LASIK Refractive Surgery

LASIK Refractive Surgery or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is one of the most popular eye procedures for treating low-to-high levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

In LASIK, a microkeratome (metal-blade cutting instrument) and laser are utilized to permanently change the cornea's shape and correct visual distortions, which remarkably enhances the patient's vision and most often reduces or eliminates the patient's need for other forms of corrective vision such as eye glasses or contact lenses.

Why LASIK?

In short, it's a convenient, low-risk and effective procedure. LASIK reduces or eliminates a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses, and has quickly become the procedure of choice for most patients.

The majority of LASIK patients have a quick recovery and fewer side effects and complications than with other methods of vision correction, and many patients notice a significant improvement in their vision soon after surgery.

Am I a candidate?

In general, the ideal patient has a healthy cornea, and must not have had a significant increase in their prescription in the last year. People with certain medical conditions or pregnant women may not be good candidates.

First you should ask yourself a few questions: Do your glasses or contacts prevent you from enjoying every day living? Do your glasses or contacts interfere with your recreational activities? If you wear contact lenses, do they get dry and gritty during the day? If the answer to any of these questions is YES, you may be a good candidate.

LASIK candidates should also meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Have had a stable glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years, and have sufficient corneal thickness (the cornea is the transparent front part of the eye)
• Are affected by one of the common types of vision problems or refractive error - myopia (nearsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an irregular shaped cornea), hyperopia (farsightedness), or a combination thereof (e.g., myopia with astigmatism)
• Do not suffer from any disease, vision-related or otherwise, that may reduce the effectiveness of the surgery or your ability to heal properly and quickly
• Are adequately informed about the benefits and risks of the procedure

What are the risks?

The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses, but laser vision correction does not always create 20/20 or even 20/40 vision.

The procedure will not correct presbyopia, a condition that usually appears in patients over 40 and where the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects. Furthermore, people 40 and above who have their nearsightedness reduced with surgery may find they need reading glasses after the procedure.

Over the years, as surgeons have gained experience performing the surgery and new technologies have been developed, LASIK has become a very safe, sophisticated outpatient procedure with a short recovery time and minimal risks.

It may comfort you to know that major complications from laser vision correction are rare, and most complications can be resolved with additional surgery or medical treatment.

Types of Laser Therapy

There are several types of laser surgery, and it's important for you to discuss you're your options with Dr. Stolte so he can advise you on what procedure might be best for you.

Types of laser procedures include:

• Traditional - With the traditional LASIK treatment, the doctor will perform an eye exam with your eyes fully dilated prior to your procedure to determine what your prescription is and use that as the treatment input into the laser.
• Custom - The Custom LASIK method reshapes the cornea to reduce or eliminate visual distortions. Custom LASIK technology has the potential to improve how much and how well you can see as well as reduce the risks of post-LASIK complications. Unlike traditional LASIK, it treats both lower-order aberrations, including distortions such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations, which are imperfections that can cause night vision, glare, shadows and halos.
• Epi-LASIK - This is a newer laser eye procedure that is a form of surface ablation with some advantages over similar procedures, such as LASEK (also known as PRK). This procedure tends to cause minimal discomfort, offers a short recovery, and brings a lower risk of corneal haze associated with other surface ablation procedures, such as PRK and LASEK. The procedure is often a great option for patients with dry eyes. It's also a smart choice for patients with an abnormal cornea, who may not qualify for LASIK, but are still candidates for epi-LASIK.

Why choose Stolte Eye Center?

For over 30 years, Dr. Keith Stolte has proven himself to be the leader in refractive surgery in the Tampa Bay area. Dr. Stolte has performed more than 1,800 successful LASIK procedures by offering the most-advanced FDA-approved technology and undergoing ongoing, extensive training for each vision-correction. At Stolte Eye Center, we strive to provide our patients with the best customer-care experience and quality of vision available today.

Call us today at (352) 358-0800 to make an appointment with Dr. Stolte.

We offer LASIK Refractive Surgery for patients in Spring Hill, Bayonet Point, Brooksville, Crystal River, Homosassa, Hudson, Lutz, New Port Richey, North Tampa, Port Richey, Ridge Manor, Weeki Wachee, Citrus County, Hernando County, Pasco County and surrounding communities.