Louisiana Eye Care Medical and Surgical Eyecare including LASIK and Cataracts

LASIK

Frequently asked questions | View the LASIK Consent Form

Dr. D'Antonio uses the VISX Star S4 laser to perform all LASIK procedures.

LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most popular and versatile of vision correction procedures known as refractive surgery. LASIK uses the excimer laser to reduce or eliminate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by modifying the eye to improve your vision.

How LASIK works LASIK uses the excimer laser to reshape and flatten the clear dome-shaped cornea, which is at the front of the eye. The goal of the procedure is to modify the curvature of the cornea so that light will properly be refracted or focused to achieve a sharp image on the retina.

Step 1: A surgical device known as the microkeratome is placed on the eye. When activated it passes across the cornea creating a "flap."

Step 2: The flap is gently lifted out of the way and the laser is centered over the eye.

Step 3: While the patient looks at a fixation light the laser is activated and reshapes the exposed inner cornea to a predetermined pattern.

Step 4: The flap is then placed back into position and irrigated to smooth and cleanse it. The natural adhesive qualities of the cornea keep the flap securely in place without the need for any stitches.

Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and no needles or general anesthetic are used. The procedure results in a rapid recovery allowing most patients to resume to normal activity within one to two days. Results are overwhelmingly successful.

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

Online LASIK Evaluation	Yes or No
Is your eye prescription stable? Has it been the same for at least one year?	Yes No
Are you 21 years of age or older?	Yes No
Would you like to have the freedom from dependency on your glasses or contact lenses?	Yes No
Do you have any corneal diseases such as keratoconus or herpes infection of the eye?	Yes No
Do you have an autoimmune disease?	Yes No
Are you currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant?	Yes No
Are you known to form excessive scar tissue (keloids)?	Yes No
Send results to me via email My full name is

To receive more information about LASIK surgery by mail, click here .

Who can have LASIK? LASIK is a surgical procedure capable of correcting a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.

The use of the excimer laser to correct nearsightedness has been approved by the FDA for up to -14.00 diopters with up to 5 diopters of astigmatism and farsightedness between +1.00 and +4.00 diopters with less than 1 diopter at astigmatism. Corrections beyond this range may yield less satisfactory visual outcomes.

If you are interested in determining if you are a candidate for refractive surgery, use our online LASIK evaluation , or call 1-504-457-2020 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Steinert, Dr. Raizman, or Dr. McColgin.

LASIK results The LASIK procedure is characterized by rapid visual recovery and little to no pain, and has fast become the refractive procedure of choice by both ophthalmologists and patients worldwide.

Benefits of LASIK

quick recovery time
minimal discomfort
preservation of the cornea
high degree of predictability
excellent ocular integrity post-treatment
low enhancement rate
low infection risk
outpatient procedure
low risk of scarring

Most LASIK patients achieve unaided vision between 20/20 and 20/40. This is functional vision for most people, permitting many ordinary activities such as sports, watching television and driving. Vision improvement is rapid with much of the improvement already apparent on the first day after the procedure. While slight fluctuations in vision can occur in the first week, most patients return to regular activities the next day.

Your LASIK consultation at laEye. Preparing for your consultation

Please bring your current glasses, previous glasses or your contact lenses to the examination.
Please complete and bring the patient registration form and medical history form that was mailed to you.
Please do not wear soft contact lenses three days before the consultation or hard contact lenses for two weeks before your consultation. This will allow the surface of your cornea to resume its normal shape.
Your eyes will be dilated during the examination; therefore you should bring sunglasses to assist you in driving home after the examination.

Your consultation
Your LASIK consultation will include a comprehensive eye examination and special testing to design a treatment plan for your individual needs. The testing will include:

A refraction (a measurement of the optics of your eye)
A microscopic examination of your eye using corneal topography. This computerized image maps the curvature of the cornea (the top layers of your eye.) A corneal map is similar to a geological relief map (see example at right). Each color represents a different steepness of curvature. Corneal Topography results are used to evaluate which procedure is best for you.
The exam mapping shown at the right, from an actual LASIK candidate, indicates a good profile for laser correction of nearsightedness combined with astigmatism.
A dilated refraction to verify your prescription
A comprehensive discussion of your individual eye health and recommendations for your refractive laser surgery.

Scheduling your laser surgery
You will be able to schedule your laser surgery and post operative exams with the refractive surgery coordinator. You will then be given a laser surgery packet with information needed for your surgery.

Your LASIK surgery at laEye. Preparing for your laser surgery

Please do not wear soft contact lenses three full days before the laser surgery or hard contact lenses for two weeks before your surgery. This will allow the surface of your cornea to resume its normal shape.
Beginning three days before your laser surgery, use one drop of an antibiotic eye drop 4 times a day in the eye that is being corrected.
Please read your consent forms and bring them with you on the day of your surgery.
If you have any questions regarding your surgery please call us at 504-457-2020 and we will be happy to help.
After your surgery you should expect to go home and rest quietly for the remainder of the day.

Your laser surgery

You will check in one-half hour prior to your scheduled surgery time. Upon arrival your consent forms will be signed and collected. You will receive your post-operative instructions for review.
You will be called into an exam room to review post-operative instructions, to meet the surgeon (if you have not already done so), and to be given a mild sedative to help you relax. Any questions regarding the surgery will also be answered at this time.
When ready for surgery our nurse will bring you to the laser surgery suite.
You will remain awake and comfortable during the laser procedure. A numbing topical anesthetic drop will be put into your eye and you will be prepared for the laser treatment.
Dr. D'Antonio will then begin the LASIK procedure. This procedure will take approximately 10-15 minutes per eye, and you will remain lying comfortably on a reclining chair throughout the laser procedure.
When the surgery is complete, a nurse will escort you to the waiting room where you will rest for about 20 minutes.
The surgeon will then examine your eyes and then you will be ready to go home.
Please remember all patients need to be escorted home from the surgery. laEye will not release patients without escorts. You should plan to be at the Laser Center for 1–3 hours.

After your laser surgery

For the first day and night your eye will be protected with a clear plastic shield. The shield will stay on until your post-operative appointment the next day.
Upon arriving home, sleep and relaxation for the eye are best for recovery.
You will need to follow post-operative instructions for the eye drop medications beginning the day of your laser procedure.
While most patients experience little or no discomfort after LASIK surgery, some do experience low to moderate pain.
You will return to the doctor's office the next day for your one-day post-operative exam. At this exam your shield will be removed and your vision measured. The vision will be improved but may remain partially blurry. You will begin to see noticeable results right after surgery. At your one-day exam you should have 70%-90% of the achievable vision.
A schedule of post-operative and follow up appointments will be made for you. It is very important to carefully follow all medication and post-operative instructions and to attend all scheduled appointments.
Please remember to be particularly careful to avoid having any foreign matter in the eye for at least two weeks. This includes avoiding soap and water in the eye (you may need assistance to wash your hair), do not wear eye makeup or other cosmetics around the eye, and do not swim or get water in the eye for at least two weeks.
Eye protection should always be worn while participating in all heavy exercise, sports activities (including racquet and contact sports and golf), yard work and other outdoor activities with the potential for eye injury.
You will then be able to begin a lifestyle with the freedom of new vision.

For more information, see our frequently asked questions (FAQ) .

Possible side effects and complications As with any type of surgery, complications are possible. Every effort is made to minimize risks, but serious or long-term complications can never be fully eliminated. Common side effects after refractive surgery include:

Light sensitivity may rapidly improve over days to weeks; however, a few individuals have ongoing light sensitivity for six months or longer.

Glare from bright light sources, such as oncoming headlights while driving at night may occur but generally improves and often resolves over the first six months after the procedure. In a few cases, patients use eye drops to keep the pupil small, thereby reducing glare.

Shadowing, doubling of vision, or "ghost images" usually resolves on its own, but sometimes needs 2 or more further treatments.

Variable vision may occur depending upon the procedure for weeks to months after the procedure. Some individuals experience a small fluctuation in the precise focus over the course of the day. This daily fluctuation generally subsides during the month after the surgery.

Overcorrection and undercorrection occurs in some patients who feel that the uncorrected vision is not as good as desired. This may require the use of glasses, contact lenses, or further laser procedures.

No list of complications can be complete. Any medical or surgical procedure has innumerable potential risks, both foreseen and unforeseen.

Back | Home