Experience Matters
Our eye laser center staff comprises surgeons, ophthalmic nurses, certified ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists. Our team has over 300 years of cumulative experience in all types of laser eye surgery for vision correction. Eyecare Medical Group eye surgeons were the first to bring laser eye surgery for vision correction to Maine in the 1990s.
If you’re tired of relying on glasses and contact lenses when you wake up every morning and want to see more clearly, the first step is finding out if you could be a good candidate for a laser vision correction procedure like LASIK. The talented and experienced team at Eyecare Medical Group can help you achieve your dreams of visual freedom and help you see the world more clearly.
What is LASIK?
LASIK, short for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the most popular elective procedure you can undergo. It’s a laser vision correction procedure that corrects refractive errors.
These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK reshapes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.
By reshaping it, light can focus as it should on the retina at the back of the eye. LASIK makes your vision clearer, helping you see the world as it should be.
Since receiving its FDA approval, LASIK has continued to evolve and change as a procedure. Today, LASIK is safer and more precise than ever, and millions of patients have undergone the vision correction procedure worldwide.
Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK?
There is no way to determine whether you’re a good LASIK candidate without undergoing a LASIK consultation at Eyecare Medical Group. During your consultation, you’ll have precise measurements of the shape and thickness of your cornea taken, as well as a critical evaluation of the health and quantity of your tears.
There’s no way to determine if you’re a good LASIK candidate by knowing your current prescription or looking at your eyes in a mirror. A LASIK consultation is the only way to determine if a patient is well-suited to LASIK or another laser vision correction procedure.
We always ask that patients come in for a consultation, allowing them to meet with us to feel comfortable and have any questions about the procedure answered. Because LASIK is a surgical procedure, you must qualify as a candidate to undergo it. However, many people are good LASIK candidates. You may be a good LASIK candidate if:
- You’re at least 18 years old
- You have a stable prescription that’s remained unchanged for a year or more
- You’re not currently pregnant or nursing
- You have realistic expectations about what LASIK could achieve
- You have thick enough corneas
- You’re in good health and do not have any medical conditions like diabetes, lupus, or autoimmune conditions that could make it more challenging to recover from LASIK
- You don’t have any preexisting eye conditions like dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts
If you think you could be a good candidate for LASIK, request your LASIK consultation at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, ME!
What Can I Expect During the LASIK Procedure?
On the day of your LASIK procedure, you’ll start by receiving numbing eye drops. These ensure you’ll be comfortable and will not feel any pain.
We’ll use a device to keep you from blinking, and we may give you a sedative to help you stay calm. Next, your Eyecare Medical Group LASIK surgeon will create a small flap in your cornea with a femtosecond laser, and then they will fold the flap back.
Then, an excimer laser will reshape your cornea and remove small but precise amounts of corneal tissue as needed to correct your refractive errors. During the procedure, you’ll focus on a target light to keep your eye steady and ensure you don’t blink.
This only takes about 30 seconds per eye. Next, your LASIK surgeon will reposition the flap, which doesn’t require stitches or sutures as it heals independently. The flap will act as a bandage during the LASIK recovery process.
LASIK only takes about 30 minutes to complete, and because you’ll be awake the whole time, it’s an outpatient procedure. You’ll be able to go home once a member of our staff has cleared you.
What is Recovery After LASIK Like?
After the LASIK procedure is over, it’s time to go home! Because of the numbing eye drops, you must have a friend or trusted family member drive you home, as your vision may be unstable.
Most patients notice almost immediate visual improvements after LASIK, which continue in the days, weeks, and months after the procedure. It can take about three to six months for your eyes to fully recover and heal after LASIK. However, you’ll be able to go about and live your life during this time.
You may notice that your vision is blurry, your eyes feel dry or gritty, or you experience slight discomfort as the numbing eye drops wear off after LASIK. Any side effects should dissipate and improve after a day or two.
Many patients find that their eyes feel better if they take a nap or rest when they get home after having LASIK. You’ll be prescribed eye drops to treat inflammation and prevent infection.
Taking these as directed is essential to achieving the best possible LASIK results. Follow-up appointments are also necessary after LASIK.
The first one is usually the day after your LASIK procedure. Each after is typically about a month, three months, and six months after your procedure. However, your ophthalmologist at Eyecare Medical Group will inform you of the schedule you need to follow. These appointments are crucial to ensure your eyes heal as they should.
After LASIK, you can return to many things you love. However, you’ll want to avoid wearing eye makeup, rubbing your eyes, getting water in your eyes, and any strenuous exercise for at least a week.
You’ll also need to wait to go into any bodies of water for several weeks after LASIK, so avoid hot tubs, pools, lakes, and the ocean. After this time, you can enjoy the things you love with the best vision of your life.
What Will My Vision Be Like After LASIK?
After LASIK, most patients experience sharper, clearer vision almost immediately. As all patients are unique, it’s normal if it takes a little longer.
Although there’s no guarantee with any vision correction procedure, LASIK included, most patients end up with 20/20 vision or better after the procedure. Patients also say they have better depth perception and improved contrast, and everything looks brighter and more vibrant.
If you want to experience the world in high definition without depending on visual aids, a procedure like LASIK could be the way to go.
Are you ready to change your life? Take the first step by requesting your LASIK consultation at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, ME!
