Texan Eye
Austin, Texas (512)327-7000
(800)252-2020
Envision Freedom from Your Contacts & Glasses
All About LASIK

Laser Vision Correction in Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet - LASIK Eye Surgery and ASA-PRK

Over the last decade, laser vision correction with LASIK and ASA-PRK has helped millions of people see without glasses or contact lenses. Thanks to new advances in laser technology, LASIK and ASA-PRK now offer a solution for patients with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.

LASIK eye surgery photo

At Texan Eye, our eye surgeons are known for achieving excellent results with LASIK eye surgery and ASA-PRK. In fact, when Austin eye doctors have surgery on their own eyes, the overwhelming majority of them choose our surgeons. If you are considering laser vision correction, please read the information featured on this page and contact Texan Eye today for a complimentary initial laser vision correction screening, or for a comprehensive surgical consultation.

Overview of LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a procedure designed to correct refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) by permanently reshaping the tissue of the cornea.

LASIK surgery involves two steps:

  1. The creation of a corneal flap - During LASIK eye surgery, the surgeon uses a laser or a special device ( the Hansatome microkeratome) to create a thin flap of corneal tissue, which is then folded back to allow access to the underlying tissue.
  2. Tissue reshaping - The surgeon then relies on the "cool" light from an excimer laser to reshape corneal tissue, making the cornea flatter, steeper, or more spherical for better focusing power.

^ top

Overview of ASA-PRK

PRK was the first laser vision correction procedure approved by the FDA for the treatment of nearsightedness. Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA-PRK) refers to the treatment of the surface of the eye using advanced eye tracking Wavefront™ guided excimer lasers. ASA-PRK is a far cry from the PRK procedures of many years ago. In fact, some of the best results ever reported with laser vision correction have been with ASA-PRK. Now approved for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, ASA-PRK is the best option for many of our patients. Unlike LASIK surgery, ASA-PRK does not require the creation of a corneal flap. Instead, the epithelium is gently removed and the laser is applied to reshape the surface of the cornea. The entire procedure is quick, and with the eye drops available today, there is only mild discomfort after surgery. Most patients who undergo laser vision correction with ASA-PRK will achieve 20/20 vision or better.

^ top

IntraLase® "All-Laser" LASIK

Texan Eye offers "all-laser" LASIK using the IntraLase® laser. During all-laser LASIK, the surgeon creates the corneal flap with the computer-guided IntraLase® laser rather than the traditional microkeratome. The IntraLase® is first programmed with each individual's unique eye measurements to produce a corneal flap of the desired depth and diameter. After the flap has been created, the excimer laser is then applied to quickly reshape the cornea.

While the microkeratome is considered an extremely safe and effective tool for the creation of the corneal flap, the IntraLase® laser provides a degree of accuracy in flap creation that is unparalleled. In addition, many patients prefer the peace of mind of an all-laser procedure. While excellent results can be achieved with both a traditional microkeratome and with the IntraLase®, some studies have demonstrated that certain patients can even achieve better vision with an all-laser procedure using the IntraLase®. The decision regarding the best option for you should be made in consultation with one of our board-certified eye surgeons.

To find out if the IntraLase® is right for you, please contact Texan Eye to schedule an all-laser LASIK screening at one of our Austin area eye centers.

^ top

Candidates for Laser Vision Correction

Refractive surgery of any kind requires healthy eyes. First and foremost, laser vision correction candidates must undergo a thorough eye examination to rule out any retinal problems such as corneal scarring. If your eyes are in good health, you are over the age of 18, and you have stable vision, you can then visit our offices for a LASIK eye surgery or ASA-PRK screening to find out if your vision is within the proper range for effective treatment.

It is important to keep in mind that LASIK is not the only option for correcting your vision problems. For many patients, ASA-PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is the best option. The easiest way to find out the best treatment for you is to schedule a consultation at our Austin LASIK surgery center.

Visit our eye conditions page for more information about conditions treated with LASIK vision correction.

Register for a Free LASIK Screening!

We offer free LASIK screenings at our office at 1700 South Mopac in Austin. These LASIK eye surgery screenings are extremely informative and will allow you to interact with our doctors one-on-one.

If you are interested in a free LASIK screening , please contact Texan Eye today. We will be happy to schedule a LASIK surgery screening at our practice when your schedule permits.

^ top

Before LASIK Surgery

If you are considering LASIK, we urge you to visit our center in Austin for a free LASIK surgery screening. At this time, we will make a treatment recommendation based on your lens prescription. Your doctor will also be happy to answer questions about laser eye surgery and discuss LASIK financing.

Your next appointment will be a pre-LASIK surgery consultation. This consultation gives our surgeons an opportunity to perform a comprehensive eye examination at our Austin center in order to confirm that you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery. The doctor will look for any eye abnormalities that would preclude laser vision correction and also re-measure your eyes. It is important that you discontinue the use of soft contact lenses for two weeks prior to this appointment (hard lenses call for one month per decade of wear), as contact lenses do tend to change the shape of your cornea, and we want to make sure that your measurements are as accurate as possible prior to surgery. During this consultation, your surgeon will make a final recommendation for treatment.

*The Day of Your Surgery*

Some points to keep in mind on the day of your LASIK surgery:

  • From start to finish, your entire stay at the LASIK surgery center will be approximately one to two hours. Try to get some rest the night before. Remember, it’s perfectly normal to be nervous the day of the procedure.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing and do not apply makeup the day of the surgery.
  • There are no food and drink restrictions prior to LASIK surgery, but please don’t consume alcoholic beverages or take any medications that will make you drowsy.
  • Arrange transportation. If you cannot find anyone to drive you home following LASIK eye surgery, we will be happy to make arrangements on your behalf.

^ top

The Surgery

Traditional LASIK surgery generally takes five to 10 minutes per eye. The staff at the LASIK surgery center will explain the surgery to you step by step. You can be confident that your eye surgeon will make you aware of everything that’s happening during every stage of the surgery.

Prior to LASIK surgery, your eyes will be numbed with anesthetic drops. These drops are designed to make your experience as comfortable as possible. There are NO shots or injections of any kind before, during, or after the procedure.

During the first step of LASIK surgery, the creation of the corneal flap, you will not feel any pain, only a slight pressure sensation. After the eye surgeon lifts the flap, you will be asked to focus carefully on a red light while the excimer laser reshapes your cornea. Keep in mind, the surgeon can stop the laser for any reason in just a fraction of a second. Slight movements of the eye during surgery are not uncommon, and will not cause any damage to the eye. Sophisticated eye tracking software allows the laser to follow and compensate for your eye movements during the procedure.

Once the cornea has been reshaped with the laser, the corneal flap is laid back over the eye, where it adheres naturally without the need for stitches. At this point your vision will be slightly blurry, but your focus will rapidly improve over the next few hours.

^ top

After LASIK Surgery

Following treatment at the Austin LASIK surgery center, patients can return home almost immediately. When you leave our office you will be given detailed instructions about post-operative care and you will also be provided with special sunglasses to wear to protect your eyes. You will need to use eye drops during the first several days after surgery. There are certain activities that should be avoided in the days following the surgery; your surgeon will discuss these with you prior to surgery. Makeup should not be used for several days following LASIK eye surgery, and patients should be careful to avoid getting shampoo or soap in their eyes while bathing.

You will be examined the day after the procedure so one of our ophthalmologists or optometrists can check your progress.

^ top

Results - What to Expect Following LASIK Eye Surgery

For the vast majority of our Central Texas and Austin patients, LASIK eye surgery is extremely successful at reducing or eliminating their dependence on glasses. That being said, LASIK surgery produces different outcomes for different patients.

Studies show that more than 98 percent of myopic patients who undergo LASIK eye surgery have their vision measured at 20/40 or better following surgery - meaning they can legally drive a car and participate in a variety of other physical activities without glasses. Results following Custom Wavefront™ LASIK are even better! If you decide to undergo LASIK eye surgery with one of our vision correction specialists, you can be confident that we will use the latest tools and techniques available to meet or exceed your expectations with surgery.

Find out why eye surgeons across the State of Texas choose the LASIK surgeons of Texan Eye for their vision correction needs. Contact our Austin practice to schedule a comprehensive surgery consultation with one of our premier eye surgeons.

^ top

Contact us for a consultation.

Contact Texan Eye - serving Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet - for more LASIK eye surgery and ASA-PRK information.







Our Locations
PIF
Austin:
Georgetown:
Bastrop:
Burnet: