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LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Provided by Dr. Barry Drucker


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About the Eye and Vision


In the emmetropic eye, the patient sees perfectly or 20/20. The light rays are focused exactly onto the retina for a clear view of objects.

Myopic Eye

In the nearsighted (myopic) eye, objects appear out of focus because the focal point of the eye is located in front of the retina. Because of this, properly focused light rays cannot reach the retina, resulting in blurred vision. With refractive LASIK surgery at our practice in Bayside, Queens, our LASIK surgeon utilizes a laser to reshape the eye so that the rays will diverge onto the retina. PRK can also accomplish this adjustment, however LASIK surgery is ideal. Both PRK and LASIK require use of a laser, however LASIK is performed under a protective flap. With PRK, the outer cells of the eye are scraped off prior to vision correction, leading to an increased risk of vision haze and months of eye drops. The LASIK treated eye usually requires drops for only about four days after the procedure and provides almost immediate visual recovery. The excimer laser can also be used to treat astigmatism, or irregular curvature of the cornea.

Astigmatic Eye

In the farsighted (hyperopic) eye, the ideal focal point for light is located behind the retina and light rays cannot converge enough to focus on the proper area of the eye. Using the excimer laser under the protective flap of LASIK, our surgeons are able to alter the shape of the eye so that light rays converge perfectly onto the retina, resulting in clear vision.


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Am I A Good Candidate For LASIK?


If you are over 18, have relatively stable vision (no change in your vision prescription for the last six months), and have no ocular diseases, you may be a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Every one (100 percent!) of our patients who have undergone either LASIK or PRK at our laser vision correction practice in Bayside, Queens can drive a car without the need for corrective lenses.

Today, using the latest VISX® Star laser, nearsighted and farsighted patients, as well as patients with astigmatism, can have their vision corrected, giving them the ability to function without contacts or glasses. One hundred percent of Dr. Drucker's refractive laser surgery patients have attained 20/30 vision or better, with the vast majority seeing at a perfect 20/20! Learn more about advanced IntraLase® bladeless LASIK and Wavefront™ LASIK offered at our practice.

Preoperative Examination

In order to find out if you are able to attain these amazing results, our LASIK surgeon must rule out keratoconus (a corneal condition, which makes LASIK and PRK inadvisable) using our computerized corneal topographer. After that, an exact refraction measurement is taken to discover the extent of correction required to improve your vision. Next, a measurement of corneal thickness (pachymetry) is performed to ensure that your cornea is the proper thickness for surgery. Finally, a dilated exam and complete assessment of the front and back of the eye is carried out to uncover any potential vision threatening disorders that could prevent a perfect result.


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The LASIK Procedure


Preoperative Work Up

Congratulations! You've made up your mind to be less dependent on your glasses or contacts and to change your life - what a wonderful and important decision. Once it has been established that you are a suitable candidate for LASIK or another refractive vision correction procedure, our surgeons will perform an extensive work up to plan your vision correction.

It is necessary that you remove and leave out soft contact lenses for one week and gas permeable lenses for two weeks prior to your work up exam. This will allow the cornea to return to its natural shape for scanning and measurement with the corneal topographer. An exact refraction, both undilated and dilated, will determine the full extent of vision correction required. At this time you will receive an informed consent form for LASIK surgery at our Bayside practice in Queens, which will be explained to you before you are required to sign. All remaining questions will gladly be answered at this time.

Day of Surgery

Be sure that your contact lenses have been left out at least one week for soft and two for gas permeable. Do not shampoo your hair the evening before surgery. Redness of the eyes from soap will cause us to cancel your planned surgical correction. Please arrive at the laser center half an hour before your procedure time and bring a friend or relative who can drive you home after surgery.

While no surgical procedure is ever described as "fun," LASIK is painless and only takes about ten minutes per eye. If you are excessively nervous, we can provide you with Valium to calm your nerves. Before you know it, your procedure will be completed, leaving you with an invaluable improvement that will change your life forever.

Prior to surgery, our medical staff places drops in the eyes to numb pain and prevent infection. The lids are prepped with an antiseptic and lashes covered to ensure complete sterility. Our surgeon then uses a small device to keep the eyelids open. During your LASIK procedure at our Bayside, Queens practice, you will feel no pain, although you may feel mild pressure. A special ring is placed over one eye, while the other is covered. A very fine "flap" is then made with the microkeratome or the IntraLase® laser. Our surgeon will hold the hinged flap back while you focus on a flashing laser target light for about twenty seconds, depending on how much correction is needed. A tracker will follow your eye, so should you lose proper fixation, the doctor will stop the laser and refocus. Any other motion will be completely compensated for by the VISX® Star 4 Iris Registration. Should you look away completely the laser will be stopped until refocusing is once again in place. The flap is then replaced and smoothed over. The same procedure is then repeated with the other eye.

After sitting for a few minutes, our surgeon will examine the eyes to make sure the flap is in the proper position. Should an adjustment be necessary, the flap is painlessly floated up with fluid and repositioned. When the doctor is certain that everything has gone according to plan, you may leave for home.

Post-Operative Care

Drops are used two more times that evening. By evening, the visual improvement is significant and by the next day you will notice a marked progression in correction.

For the first few weeks following LASIK surgery, contact sports are forbidden. You may participate in other sports, as long as trauma to the eyes or rubbing is avoided. For the first four nights after surgery, a clear plastic shield is worn over each eye to prevent inadvertent rubbing while asleep. Drops are discontinued after four days.


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Barry Drucker, MD
Vision Correction Specialist

Office Address:

212-45 26th Ave.
Suite #9
Bayside, NY 11360
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