LASIK Procedure

LASIK is an outpatient procedure that is performed in the comfort of our Novato offices.

Your eyes are numbed with anesthetic drops so you will feel no pain throughout the treatment. First, the surgeon creates a thin flap at the top of your cornea which is lifted away, but remains attached at one side. Next, the excimer laser, which has already been programmed to correct your degree of refractive error, removes a microscopic layer of cornea. The laser part of the procedure takes approximately one minute. The corneal flap is then put back in place and, because of its natural bonding properties, healing starts immediately.

No stitches are required.The entire LASIK procedure takes about 15 minutes and you can return home immediately afterward. For safety reasons you should have return transportation arranged. Once at home, we ask that you rest your eyes for the remainder of the day. We encourage you to nap or listen to the radio. Reading, watching the television and computer work is not conducive to healing.

What can you expect? The majority of people who choose LASIK see a dramatic improvement in their vision within the first 24 hours, and most can return to normal activities faster than with LASEK. Nearly all patients treated with LASIK are able to pass a drivers license test without glasses or contacts. Following surgery, glasses may be required for certain tasks such as night driving, though most people require no spectacle correction most of the time.