LASIK Consultations Edina

LASIK or laser in-situ keratomileusis is a permanent surgery that individuals over the age of 18 can choose to correct their vision. In this process, your LASIK surgeon will reshape your cornea so that light focuses more efficiently on the retina in the back of your eye. After voicing your interest in LASIK surgery during your comprehensive eye exam, our doctors will determine whether you’re a valid candidate for LASIK surgery in a LASIK consultation. LASIK is commonly used to correct the vision for the following refractive errors:

• Nearsightedness or Myopia: Objects that are close to you appear clear, but objects farther away are blurry.
• Farsightedness or Hyperopia: Objects that are farther away from you appear clear, but objects closer are blurry.
• Astigmatism: Due to the irregular shape of your eye, most objects are blurry, meaning you struggle to see clearly in almost all situations.

The LASIK surgery is relatively quick, lasting up to 20 minutes and painless, your LASIK surgeon will numb your eyes and utilize a laser to make a thin flap in your cornea. Another laser will be used to reshape the tissue under the flap, and the flap will then be replaced. After your surgery, your eyes may be dry, and you’ll receive prescription eye drops to prevent infection, inflammation, and keep your eyes moist. The recovery time is very quick, with most patients noticing better vision within a few days.

Our doctors will determine your candidacy by reviewing your patient background, health history, and many other factors. Patient health history is an essential component of your LASIK candidacy and overall health. Interested patients must provide accurate information so our doctors are aware of any underlying conditions that should be recorded and accounted for. These underlying conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Family History or Current of Systemic or Eye Pathology
• Allergies to Any Medications
• Environmental Conditions Impacting Your Vision or Ocular Health

Reviewing your patient background and history helps our doctors ensure they’re determining your candidacy for LASIK surgery correctly. During this portion of your appointment, it’s vital that accurate information is provided, and any personal hesitations or concerns are addressed.

During your LASIK consultation, our doctors will conduct a series of thorough tests to help further determine your candidacy. Since you’ve likely received a comprehensive eye exam in the past, you’ll recognize a few of the tests, but some will be new. Our doctors will be by your side through your entire appointment to make sure you’re comfortable, understand the purpose of each test, answer any questions you may have, and discuss your findings in depth.

Ability to Focus

If you’re already a contacts or glasses wearer, you’ve likely experienced some of the tests our doctors will conduct before. Our doctors will analyze your eye’s ability to focus as well as the conditions that affect your quality of vision. This analysis will help our doctors determine the best way to correct your vision. Your vision will be measured in several different ways with various manual refraction tests such as the well-known “Pick One or Two” test. To further confirm the manual refraction findings, digital analyzers will be used to measure as well. Our doctors will also utilize digital analyzers to measure your quality of vision or how light scatters as it enters your eyes.

Dilated Eye Exam

Our doctors will enlarge your pupils with a solution to see the lens and retinas at the back of your eyes. Refraction measurements will be retaken once your pupils are fully dilated, as this enables our doctors to take more accurate measurements and further confirm the initial refraction findings.

Front of Your Eyes

High-resolution scans will be utilized to help our doctors assess your eye tissue at the micron level. You will be asked to look into a series of high definition digital scanners that capture images of the surface of your eyes and the lens. These scans help our doctors evaluate your cornea, tear film on the surface of your eyes, eyelid health, and any signs of early cataract formation. The high-resolution scans also provide in-depth data about the curvature, shape, and thickness of your cornea.

Inside + Surface of Your Eyes

A digital device will be utilized to take images of your retinas or the structure behind the eyeball. The retina processes the light rays that enter your eyes and sends nerve impulses to your brain, enabling you to see images. With the images our doctors capture, we can evaluate the health and function of your retina. Additionally, our doctors will also be able to assess the tear film composition and volume of your eyes to ensure the film is at a healthy level for LASIK surgery.

Other Eye Measurements

Our doctors utilize a high-powered microscope to examine the overall structure of your eyes to rule out any underlying issues that you may not have been aware of. During this step of the exam, our doctors are looking for signs of conditions such as diabetes, allergies, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. We will also measure the dimensions of your eyes, such as the length, width, and size of your pupils.