LASIK Surgery

No. There is little or no discomfort associated with the LASIK procedure. However, your eyes may feel scratchy, and water excessively, for a few hours after surgery.

Yes! Over 99% of our LASIK patients attain 20/25 vision or better without corrective lenses. Others enjoy being less dependent on eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Utilizing the Victus laser, a silent, tiny, laser light beam passes through the layers of the cornea to the exact depth within the corneal layers to make the flap. The flap is folded back, and the VISX Star S4 excimer laser treats the central part of the exposed cornea. The flap is then replaced to its original position. Because the flap is so smooth and thin, it re-attaches without the need for stitches.

The laser treatment itself takes approximately 45 seconds or less depending on the amount of correction you need. Expect to be at the surgery center for about 90 minutes.

Most patients return to work the next day. We will discuss this with you during your screening appointment so you know your options.

Schedule a free consultation at Minnesota Eye Institute to determine your best treatment option and get an accurate procedure cost. The information we collect during your initial LASIK eye exam is good for 6 months.

Because it is an elective procedure, LASIK is not generally covered by medical insurance plans. However, pre-tax dollars you contribute to your company's "flex" benefits plan can usually be used for LASIK.

As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks but complications are rare. You will be given an informed consent document that lists risks and possible side effects. Be sure to read this document carefully before proceeding with LASIK.

No. You will receive several drops of topical anesthesia to numb the eye. We offer you an oral medication to help you relax.

Laser vision correction is an exciting medical procedure that can help transform an individual's life. However, as with all medical procedures, perfect results cannot be guaranteed. Almost all patients experience improved vision and a majority improve to 20/20, but not everyone.

Many who do not achieve 20/20 are the next from the bottom line on the vision chart, which is very acceptable vision without glasses or contacts. Individuals who have the expectation of perfection should come in for a free LASIK Screening to allow Dr. Carlson to determine the probability of you achieving the results you want.

With LASIK, there are some risks. Infection is a slight possibility but it is actually 100 times lower than wearing contact lenses. Additionally, you may experience dryness, itchiness, or glares at night for several months following the procedure.

The limitations of LASIK include the ability to fully open your eyelids wide enough to fit the suction ring; if this cannot be done, you may not have LASIK as an option. For any further questions or concerns regarding LASIK, contact Minnesota Eye Institute today by giving us a call.

Serious complications from LASIK surgery average below 1%. There is commonly some temporary discomfort and temporary visual side effects after surgery. These side effects include light sensitivity, mild irritation, and glare in low-light environments.

Complications with the flap made to gain access to the part of the eye that is reshaped are rare and can be minimized even more by choosing a reputable and experienced eye surgeon. Irregular astigmatism may occur if the laser correction is not centered on the eye. Again, an experienced eye surgeon would minimize this already low risk.

Epithelial ingrowth occurs when cells from the outer layer of the cornea grow under the flap after LASIK surgery. In most cases, this is limited and does not cause problems. Kera ectasia is a very uncommon bulging of the eye that can happen if too much tissue is removed during the LASIK procedure. Diffuse lamellar keratitis is inflammation under the LASIK flap. It can be treated with antibiotics and topical steroids. Again, these flap complications are quite rare.

The most common complication with LASIK surgery is an under-correction or overcorrection requiring a second treatment or enhancement. Enhancements are a part of doing LASIK surgery and perhaps, it is not even appropriate to call them complications. Approximately 2% will need to have an enhancement in order to see 20/40 (driving vision), and 10% choose to have an enhancement even though they may be seeing fairly well.

Not all patients can be ideally corrected even with retreatment and some will need to wear glasses or contacts afterward. Our patients rarely need an enhancement to get the perfect vision, Dr. Carlson's enhancement rate is less than 2% which is below the national average.

Everyone responds and heals differently depending partly on your prescription, age, and individual healing. Because of this variability, no guarantees as to your final vision or speed of recovery can be given. Patients who are farsighted have a longer recovery compared to nearsighted patients.

With millions of procedures done in the United States alone, serious complications have been reported at a rate of less than 1%.

Most people have some dryness in their eyes for several months after LASIK, and many have some glare or rings around lights at night that lessens over time. This night glare is similar to that seen with contact lenses but if you have very large pupils or were very nearsighted, it can persist and be bothersome.