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What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
A comfortable outpatient procedure, LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These are the three primary types of refractive errors. Refraction is the bending and focusing of light, which is what the cornea of the eye does to create the images that we see. LASIK works by reshaping the cornea precisely so that it creates clear, focused images. St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, a multidisciplinary eye surgery center based in Largo, Florida, has performed thousands of successful LASIK procedures for patients throughout the Tampa Bay area. As a family-owned and -operated clinic known for compassionate patient care, we strive to give our patients a firm understanding of what they can expect from a LASIK procedure.
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What The Surgery Entails
LASIK treatment does not require general anesthesia. For optimal results, you need to be awake during the procedure. However, your eyes will receive anesthetic eye drops that will make the surgery painless.
During the procedure, your surgeon will create a thin, superficial flap in your cornea with a special laser. Your surgeon will then fold back the flap to access the underlying cornea and reshape it using a high-precision laser so that light entering the eye focuses more accurately on the retina.
For nearsighted patients, the goal is to flatten the cornea. With farsighted patients, a steeper cornea is the aim. For those with astigmatism, vision correction comes from smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.
After the reshaping, your surgeon will lay the flap back in place. The flap will seal to the underlying cornea during the healing process.
Why Choose St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute?
Using state-of-the-art LASIK equipment, our experienced surgeons know how to safely treat the delicate structures of the eye to achieve optimal vision correction for our patients. If you’d like to know whether you or a loved one are a good candidate for this procedure, contact St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute in Largo today.
Common questions about LASIK eye surgery
Is there an age limit for LASIK?
You need to be at least 18, because no lasers are FDA-approved for LASIK in anyone younger. There’s no strict upper age limit, but your prescription should be stable for at least a year and your eyes need to be healthy, without problems like cataracts or certain corneal conditions. If you’re over 40, keep in mind that LASIK doesn’t prevent presbyopia, the natural loss of close-up focus that comes with age. A full eye exam tells us whether LASIK is a good fit for your eyes.
What is recovery like after LASIK?
Most people notice clearer vision within a day or so. For the first several hours, it’s common for your eyes to burn, itch, or water and for your vision to be hazy, so plan to rest and have someone drive you home. You’ll use eye drops as directed, avoid rubbing your eyes, and come in for a follow-up visit soon after surgery to check how your eyes are healing.
What are the side effects of LASIK?
The most common side effects are dry eyes and glare, halos, or starbursts around lights, especially at night. For most people these ease over the first few months as the eyes heal, and lubricating eye drops can help with dryness in the meantime, though in some cases symptoms last longer. Serious complications are uncommon, and your pre-surgery exam is designed to catch issues like thin corneas or existing dry eye that can raise your risk.
Who performs LASIK at St. Michael’s
Laser vision correction at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute in Largo, Florida, including LASIK and PRK, is performed by Dr. John Michaelos, our medical director, who completed fellowship training in corneal disease. Dr. Luis Ortiz, OD, who trained in refractive surgery co-management, helps with exams before and after treatment.
