Frequently Asked Questions

Fortunately, true side effects with laser eye surgery are very rare. What most people consider side effects are part of the normal healing process and are mild and temporary. They tend to clear up as your eye heals. The most common symptoms to expect during the healing period include:

• Mild vision fluctuations
• Glare or halos around lights
• Mild discomfort, similar to feeling like there is a dry or old contact in your eyes

The best surgery for you will depend on your age, vision goals, refractive error (glasses prescription), overall eye health and anatomy, and more. The only way to confirm is through a comprehensive exam and discussion. However, here are some general ways to think about the different surgeries:

• SMILE/LASIK/PRK K are all quick and safe procedures under the umbrella of ‘Laser Vision Correction’ that provide excellent results and accuracy. There are differences between types of lasers and procedure healing that may make one procedure more suitable for a particular individual. Studies have shown that a one time procedure is safer and more affordable than long term contact lens use.
• ICL(Implantable Collamer Lens) is a procedure that is a great option for patients who have higher prescriptions or contraindications to laser vision correction. Results are predictable and patients have excellent optical quality.
• RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) is the removal and replacement of the dysfunctional natural lens. It can correct prescription and presbyopia while preventing further worsening of cataracts. This is often the recommended procedure for more mature patients who have beginning changes to their natural lens already that cannot be addressed by the other procedures.

Your recovery will depend on the surgical technique used. As a general rule, you can return to work and your normal daily routine according to the following timelines:

• SMILE/LASIK/ICL/RLE: One to two days
• PRK: One week

Your aftercare regimen will depend on the health of your eyes and the surgery you had performed. In almost all cases, you will be given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to optimize healing. You’ll need to use these drops a few times a day for at least one week.

For most procedures we perform, you can drive again the very next day. Patients who receive PRK will need to wait slightly longer because vision will still be blurry.

The primary goal of these procedures is to reduce the need for glasses or contacts. Most of our patients do not need glasses or contacts for regular activities including driving, sports and reading and achieve 20/20 distance vision after their procedure healing period. Most patients will require reading glasses after the age of 40 to 45 as this is unrelated to the procedures we perform and a normal aging change in the eye. During your pre-surgery appointments, we will talk to you about the results you can expect.

It’s important to avoid eye makeup while your eyes are healing. Depending on your procedure, the healing time varies between one day to two weeks and this will be discussed during your visit.

Our procedures are permanent, however, normal aging of the eyes continues. Typically, once your prescription is stable, it will remain stable from our 20s to 60s. Occasionally, you will continue to have small changes in prescription or development of other eye diseases unrelated to the procedure later on that can impact vision.

Fortunately, the procedures we perform are extremely safe and have a low rate of true complications. On the rare occasion that complications occur, they can frequently be treated easily with eye drops or a quick touch up procedure.

Yes. If you develop cataracts after laser eye surgery, you can have refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery. During this procedure, we will remove your clouded lens and implant an artificial one that lets you see clearly again.