Can I have vision correction (laser eye surgery)?
The basic guidelines for having laser vision correction include:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• Have healthy eyes
• Have stable vision (Your prescription should not have changed in the past 12 months.)

The ophthalmologists at UT Southwestern's Laser Center for Vision Care also provide additional information and advice during our educational seminars. A private screening may be made during business hours if evening hours are inconvenient. After the informational seminar, you'll be able to schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our ophthalmologists. During this appointment, a comprehensive eye exam will help us determine if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery, and if so, which particular type of surgery is best suited to your visual needs.

How does laser eye surgery work?
An excimer laser delivers short pulses of a cool beam of ultraviolet light that removes a small amount of corneal tissue, usually less than the thickness of a human hair. The corneal curvature is adjusted to reduce the refractive error (how out of focus the eye is) and, therefore reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses. Watch a video to see how an eye exam and laser surgery are performed.

What is the difference between PRK, LASIK and LASEK?
The difference between PRK, LASIK and LASEK is how the outermost layer of the cornea (corneal epithelium) is treated during the laser vision correction procedure.

What are the benefits of laser eye surgery?
Laser vision correction reduces or eliminates your dependence on contact lenses and glasses, so there is a cost savings in not buying new frames and contacts. Some people find wearing glasses or contacts uncomfortable or inconvenient, particularly while participating in some sports. Some patients just want to be able to see the clock when they wake up.

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Is it safe?
More than 1 million laser vision correction procedures have been performed worldwide in the past 10 years. Data obtained during exhaustive clinical trials show that all patients experience a significant improvement in uncorrected vision (vision without glasses or contact lenses) after laser vision correction. Infection is a rare but treatable complication.

Do I need an eye exam first?
Before treatment you will have a thorough eye examination to determine whether your eyes are healthy and suitable for laser vision correction. If you have been wearing contact lenses, it is important that the lenses are removed prior to the examination. The rule of thumb is to remove the lenses seven to 10 days if they are soft lenses and two to three weeks if they are gas permeable or hard lenses. A detailed video and computer image is taken of your eye that will detail the curvature, shape and overall smoothness and regularity of the cornea. Corneal thickness measurements are taken and refractive stability is verified.

How long do I need to go without makeup?
You should not wear eye makeup to your initial eye exam or on the day of surgery, and you should not wear eye make-up for two weeks after surgery. Base, powder and blush are okay if you take care not to get anything in your eyes.

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How long to I have to be out of my contacts?
Because contact lenses reshape the cornea slightly, you should remove your soft contact lenses seven to 10 days before the initial eye exam. If you wear hard or gas permeable lenses, you should remove the lenses two to three weeks ahead of time.

How much time does it take to get laser vision correction?
First, we require a pre-operative eye exam. Later, when you schedule surgery, we recommend you plan to have laser vision correction when you can take a few days to relax. The actual surgery takes minutes, but you will need time before and after the surgery for preparation and post-operative procedures. Follow-up visits are required at 24 and 72 hours and your eyes will be light sensitive for the first few days, up to a week.

The eye heals during this period so we recommend you take a day or two off of work and avoid light exercise. You should not drive for 24 hours after the surgery and be careful not to get soap or shampoo in your eyes while bathing.

For one to eight weeks, you should avoid any activities that might cause you to get dirt or dust in your eyes, such as rubbing the eyes, gardening, strenuous exercise, heavy-duty house cleaning, or contact sports. You should not swim or use a hot tub or whirlpool during this time. Your doctor can give you specific length of times to avoid these activities or tips for protecting your eyes while they heal.

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What will my vision be like after surgery?
This depends largely on the amount of correction required. Most people require a low to moderate degree of laser vision correction that should result in vision similar to that with glasses or contact lenses. Vision is usually blurry in the first day or two after the laser vision correction procedure. It is expected that most patients should be able to legally drive without correction within 1 week.

Is this affordable?
Vision correction surgery is an elective procedure, so most insurance companies don't cover the cost. A few companies offer discounts for laser vision surgery through our clinic. However, this procedure has never been more affordable. See our comparison of the costs of glasses, contacts and laser surgery. First, consider the cost of replacing your eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. We also offer various financing packages to help you pay for the procedure.

What's next?
First, learn about your vision correction needs. Call us today at 214-590-3535 or toll free at 1-888-663-2020 to attend one of our educational seminars. An individual consultation can also be arranged at a time that is convenient for you.

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