Imagine being able to work, drive, read the clock, play sports, ride horseback, or do just about everything without always having to reach for your glasses or contacts. A new eye treatment called advanced surface laser vision correction could make this a reality for you. If you're a candidate for this, Dr. O'Brien can reshape the surface of your eye using a laser, so that images focus more clearly. The result can be a dramatic improvement in your distance vision and your lifestyle.
Being dependent on glasses and contacts can cramp your lifestyle. Glasses fog up, fall off, scratch, and break. Frames and thick lenses interfere with side vision. Contacts can irritate your eyes, especially if dust get under a lens or you have dry eyes or allergies. Both glasses and contacts can limit your choice of careers or sports. Laser vision correction could reduce or eliminate your need for glasses and contacts without weakening your eyes.
Laser vision correction works well for most people, but there is no guarantee that you'll have perfect vision or never need distance or reading glasses again. Laser vision correction does not change your vision overnight. It takes several weeks to months for your eye to heal and your vision to clear completely. The procedure is painless, but you can expect to have some discomfort for a few days afterward.
Dr. O'Brien will examine your eyes to make sure laser is right for you. Your eyes will be dilated and your refraction will be measured. He will also examine your cornea and obtain a corneal topography of the shape of your cornea and measure its thickness using ultrasound. These and other tests, help Dr. O'Brien detect any problems that could make laser vision correction the wrong decision for you.
Before laser vision correction you'll be asked to sign a consent form. Your doctor will discuss the following, as well as other possible risks of the proceedure, with you.
1. A haze may develop in the cornea during the first few weeks after surgery. Normally, this clears quickly. If it does not, vision can be cloudy for months. Only rarely is the haze permanent.
2. There is a very small risk of infection, which could scar the cornea and decrease vision.
3. Vision could worsen or astigmatism (irregular curvature of the cornea) or farsightedness develop.
Variable vision is also possible, but unlikely.
4. The pressure inside the eye may temporarily rise as a result of the eyedrops used after surgery.
5. Some people are more sensitive to glare or see halos around lights, but this is rarely troublesome.
6. A second treatment could be needed if near sightedness is not sufficiently corrected.
