Contact our practice serving Stockton, Sacramento, and Modesto today for LASIK eye surgery. A convenient evaluation is the first step toward clear vision.
Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center
445 West Poplar Street
Stockton, California 95203
Ph. (866) 922-0405
Fax. (209) 465-2562
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Providing Stockton, Modesto, and Sacramento with LASIK and Other Ophthalmology ServicesStockton, the Sacramento Foothills, and Modesto – Excellence in LASIK Eye Surgery
There is little doubt that the development of LASIK completely changed the field of vision correction. Before laser eye surgery became widely available, there were few options beyond total reliance on inconvenient glasses and contacts. Today, LASIK and custom LASIK offer the hope of clear vision without glasses to almost anyone. Serving Stockton, Sacramento, and Modesto, Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center offers LASIK eye surgery using the most advanced techniques and equipment available to produce clear, sharp vision.
- About LASIK Eye Surgery
- Candidates for LASIK Eye Surgery
- About the LASIK Procedure
- LASIK Recovery and Results
About LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery is used to reshape the cornea, compensating for refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The lens of the eye focuses light onto the retina, which transmits images through the optic nerve to the brain. Refractive errors are so called because they cause the eye to focus, or refract, light improperly on the retina, creating a blurry image rather than one that is clear and distinct. After undergoing LASIK, patients are typically able to see more clearly without relying on corrective lenses.
Candidates for LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK is an extremely safe eye surgery, and most healthy adults are eligible for the procedure. In order to be suitable for LASIK eye surgery, you must be at least 18 years old. Your prescription must also remain stable for at least 12 months before surgery. The best LASIK candidates have realistic expectations for the surgery: some LASIK patients still need corrective lenses in certain situations, such as in low-light conditions or while reading.
LASIK is not safe for those who have experienced an eye injury or eye infection in the past that caused scarring, or for those who have thin corneas. These patients may be able to undergo other laser vision correction procedures instead. Lupus and other autoimmune diseases make LASIK a poor option. Women who are pregnant or nursing should wait before having LASIK eye surgery. LASIK can make dry eyes worse, so those who have problems with dry eye syndrome should avoid LASIK.
About the LASIK Procedure
The LASIK eye surgery itself is quick, convenient, and typically described as painless. It takes no more than 15 minutes, and the office visit is generally no more than an hour long. Before the procedure begins, you will be asked to lie on a table under the LASIK equipment. Anesthetics will be administered, and the eye will be held open with an instrument known as a speculum. At Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center, LASIK eye surgery is performed in a comfortable in-office clinical setting, creating a more convenient and pleasant experience for our patients from Stockton, Modesto, and Sacramento.
The first step in LASIK eye surgery is to create the corneal flap using a special surgical blade called a microkeratome. By opening a flap in the outer layer of the eye, our surgeons expose the inner layers of the cornea for reshaping. Once the flap is created, an excimer laser developed specifically for LASIK eye surgery is used to reshape the cornea. During this process the patient will be asked to stare at a blinking light for about 15 seconds per eye. The equipment is designed to pause immediately if you blink or move, so there is no danger of eye damage or injury. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is replaced so it can heal. No stitches are required.
LASIK Recovery and Results
Like the procedure itself, recovery from LASIK eye surgery is usually brief. Most patients notice better vision immediately after surgery, but it can take up to six months for the vision to stabilize completely. It is important to have a driver available after surgery, but most patients are able to return to work and other normal activities the following day.
You should rest your eyes for about 24 hours after surgery. A protective eye cover that prevents you from rubbing your eyes will be required for a few days after surgery. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops are important during the healing process; moistening eye drops may be necessary for a few weeks after surgery to prevent dry eyes. Each patient will have regular follow-up appointments at Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center, serving Modesto, Sacramento, and Stockton, during the LASIK eye surgery recovery process.
Both short- and long-term results vary for different types of patients. Those who have LASIK eye surgery for nearsightedness generally have functional vision after surgery and experience gradual improvement over the first one to three months of recovery. Patients who have LASIK for farsightedness experience a dramatic improvement the day after surgery, with continued improvement as the eyes adjust and stabilize.
Contact Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center to Learn More
For residents of Modesto, Sacramento, and Stockton, LASIK eye surgery at Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center offers a unique opportunity to leave behind constant reliance on glasses and contacts and move on with a more liberated and enjoyable daily life. Contact our eye care practice today to schedule an appointment.