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LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK is an eye surgery that uses precise bursts of laser energy to reshape the cornea, improving the eye's focusing ability. By reshaping the cornea to compensate for the imperfections that cause refractive errors, Dr. Carlos Diaz can help LASIK eye surgery patients at his practice serving Boerne, the Hill Country, San Antonio, and surrounding areas obtain clear vision at various distances, reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses.
LASIK Candidates
One of the biggest advantages of LASIK eye surgery is that it is safe and effective for the majority of adults. LASIK patients must be at least 18 years old to ensure that the eye has developed fully. The candidate's vision must have been stable for at least one year before eye surgery, with no eye infection or injury during that time. If there is scarring on the cornea, LASIK is not a good option.
In order to be a good candidate for LASIK, the patient cannot have an autoimmune disorder or a history of herpes infections in the eye. Women who are pregnant or nursing should wait to have eye surgery until after pregnancy and nursing are complete. Individuals with dry eye syndrome or pupils that dilate beyond seven millimeters should explore other eye surgery options, as LASIK will not work well for them.
Additionally, pilots, athletes, and others who are at a higher risk of corneal injury should avoid LASIK, as the patient's cornea may be somewhat weaker after the procedure. PRK eye surgery is frequently a good alternative for those who are not good LASIK candidates.
The LASIK Procedure
The LASIK procedure is quick, safe, and generally described as pain-free. The eye surgery itself typically takes no more than 15 minutes, though the whole process takes about an hour. Dr. Diaz will first administer anesthetic eye drops to ensure the patient's comfort throughout the procedure. The patient will lie on a table beneath the laser equipment during the procedure. Each eye will be treated individually while being held open by a speculum.
The first stage of LASIK eye surgery is to create the corneal flap. Dr. Diaz will ask the patient to focus on a small blinking light while he uses a laser to cut the flap and expose the inner layers of the cornea for treatment. This technique, known as the Ziemer method, is more precise than using a blade to create the flap.
After creating the flap, Dr. Diaz will use an excimer laser to remove small amounts of tissue from the cornea, reshaping it for better, more even focusing power. The laser reshaping process takes only about 15 seconds per eye. Once he has reshaped the cornea, Dr. Diaz will close the flap to complete the procedure.
Post-LASIK Recovery
Most patients recover quickly from LASIK eye surgery. Patients will begin to have functional vision the day after the procedure. Some patients may have trouble reading or seeing at distance for a few days. These problems are only temporary, and the patient's vision should continue to improve as the eyes stabilize over the next one to three months.
Dr. Diaz will give each LASIK eye surgery patient at his Boerne office in the Hill Country a protective eye shield to wear while sleeping for the first few nights after the surgery. Some patients will also need to use antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or moisturizing eye drops for a while after the procedure.
Please contact our LASIK eye surgeon to schedule an appointment.
Diaz Vision Center, PA
124 E Bandera Rd, #404
Boerne, TX 78006
Ph. 830-249-8400
Fx. 830-249-8411
Diaz Vision Center, Hill Country Vision
540 10th Street, Floresville TX
(in front of Connally Memorial Medical Center)
78114
Ph. 888 DOC-DIAZ (362-3429)