LASIK Misconceptions

You may think you know everything there is to know about LASIK, but you may be surprised by some of the misconceptions about LASIK that patients express every day, like:

My eyes will not respond to LASIK surgery.

While it is true that some patients are not good candidates for LASIK, patients who have been told their eyes will not respond to LASIK are often surprised to learn that there are alternatives available. Virtually all patients respond to LASIK, but some patients are more likely to have better results with a different type of eye surgery. If you have been told you are not a good candidate for LASIK, you may be a good candidate for an alternative vision surgery.

LASIK will not give me perfect eyesight.

In fact, LASIK often gives patients better than 20/20 eyesight. Patients always experience 20/20 eyesight after LASIK surgery at our office, but a high number of our patients actually have vision that is even better than 20/20 after their surgery.

I cannot afford LASIK.

While LASIK may require a significant initial investment, the truth is that if you can afford contacts and glasses, you can afford LASIK. The cost of replacing and repairing contacts and eye glasses over the course of your life is much higher than the cost of LASIK. Add to that the savings in time when you do not have to put in and take out contacts or search for lost eye glasses, and the value is easy to see.

You can learn more about LASIK misconceptions and the truth about laser vision correction when you contact Dr. Harvey Carter at Carter Eye Center, serving Dallas, Texas.

How long does the LASIK procedure take?

You may have seen advertisements on TV that offer perfect vision in just a few minutes, and while LASIK offers this in a sense, it is a slightly misleading statement. Most patients do not walk into our office and walk out only a few minutes later with perfect vision. However, the reality ensures that your LASIK procedure is performed safely and with the best possible outcome.

In reality, LASIK requires an amount of preparation. When you meet with Dr. Harvey Carter, he will explain your individual procedure to you, and allow you to ask any questions you have. Once your questions are answered, if your procedure is schedules at that time, there is about a 15 minute preparation before each eye can receive LASIK treatment.

LASIK preparation consists of creating a semi-circular flap on the surface of the eye, so that the laser can affect only the desired portion of the cornea. The flap also helps protect the cornea when it is put back in place, and because of the nature of your eye tissue, there is no need for an adhesive or sutures to keep the flap in place (though you should avoid rubbing your eye as you may dislodge the flap).

Once the flap is created, the actual LASIK portion of the procedure lasts about 60 seconds for each eye. Almost as soon as the flap is replaced, you are able to see clearly without the aid of contacts or eye glasses.

You can learn more about LASIK when you contact Dr. Carter to schedule your appointment at Carter Eye Center, serving Dallas and the surrounding areas of Texas.

This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://dallaseyecenter.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://dallaseyecenter.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

LASIK and Swimming

Patients frequently ask about the types of activities they should abstain from after laser eye surgery. One of the more potentially dangerous activities after LASIK is swimming.

Natural Bodies and Swimming Pool Water Dangerous

Your skin and eyes are exposed to numerous living organisms and chemicals whether you are swimming in:

• Ocean
• Swimming pool
• Lake
• River
• Hot tub

Microscopic organisms and chemicals can both pose potential hazards even if your eyes are completely healthy. However, LASIK or other types of laser vision correction are surgical procedures, and create an incision in the surface of your eye which can attract or harbor those organisms and chemicals.

Once a foreign object has worked its way into your cornea, you are at very high risk for infection or other type of eye injury. Because of this, Dr. Harvey Carter recommends that you avoid swimming for as much as 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the type of vision correction surgery you have undergone.

Schedule Your Procedure Early

If you cannot avoid swimming after your LASIK procedure, you should wear protective eyewear that completely seals the eye off from contact with the water. If you are planning a vacation or trip where you plan to go snorkeling or scuba diving, you should either wait until after your vacation for your procedure, or schedule your vision procedure far enough in advance to give your time eyes to heal before exposing them to water.

To learn more about protecting your eyes after LASIK and laser eye surgery, please contact Dr. Carter today at Carter Eye Clinic, serving the swimming community in Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding areas.

LASIK and Eye Sensitivity

There are two types of issues the team at Carter Eye Center is concerned about when discussing LASIK and eye sensitivity:

• Pre-LASIK eye sensitivity
• Post-LASIK light sensitivity

If you currently use contacts and suffer from eye sensitivity or dryness, you may be surprised to learn that LASIK often helps patients like yourself reduce the amount of frustration and discomfort caused by contacts.

The daily use of contacts exposes your eyes to oils, dirt, chemicals and constant contact that increase the risk of eye injury or infection. Infections like conjunctivitis (pinkeye) spread by direct physical contact. Eliminating your use of contacts reduces the number of times your hands come into contact with your eyes each day, and reduce the risk of debris or germs getting into your eye.

The type of eye sensitivity dealt with after LASIK is increased light sensitivity. A small percentage of patients experience increased light sensitivity after LASIK, but the condition virtually always dissipates as the eye flap and cornea heal after the surgery. If you experience increased light sensitivity after your procedure, you should schedule a follow up appointment with Dr. Carter immediately.

To learn more about eye sensitivity and LASIK, please contact Carter Eye Center today, serving Dallas and the surrounding areas of Texas.