Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

If you are at least 18 years of age, in good general health and your eyes are clear of degenerative diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts you are probably a good candidate.

If you are pregnant,or a breastfeeding mother, it might be a better idea to postpone treatment until later, and there are a few medical conditions that might prevent LASIK from being a good choice.

If you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism Laser Vision Correction can probably help you. To find out talk with your own eye doctor, or call our office and schedule an evaluation to confirm if you are a good candidate.

What are the risks?

No medical procedure, including LASIK, is completely without risk. But as far as medical procedures go it has less risk than most. Statistically speaking, the drive to the clinic is more dangerous than the surgery.

While we cannot totally eliminate the risk, we do strive to minimize it. Our doctors have received extensive training in the LASIK procedure, as well as, performed over 25,000 LASIK surgeries with excellent results.

What kind of results can I expect?

While there are no guarantees, you can expect to see well without glasses. The majority of everyone undergoing Laser Vision Correction can now see as well without glasses as they could with glasses before having the surgery.

You can also expect no more dirty, scratched or fingerprinted lenses, no frames slipping down your nose, no losing your glases, no fogging up when you enter or leave a warm or cold building, no frames between you and the person to which you're giving that warm embrace, and about a thousand other annoyances that you have just gotten used to in the years you have worn glasses.

Will I have 20/20 vision following the LASIK procedure?

We hope so, but we do not want to give you false expectations. While almost everyone will experience immediate improved vision, not everyone will achieve 20/20.

Also be aware, that most people as they get older will benefit from reading glasses, even if they had 20/20 vision, naturally or via LASIK, in their earlier years.

Does the LASIK procedure hurt?

Most people experience very little pain associated with their procedure. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye prior to the surgery. After the procedure, you may experience slight discomfort but is usually resolved by resting the eyes with a short nap.

What will my recovery be like?

Possibly a slight discomfort in the beginning, but not much more than that. Though this can vary from one patient to another, recovery is much faster and much less painful than previous procedures. Most people are pleasantly surprised at how short and painless the recovery is.

When will I be able to see after the procedure?

Results vary from patient to patient. Most patients have functional vision immediately. Full visual results are usually realized within one to three weeks.

How soon can I return to work?

Some patients return to work the day after surgery, but two to three days of rest are suggested.

Can LASIK help in severe cases of near- or farsightedness?

In the most extreme cases, no. People with extreme degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness are more likely not to benefit from the LASIK procedure. But LASIK is not the only option available at Triad Eye. Refractive Lensectomy is also an option.

Laser vision correction works by altering the shape of the cornea. In extreme cases there may simply not be enough corneal tissue available to fix the problem.

With refractive lensectomy the eye's natural lens is removed and replaced by a lens implant that has been selected to best meet your focusing requirements. The implant remains in the eye and provides a wide range of focusing freedom.

With this procedure, your distance vision has now been corrected, however, glasses may be necessary for reading small print.

In the early 1970s doctors began making radial incisions in the cornea to treat nearsightedness and astigmatism. The surgical procedure is known as Radial Keratotomy (RK). This procedure, while effective, was limited by the precision of the surgeon's hands.

1980's, they began looking at lasers to improve the precision and predictability of altering the shape of the cornea. Researchers found that the Excimer laser could remove tissue with up to 0.25 microns of accuracy from the surface of the cornea. The procedure was called Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). And while this was an improvement over Radial Keratotomy, working on the very surface of the cornea still had some difficulties, especially concerning recovery time and hazing.

Surgeons realized that they could slice a "flap" of tissue from the surface of the cornea, use the laser to remove tissue from the cornea, then replace the flap. This innovation eliminated most of the difficulties encountered with PRK. They called the new procedure Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK.

As we age, the anatomical lens of our eye slowly loses its ability to focus from distance to near, or accommodate. This causes our near vision to become progressively worse beginning around the age of 40. The term for this loss of focusing ability is "presbyopia". Everyone will experience some degree of presbyopia, as it is one of the most predictable routine changes that occur in the human body.

Traditional treatments for presbyopia include reading glasses, bifocals, and multifocal lenses. Now refractive laser surgery and Triad Eye Laser Center offers another option to consider: Monovision.

During our developmental process, we all develop a dominant eye, either the right or the left. This is similar to being right or left-handed. Our dominant eye is the one that our brain prefers to use for distance viewing, and the non-dominant eye aids us in depth perception and balance.

With Monovision we correct your dominant eye for distance and your non-dominant eye for near. After a short period of adaptation, the brain learns to utilize Monovision with no conscious effort or awareness. This simple procedure has been highly successful. We have corrected thousands of people, just like you, who are ready to stop the aging process... at least where their eyes are concerned. If Monovision sounds right for you, give us a call today to set up your personal evaluation.

A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye. Normally, light passes through the clear lens and is focused onto the retina. However, as a result of the natural aging process, the lens gradually becomes cloudy and this blocks the passage of light through the eye causing distorted or blurred vision.

How are Cataracts treated?

The most effective way to restore vision is to remove the cloudy cataract and replace it with a plastic lens implant (Intraocular lens or IOL). With recent advances in cataract surgery equipment and techniques, vision can be restored more safely and faster, allowing patients to resume normal activities within hours after surgery (some activities may be limited during healing). Using these state of the art techniques, cataract surgery has a success rate greater than 98%.

In years past, cataract surgery was performed under general anesthesia requiring patients to stay in the hospital.

Later advances used a local anesthesia (retrobulbar or peribulbar blocks) where a needle stick is made, penetrating to just behind the eyeball where the anesthetic is injected. Although this procedure allows patients to return home the same day and is safer than using general anesthesia, it is not entirely free of risk.

Today, with recent advances in cataract surgery anesthesia, topical anesthetics are used. A patient may be given a sedative to help them relax and to keep them comfortable during the procedure. Next, the eye is anesthetized with eye drops instead of a needle injection.

There are at least five advantages to this method compared to what was used in the past:

Faster with greater patient comfort.

No patient anxiety over receiving a deep injection next to the eyeball.

Visual recovery begins immediately since the eye muscles aren't paralyzed as with local block anesthesia.

Removes the chance for a relatively dangerous anesthesia induced allergic reaction.

Eliminates potential for postoperative headaches caused by conventional blocks.

How is Ultrasound technology used to treat Cataracts?

Ultrasound technology (phacoemulsification or "phaco") is often used to remove a cataract. With "phaco", a probe is inserted through a small 1/8" opening (instead of a relatively wide incision) created with a specific self sealing technique. The new technique places the incision into the cornea (clear part of the eye that covers the iris or colored portion of the eye) just next to the sclera (white part of the eye).

After having Cataract Surgery, what can I expect?

Many patients are pleased to find that after topical, clear corneal cataract surgery their vision improvement begins almost immediately and they return home within a few hours after the procedure. Patients may find their vision better than ever; some will need to wear glasses for reading and other activities following the procedure. During the initial healing period there may be a few limitations on strenuous activities. Most people find they are able to return to a normal lifestyle immediately and begin doing things that poor cataract vision had restricted them from doing in the past.

Does Triad use these new techniques on all their cataract patients?

No. In most cases the topical anesthesia, no-stitch, no-patch technique is preferred, however some patients, because of their eye structure, health or other factors, may not be good candidates for the new technique. In these cases, patients can have traditional surgery and expect to do well. A complete eye examination and consultation with the doctor is necessary to determine each individuals specific needs and potential for improved vision.

Can cataracts be prevented?

Loss of sight from the cataracts is usually preventable. With modern technology, cataracts can be removed and good vision restored when a person feels the loss of vision is great enough to interfere with daily activities. If you are experiencing the symptoms of cataracts or other visual problems, please don't assume anything. Come in and let's find out for certain.

Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of fluid in the eyeball is abnormally high -- higher than the eye can tolerate over a long period of time. Most ophthalmologists agree that when pressure in the eye -- referred to as intraocular pressure -- is higher than normal, the risk of pressure-related damage significantly increases.

Glaucoma is caused by a buildup of the fluid -- aqueous humor -- that circulates within the eye. This buildup occurs because too much fluid is formed or because the channel through which the fluid normally drains -- the Canal of Schlemm -- is blocked. Since new fluid continues to enter the eye, joining the fluid already there, the pressure continues to rise.

Can Glaucoma Damage Sight?

If glaucoma goes untreated, it can damage sight. Elevated pressure within the eye can constrict the blood vessels that nourish the sensitive visual structures in the back of the eye. Because of the reduced blood supply, visual nerve cells die, resulting in some loss of vision. As the condition progresses, more nerve cells are damaged and the range of vision becomes narrower. If left unchecked, this process can lead to total blindness.

How Can You Tell If You Have Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is insidious; the vast majority of cases develop slowly over a period of months or years. In most cases, there are no symptoms. Damage can progress so slowly that the person is not aware of the gradual loss of sight. Vision usually becomes more and more impaired until, finally, the person is irreversibly blind.

Some people do experience vague symptoms, and these are important warnings that a thorough eye examination is needed. Symptoms can include a need for frequent change in glasses, difficulty in adjusting to dark rooms, loss of side vision, and blurred vision. Rarely, other symptoms, such as the appearance of halos or rainbows around lights and severe headaches or pain may occur.

Who Gets Glaucoma?

The risk of developing glaucoma increases with age. It usually occurs in people over 35 years of age. In fact, according to the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, one in 50 Americans over the age of 35 and three out of 100 over the age of 65 have glaucoma. A very rare form of glaucoma can occur in infants. People at high risk include those with diabetes or those who have relatives with glaucoma. People who have a family history of the disease should be sure to have their eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist.

Are There Different Types Of Glaucoma?

Yes, there are several types of Glaucoma.

Simple or chronic open-angle glaucoma: This accounts for the majority -- about 90 percent -- of cases. It progresses slowly and often goes unnoticed for many months or years, causing a gradual deterioration of vision. This type of glaucoma typically responds well to treatment. Therapy is usually continued for life so that the pressure is kept under control, helping to prevent loss of vision. In a few cases, surgery is required to allow the fluid to pass more freely from the eye.

Acute or angle-closure glaucoma: This is a sudden, drastic increase of pressure in the eye. If not treated immediately, it can permanently damage vision in a very short time. Usually medication is given to reduce the pressure, then surgery is performed to correct the problem. Unlike chronic open-angle glaucoma, acute glaucoma often has very marked symptoms, such as severe pain in the eye, blurred vision, the appearance of halos around lights, and vomiting.

Secondary glaucoma: This type of glaucoma is caused by another condition: inflammation of the eye, tumors, eye surgery, injuries, or cataracts in their advanced stages.

Congenital glaucoma: This type of glaucoma, which is present at birth, is rare. Enlargement of the infant's eyes as well as tearing and unusual sensitivity to light are symptoms that indicate the need for an ophthalmological examination.

Can Glaucoma Be Cured?

No. Glaucoma is incurable, but it is controllable. In most cases it can be successfully controlled with the proper treatment. Glaucoma is a chronic, lifelong condition requiring continual observation and management of the patient to keep elevated intraocular pressure under control and to help prevent loss of vision. The earlier the condition is discovered and treated, the greater the success in preventing vision loss.

How is Glaucoma Treated?

Occasionally, surgical procedures may be necessary and sometimes tablets used also. But the most common treatment is eye drops.

Just eye drops?

Well, no, these are not just eye drops. Because eye drops for glaucoma must be given in a very precise, consistent dosage, most products are sold in a special container. Your doctor will tell you how to use your medication properly.

It also need to be emphasized that the successful treatment of glaucoma with eye drops requires consistency. By that we mean, if the directions say one drop, once a day, that means one drop, no more and no less, once a day, every day. A skipped day or weekend, or accidentally running out of medication can play havoc with the treatment of this condition.

The nature of glaucoma medication is such that it is also important to inform any other doctors you are seeing that you are taking medication for glaucoma. It's also unwise to use any other eye medications or over the counter eyewashes without your doctor's approval.