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What Can LASIK Eye Surgery Treat?
Refractive surgery is a type of eye surgery designed to correct vision problems by either reshaping the cornea, inserting a corrective lens, or replacing the eye's natural crystalline lens. It aims to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses by improving how light focuses through the eye. LASIK can correct three of the most common types of refractive errors:
Astigmatism
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
In many patients, laser vision correction reduces or eliminates dependency on glasses or contact lenses.
What Refractive Surgery Options Do We Offer?
Clarkson Eyecare currently only offers LASIK services in the St. Louis market. Our surgery options include:
LASIK
LASIK is the most popular form of refractive surgery. It involves reshaping the cornea using a laser. This allows light to be focused more precisely onto the retina.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK is similar to LASIK. In addition to reshaping the cornea with a laser, it involves removing some tissue from the surface of the cornea first. This results in a slightly longer recovery time compared to LASIK with the same visual outcome.
EVO ICL
EVO ICL is an implantable lens that corrects nearsightedness, with and without astigmatism, through a minimally invasive procedure. The EVO ICL lens is implanted between your iris (the colored part of the eye) and your natural crystalline lens in a quick and safe 20–30 minute procedure. It’s biocompatible and does not remove corneal tissue, so it works with your natural eye and the lens implant is reversible.
Do I Qualify for Refractive Surgery?
To determine if you are a candidate requires a consultation in our office. During this consultation a technician will take extensive measurements of your eyes. You will then meet with our doctor for a comprehensive exam to review and discuss if refractive surgery is right for you.
The most common reason why someone may not qualify for LASIK is because their prescription is too high to be effectively treated with LASIK, their corneas are too thin to safely reshape, or their eyes are too dry for corneal refractive surgery.
If you have dry eye disease or thin corneas, there may be better options for surgery and your doctor will discuss these with you during your consultation.
What Makes an Ideal LASIK Candidate?
Age: Generally 18+ to ensure stability of prescription.
Overall Health: Well-managed health conditions like diabetes are typically okay but discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Eye Health: Certain eye diseases like keratoconus or cataracts may disqualify you.
Pregnancy: Hormonal fluctuations can affect results, so wait until you are 3 months postpartum and nursing.
Corneal Thickness: This is crucial for LASIK safety. Your doctor will measure it to determine your candidacy.
Prescription: Refractive errors that safely fall within the treatable range
Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK Eye Surgery
What to Expect
Immediately after the procedure, your eye(s) may burn, itch or feel like there is something in it. You may experience the following symptoms, all of which are completely normal:
Discomfort
Watering or tearing
Hazy or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Glares, starbursts or haloes around lights
Red or bloodshot appearance to the whites of the eye(s)
You will instinctively want to rub your eye, but don’t!
Rubbing your eye could dislodge the flap, requiring further treatment. These symptoms should improve considerably within the first few days following your procedure. Plan on taking a few days off from work if you should experience these symptoms.
You should contact the office immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit if you begin to experience severe pain, increased redness of the eye(s), or if your vision or other symptoms become worse instead of better.
Post-Procedure Instructions
Go directly home and take a 4 to 6 hour nap.
You may shower 12 hours after your procedure, taking care as to not place your face directly into the stream of water.
Avoid eye make-up, creams, sunscreen or moisturizers on or around the eyes for 7 days posts procedure Avoid atmospheres that may irritate the eye(s) such as smoke, dust or any other potential irritants. Dusty work environments may require safety glasses for protection.
If you experience crusting of the lids or lashes when waking in the morning, hold a warm washcloth over your closed eye(s) for 60 seconds to loosen it before using the corner of the cloth to gently clean it away from the inner corner outwards. If this does not sufficiently remove the crusting, apply the warm washcloth for another 60 seconds and repeat.
Wear the plastic shield or goggles every night for the next five nights. This prevents you from rubbing your eye(s) while sleeping.
For the first two weeks following the procedure, wear sunglasses that are either dark or polarized any time that you are outside even if it is cloudy.
1 Day After
Rest following your procedure
Be careful of activities where the eye may be poked, rubbed or touched.
Use artificial tears every hour or more as needed for discomfort.
Avoid screen usage such as cell phones, computers or tablets which can cause dryness and irritation to the eyes
2 Days After
Resume regular use of cell phones, computers and tablets.
If you work in an office setting and use a computer, make sure to use artificial tears generously and close eyes periodically to rest the eyes and prevent dryness or fatigue.
3 Days After
Resume exercise with no risk to the eye(s) (such as treadmill, elliptical, stationary biker) and participate in non-contact sports
1 Week After
You may resume activities such as:
Swimming (pool or jacuzzi) (avoid submerging face, goggles are strongly recommended)
Tanning (with eye protection and artificial tears) Motorcycling, dirt or mountain biking (with eye protection)
Baseball, basketball, football, soccer
Weight lifting and training
Martial arts
1 Month After
You may resume activities such as:
Sailing or snorkeling
Skiing
Swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers (avoid submerging face; goggles are strongly recommended)
Water sports such as surfing, kayaking, floating, water skiing
Resume normal lifestyle after 6 months
24-Hour Emergency Line 1-800-353-1575
Getting LASIK at Clarkson Eyecare
If you live outside of Missouri, any Clarkson Eyecare eye doctor at our locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia can provide a LASIK referral to a qualified surgeon in their area.
Visit our locations or call (844) 393-2326 to book a consultation with one of our eye surgery specialists near you.
Affordable LASIK Eye Surgery Options
Clarkson Eyecare provides LASIK at an affordable price. By owning our laser equipment and employing our own surgical and ophthalmology staff, we can keep our costs down. This allows us to pass the savings to you.
Additionally, you may be able to use your health benefits to pay for LASIK eye surgery. Learn how to use your HSA or FSA to help pay for LASIK in our vision care financing guide.
Get Effective LASIK Surgery at Clarkson Eyecare
If you want to break free from your reliance on eyeglasses or contacts, don't hesitate to reach out to Clarkson Eyecare. We prioritize comprehensive eye care, ensuring every patient receives the best possible treatment for their vision needs. To restore your vision with LASIK, schedule your consultation with Clarkson Eyecare today.