery involves two lasers. The first creates a flap in the cornea, and the second reshapes it. The flap is put back into place and the surgeon performs a final check.

After the surgery, you may be a bit sensitive to light and your eyes may feel heavy or tired. Dr. Krall prescribes a nap.

“I usually give patients some relaxing medicine and maybe a mild sleeping agent,” he says. “It’s best just go home, take a nice long nap, and then by the time you wake up you’re usually feeling a lot better and can start your eye drops.”

Like any surgery, LASIK does have some risks, but they are minor. Some patients may develop dry eye symptoms following the procedure. While these symptoms typically improve, some patients may have them long-term. Also, most patients notice glare or halos around lights at night immediately after surgery, but that also tends to improve over time.

“There is also the risk, if you want to call it that, of being under-corrected or over-corrected,” says Dr. Krall. “We’re very accurate in general, but in that case, most of the time we can go back and do a touch-up if we need to. But that’s pretty rare.”

He adds that while the goal of LASIK surgery is to eliminate the need for glasses or contacts, some patients may still need to wear glasses for certain activities such as reading or driving at night.

“We have excellent screening tools nowadays to make sure that you’re a really good candidate. And consultations are free, so we invite you to come in and find out if it is appropriate for you.”

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