Does Dr. Weinstock operate on both eyes
the same day?
Frequently, both eyes are done on the same day. Since the patient can resume most of his or her normal activities within 24 hours, most patients have both eyes done the same day for convenience.
How long does the procedure take?
Correcting vision with the laser takes only seconds. The procedure itself takes about 7 minutes for both eyes. The Weinstock
Laser Eye Center would like you to plan on being at our office for about 1-1 1/2 hours on the day of the procedure to ensure that you are relaxed, that all of your questions have been answered and to allow you the opportunity to observe the procedure. We find that knowing exactly what to expect creates the most relaxed patient.
When will I be able to return to work?
Patients are checked the next day following their procedure and then may return to work and most normal activities.
Is LASIK safe?
LASIK is a very safe procedure in the right hands. To our knowledge there has not been any reported case of blindness. The most significant risk is infection which is reported to occur in 1 in 5,000 cases, whereas 1 in 500 contact lense wearers suffer from infections and corneal scarring.
Will it hurt?
LASIK is often referred to as a "painless" procedure. There is virtually no discomfort because the patient receives numbing drops prior to the procedure. Once the drops' effect wears off, a patient's eyes may feel a bit irritated for a few hours. Some patients feel no irritation whatsoever.
What if I move or blink during the procedure?
To ensure your comfort and confidence, your head and neck are kept snug in an inflatable pillow, your lids are kept open with a speculum and your eyes are treated with numbing drops that prevent your eye from reacting to stimuli. Dr. Weinstock will indicate before each step what you may see, hear or feel so you are not surprised. Dr. Weinstock
will help you fixate on the target but if you move for some reason (sneeze, cough, etc), Dr. Weinstock removes his foot from the laser pedal and continues the treatment after he centers you on the target once again. This happens very rarely.
Is this treatment permanent?
LASIK correction is permanent. The eye may continue to change as a result of aging but these are only minor changes.
Has Dr. Weinstock's equipment been approved by the FDA?
Yes. Dr. Weinstock uses only the best state-of-the-art technology to provide his patients with highly accurate results. Dr. Weinstock's laser of choice is the Nidek EC5000.
When will I be able to see after the procedure?
Most patients see better immediately upon sitting up. However, the vision is somewhat hazy due to all the drops and medication placed on the eye. This mild haziness usually clears up during the first 24 hours and then your vision will become sharper.
What is the best correction I can expect?
Patients usually notice an immediate
improvement in their vision after LASIK. However, it can
take several weeks for the eyes to adjust to the final level
of correction. Vision may fluctuate for a week or so. There
may be some watering of the eyes, and a slight feeling of a
foreign body sensation. After having LASIK the great
majority of patients do not wear corrective lenses of any
kind. However, because people's eyes can continue to change
with age, there may be a need for additional vision
correction (surgery or glasses) in the future.
What are the primary benefits of LASIK over PRK?
Photo Refractive Keratectomy, or PRK, treats the surface of the cornea with the excimer laser while LASIK treats the inner tissue of the cornea. For this reason there is less area to heal, less risk of scarring, less risk of corneal haze, less postoperative pain, less postoperative need for medications and vision often returns more rapidly. It can also be used to treat more severe prescription.
