Generally, LASIK is performed on patients who are nearsighted (myopic), farsighted (hyperopic) and/or have astigmatism. Additionally, an ideal candidate has good overall eye health and has had a stable vision prescription for the past couple years. Age is taken into consideration as well. It’s important that your prescription has stopped significantly changing (typically 19 – 25 years of age) and that you haven’t yet experienced any cataract formation (cataracts are common in the 60’s).
Minnesota Eye Consultants offers complimentary LASIK Screenings for new patients that have not undergone previous eye surgery. Only through a thorough examination is your doctor able to determine what vision correction option is right for you. If LASIK is not the best option, your surgeon will work with you to determine what vision correction method does make sense. LASIK is only one of the many options you have at Minnesota Eye Consultants.
Contact us, or use the form below, to see if you qualify for a Free Screening appointment and to set up your one-on-one consultation with a highly trained and experienced Minnesota Eye Consultants surgeon.
You have finally decided to ditch your contacts and glasses for good and upgrade your vision with LASIK. You likely have lots of questions – What occurs during the evaluation? What is the procedure like? What should I expect following surgery? We’re here to help educate you on all of this information, and ensure that you’re prepared for your LASIK consultation and surgery at Minnesota Eye Consultants.
Take advantage of the opportunity to speak with a surgeon about the entire LASIK experience, including any concerns or hesitations that you might have. You can get answers to your questions directly from the doctors that perform the procedures.
Contact Lenses – Since contacts temporarily alter the shape of your cornea, you’ll be asked to remove your Soft Contact Lenses two weeks prior to your appointment. If you wear Hard or Toric Contacts, it’s important to remove them three weeks (or more) prior to the testing to make sure your measurements are accurate.
Pregnancy – For a number of reasons (such as changes in metabolism, hormones and blood circulation), vision can shift during pregnancy and while nursing. As a result, we recommend scheduling your evaluation at least three months after you’ve finished nursing. This allows your eyes enough time to stabilize following pregnancy.
The appointment begins with corneal testing to assess the thickness and shape of the cornea. The WaveScan system is used to capture the unique shape of your eye, considered to many as “the fingerprint of the eye”. The technician will also measure your eye pressure and a Topography will create a 3D mapping of the cornea.
A refraction (the portion of the exam that typically determines the glasses prescription) is then performed by a technician. “Which is better, one or two?” Dilation drops are administered and it typically takes 15-20 minutes for your pupils to enlarge.
Your LASIK surgeon will examine your eyes using a high-intensity light on a slit-lamp microscope. This offers a glimpse inside the eye where your physician can search for various eye diseases and disorders, and rule out any possible red flags.
Following the testing, your doctor will want to learn more about your hobbies, lifestyle and visual goals. The surgeon will discuss his or her surgical recommendations with you. Visual and recovery expectations following surgery are also a large part of this discussion.
If it’s decided you are an ideal LASIK candidate (congratulations!), you will have the opportunity to meet with one of our specialty trained Appointment Coordinators. They will discuss pricing, answer any remaining questions you may have, and help to find a surgical date that fits your schedule.
We completely understand that LASIK can be scary and overwhelming. Hopefully the following details outlining every step of surgery will help put your mind at ease. If you’ve had your evaluation and would like to schedule your procedure, you can reach our Surgery Scheduling Department at (952) 567-6101.
Contacts – You will again be asked to discontinue your contacts prior to the surgery. If you have questions about this, please reach out to your Appointment Coordinator for clarification.
Driver – Please arrange to have a driver for the day of your procedure. You will be offered Valium prior to surgery, and may experience light sensitivity and some watering eye(s) as you leave our office.
Prescriptions – You will likely have some medications sent to your pharmacy prior to surgery. Please pick these up ahead of time and bring them with to your procedure.
Depending on the evaluation location and the results of the tests captured at the initial appointment, additional or repeat testing may be required prior to the procedure. A surgical technician and the surgeon will review your chart to ensure all necessary testing is completed.
You will meet with a Pre-op Coordinator to discuss discharge instructions, eye drops to be used following the surgery, and offered a valium (to help relax, if you wish). A technician will bring you into the Laser Suite and administer numbing drops and cleanse the surgical area. Both the supporting surgical staff and your surgeon will walk you through each step of the procedure.
Your surgeon will place an eyelid speculum to separate your eyelids and ask you to recline on what appears to be a dentist’s chair. The Intralase laser is used to administer pulses of laser light to create the corneal flap. This is the “Intralase” or “iLASIK” method of creating the flap versus the Microkeratome (blade) option.
You will be swiveled from the Intralase machine to the VISX Excimer Laser where the flap is carefully lifted by your physician. Using data that has been collected, the surgeon will use the laser to safely and effectively reshape the cornea. You’ll hear a series of “ticking” noises as the laser vision correction is being performed.
Once the treatment is complete, your surgeon will replace the flap and repeat the same steps with the other eye. Your first set of eye drops are administered immediately, and a clear plastic shield will be placed over each eye for protection. You’ll be given sunglasses as you may be light sensitive, and will be instructed to go home and rest for the remainder of the day. You will need to be seen by your primary eye doctor, or by a physician at Minnesota Eye Consultants, the following day for a checkup.