The Gulfcoast Eye Care Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
Thanksgiving Closure: We will be closed on 11/28-11/29. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Gulf Coast Eye Care
LASIKSurgery & Recovery
Page Updated:
LASIK is a popular laser vision correction surgery that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in order to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. The team of eye doctors at Gulfcoast Eye Care includes experienced LASIK surgeons who specialize in personalized vision correction and advanced LASIK techniques.
To find out how much you can save over a lifetime by getting LASIK try our LASIK Savings Calculator below!
The technical name for LASIK is Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery, which means that it corrects refractive errors. Common refractive errors are myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. A refractive error occurs when the shape of the eye does not allow light to focus correctly.
LASIK surgery works to correct vision in a two step process. In the first step, the eye surgeon creates a very thin flap in the cornea, which is the surface of the eye. In the second step, a laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue in order to correct the shape of the eye so that it can focus properly. After the cornea has been precisely reshaped, the corneal flap will be returned to its initial position and will act as a natural bandage as the eye heals. There is no need for stitches of any kind since the flap is self-sealing.
Dr. Manning Answers Common LASIK Surgery Questions
While many LASIK Surgery procedures are performed with a microkeratome, a mechanical blade device that creates the flap, Dr. Michael Manning instead performs the “all-laser” or “bladeless” option for LASIK surgery. Using the Visumax Femtosecond laser, the surgeon creates a corneal flap through delivery of rapid, painless pulses of light. The femtosecond laser is very precise in creating the corneal flap, which may result in improved surgical accuracy with superior visual outcomes for the patient.
Jonathan Young,
LASIK Patient
LASIK has improved quality of life for many of our patients. You could be a candidate for LASIK eye surgery, if you:
Even if you are not a candidate for LASIK, you and your doctor could decide that PRK, Implantable Contact Lenses, or Refractive Lens Exchange, might be a better option for you.
FREEDOM Swim, boat, exercise, or travel with less worry! LASIK patients can enjoy carefree adventures with less dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
LIFESTYLE We are committed to personalized care that provides each patient with the vision treatment option that best matches their day-to-day routine, no matter what your profession or activity level.
Time Savings Streamline your morning routine and pack a little lighter without the hassle and inconvenience of glasses and contact lenses.
Cost Savings LASIK is a good investment when you consider the lifetime savings that are possible when you reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
Advanced Technology We invest in state-of-the-art equipment to provide optimal treatment, including custom & topo-guided vision correction with the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser.
Experience Our highly skilled LASIK surgeon Dr. Michael Manning is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and has helped many patients achieve improved vision
on glasses & contacts over your lifetime
When you arrive at our laser vision center for your treatment, you should expect to stay for approximately 90 minutes, although the actual laser surgery only take about 10-15 minutes. You will need to have someone with you to drive you home after the procedure. At the beginning of your appointment, we numb and prepare your eyes with a series of eye drops.
Our LASIK team will advise you about what eye drops you should use and how often to use them during your healing process. You will be given a kit with the drops and instructions along with eye shields for you to wear while sleeping during the first week. During the first 12 to 24 hours, you may feel slight discomfort, sensitivity to light, and a scratchiness or foreign body sensation. These symptoms are generally improved with use of moisturizing eye drops as well as an over-the-counter pain reliever.
You will be scheduled for a postoperative visit the day after your procedure to check your results and ensure your eyes are healing correctly after LASIK. Patients typically return to work two days after their LASIK procedure.
LASIK results are almost immediate and you can expect to experience improved vision the day after your procedure. Each LASIK patient is unique and individual results vary, but studies show that more than 90% of LASIK patients experience vision within the 20/20 range, with 99% enjoying vision better than 20/40.2 One of the major advantages of LASIK is that the corrections made during surgery are permanent, which allows patients to enjoy reduced reliance, and possibly even total freedom, from eyeglasses or contact lenses for many years.
The difference between traditional LASIK and “All-Laser” or “Bladeless” LASIK is the method by which the LASIK flap is created. In “All-Laser LASIK”, a femtosecond laser device called a laser keratome, is used to create a corneal flap for LASIK surgery. This is a newer method to create a corneal flap than the traditional method of using a microkeratome, a mechanical device with a moving blade. There is no absolute agreement among all eye surgeons on the better choice for flap creation. Dr. Manning and many other surgeons believe that the computer-controlled laser provides superior precision as compared to that of a hand-held mechanical blade. This provides greater safety and control of flap size and thickness.
Yes, you will need to be awake in order to focus on a red blinking light within the microscope during the procedure. This helps to ensure that your treatment will be centered over your pupil. Patients sometimes inquire about general anesthesia, but it is not recommended for LASIK. Your eyes will be numbed for your LASIK procedure.
At Gulfcoast Eye Care, we utilize the most advanced lasers for laser vision correction. These lasers have sophisticated eye-tracking features that can detect and compensate for even tiny movements of the eye. In making these adjustments continually throughout your procedure, the laser beam is guided to remain centered precisely over the treatment area. In this way, the exact treatment is delivered precisely where it is intended to provide the highest level of comfort, precision, and safety.
Yes, most patients undergoing LASIK or PRK prefer to have both eyes treated on the same day for the sake of convenience. This is a decision that is best discussed between you and your doctor.
With PRK, the eye surgeon first removes the surface layer of cells by using a softening solution or the laser and then applies the laser to sculpt the underlying corneal tissue to achieve the desired correction. Upon completion, a bandage contact lens is placed for comfort and the surface layer then heals back in place over the next 72 hours. In LASIK, a flap with a hinge on one side is created in the cornea either with a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. The flap is then lifted and the excimer laser is applied to sculpt the underlying corneal tissue to achieve the desired correction. The flap is then repositioned and reattaches with the natural hydrostatic forces of the cornea so that no stitches are needed.
Both procedures have minimal discomfort with the main sensations being a pressure-like sensation with the placement of the eyelid speculum and while the flap is being created with LASIK. After LASIK, there are generally a few hours or more where the eye has a scratchy, foreign-body sensation and sensitivity to light. In contrast, PRK generally has a period of 3-4 days during which this sensation may last. The visual recovery is generally more immediate with LASIK however both procedures generally achieve the same desired result.
Contact lenses can change the shape of your cornea, similar to how a watch band that you have been wearing can make an imprint on the skin of your wrist. If your eyes are measured too soon after taking out contacts, several of the tests could give inaccurate results that could affect your outcome.
You must wait a minimum of six weeks after you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. Even then, we must assess that some of the changes or fluctuations that can occur with your cornea during pregnancy are no longer taking place so that you may receive your best possible result.
A complete eye examination is necessary to determine whether you may still be a good candidate despite a prior eye injury.
Amblyopia, sometimes called “lazy eye”, is a condition of incomplete visual development in a person with otherwise healthy eyes. If you have amblyopia, Laser Vision Correction generally cannot improve your vision to a level that is better than your best-corrected vision with your corrective lenses. To establish realistic expectations of what Laser Vision Correction may achieve in your amblyopic eye, you should discuss this further with your eye doctor.
LASIK is FDA approved and is widely regarded as a safe procedure with a low rate of complications.4 Some of the most common side effects associated with LASIK, such as blurry vision or dry eyes, are usually temporary and will typically go away soon after surgery.5 According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, surgical complications occur in fewer than 1% of LASIK surgeries.6
All surgical procedures carry some risk of complications or side effects. Potential risks of LASIK include overcorrection, undercorrection, dry eyes, and temporary double vision or halos.7 The team at Gulfcoast Eye Care has a track record of success and prioritizes patient safety at all times.
LASIK at Gulfcoast Eye Care is fully customized for each patient. The price of a LASIK procedure can vary depending on your individual vision needs, and will be discussed during a consultation appointment.
Generally, insurance companies view LASIK as an elective procedure and therefore do not cover the cost of LASIK. Very few insurance companies offer LASIK discounting with participating providers. We offer special LASIK savings promotions as well as great financing options.
No. You will be given post-LASIK instructions that include some eye shields to wear at night or when sleeping immediately following your LASIK procedure. The purpose of these is to prevent you from rubbing your eyes.
You should avoid driving immediately after surgery while you are still under the influence of relaxing medications. You may resume driving as soon as you feel comfortable with your vision. The majority of patients are able to drive on their own on the day following LASIK. Following PRK, it may take 4-5 days to feel comfortable that your vision is clear enough for driving.
Yes, you may scuba dive as soon one week following your procedure once your LASIK surgeon clears you.
It is best to wait one week prior to wearing eye makeup. To decrease your risk of infection, it is a good idea to purchase new mascara.
Please contact Gulfcoast Eye Care today at 727-895-2020 to speak with a surgical counselor. Our counselors are available Monday through Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM. We would be happy to schedule an Eye Analysis for you. This will help us identify the procedure for which you are the best candidate.
1 American Refractive Surgery Council. Does My Eyeglass Prescription Qualify for LASIK? Available https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/eyeglass-prescription-qualify-lasik/ Accessed January 24, 2020.
2 American Refractive Surgery Council. What Is the LASIK Success Rate? Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/laser-eye-surgery-lasik-success-rate/ Accessed January 24, 2020.
3 Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2016 Aug;42(8):1224-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2016.07.012
4 American Academy of Ophthalmology. LASIK — Laser Eye Surgery. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik Accessed January 24, 2020.
5 Mayo Clinic. LASIK eye surgery. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774 Accessed January 24, 2020.
6 American Refractive Surgery Council. LASIK Complication Rate: The Latest Facts and Stats You Should Know. Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/lasik-complication-rate-latest-facts/ Accessed January 24, 2020.
7 Mayo Clinic. LASIK Eye Surgery. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774 Accessed January 24, 2020.
SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY
LASIK CONSULTATION!
Wondering if LASIK is right for you? Schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced LASIK surgeons.
We can answer any questions, evaluate your eyes, and discuss all available options to ensure you get optimal treatment
for your vision needs and lifestyle.
We offer both in-office appointments and virtual visits for your convenience
If you cannot find a convenient time that works for you or you would like to speak with a patient services representative,
please call us at 727-485-9461.
Select Day & Time
Tell Us About Yourself
Choose Your Location
Palm Harbor
Pinellas Park
St. Petersburg
Virtual Visits
