LASIK Consultation, Procedure, & Healing
The LASIK Consultation
Before you can undergo LASIK, you’ll need to consult with our team about your candidacy for the procedure. A laser eye surgery consultation involves a comprehensive eye exam and discussion of the risks and benefits of the procedure with your eyes in mind.
Although we don’t perform the surgery at our clinic, we’ll refer you to a trusted ophthalmologist and co-manage your pre and post-surgical care.
The LASIK Procedure
LASIK is usually completed in 30 minutes or less. You’ll be given numbing eye drops and possibly medication to keep you calm during the surgery.
Using a small blade or femtosecond laser, your ophthalmologist will create a small flap in the outer cornea to expose the corneal stroma. This flap is then folded back, and the corneal stroma is shaped precisely to your requirements using an excimer laser. The flap is placed back over and left to heal on its own.
If you need LASIK in both eyes, your doctor will generally conduct the procedure on the same day.
The Healing Process
Your eyes might itch, burn, water, or feel gritty immediately after the surgery. Your vision will likely be blurry, but most patients report feeling little pain, and your vision will improve quickly.
You may be given pain medication or eyedrops to improve your comfort after the procedure. You may be asked to wear eye protection until your eyes heal.
It takes about 2 to 3 months for your eyes to completely heal and your vision to stabilize. We’ll schedule you for follow-up appointments at our Modesto clinic so we can monitor your healing progress. Plan for follow-up appointments during the first 6 months after your surgery, although we may recommend more or fewer visits.
