LASIK and other commonly used refractive surgeries are viable methods of correcting refractive errors (see "Eye Exams" for defintion). We support and are enthusiastic about refractive surgeries. In the hands of good surgeons refractive surgeries are without any unpredictable major complications. That is not to say they are without complaints. With good surgeons the compliants of todays surgery are minimal and most are because of mistakes made with pre-surgery education by the optometric physician: not the fault of the surgeon. The facilities we know and trust are listed under Links. We have worked with both of these surgery facilities for over 12 years.

Before you are referred for surgery it is the responsibility of the optometric physician to:

1. Educate you fully about surgical options.

2. Educate you on special surgical considerations needed for your special situation or expectation of outcome.

3. To make sure that you are of proper age, refractive condition, physical and ocular health, expectation and emotional comportment.

4. Provide you with estimated risks.

5. Have examined your eyes thoroughly inside and out including corneal topography, corneal thickness, dilated intra-eye examination, and establishing your glasses prescription under special "cycloplegic" medication - all within 90 days of surgery.

6. See that you have discontinued contact lenses long enough (see below), and your glasses prescription is completely stable.  

7. Provide you with a nearly exact prediction of the your financial obligation.

     The usual formulas agreed upon by optometric physicians and refractive surgeons to calculate how long contact lenses wearers must be out of their contact lenses before either of theses doctors will consider finding the final glasses prescription to be used for surgical data is:

     1. Hard Contact Lens Wearers: 6 weeks plus 2 additional weeks for every decade or part of a decade prior to the wearers   discontinuing wear in preparation for refractive surgery.

     2. Gas Permeable Contact Lens Wearers: 4 weeks plus 1 additional week for every decade or part of a decade prior to the wearers discontinuing contact lenses in preparation for refractive surgery.

     3. Soft Contact Lens Wearers: 2 weeks plus 3 days for every decade or part of a decade prior to the wearers discontinuing contact lenses in preparation for refractive surgery.

     Laser eye surgeries are said to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism (corneal warping), but you will find little enthusiasm among laser surgeons for correcting hyperopia.  Laser surgeries for myopia are highly perfected. Astigmatism surgeries are good, but frequently need enhancements.

     If you are of an age to need bifocal glasses, just like with glasses or contact lenses, once your distance vision is corrected by refractive surgery you will need help for a reading device. Further, LASIK surgery on those in their mid to late fifties frequently hastens the onset of cataracts. So if you are of that age, you should at least consider the refractive surgery called "refractive lensectomy."

     And finally, today's refractive surgery is good, but it's messy. It requires time, patience, forbearance, repeated trips to a doctor to make sure things are right before surgery,  repeated trips afterward to make sure it ends correctly, and enhancements (second surgeries) are required more than 15% of the time. Mistakes and unpredictable outcomes happen. Most are correctable. Still, it must be understood that refractive surgery is to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses not necessarily to eliminate them.

     So, are you a perfectionist?  Do you, your spouse, children, friends, accomplishments, surroundings, dress, hobbies, everyday performance, and life have to be perfect? Let me give you some sound advice. Refractive surgery is not for you!