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LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Provided by Dr. Paul Dougherty


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What are my options when it comes to vision correction surgery?


Dougherty Laser Vision offers an exceptionally wide range of vision correction options including LASIK, Implantable Contact Lenses (ICLs) and Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) to treat most common vision problems. Our experience and breadth of service ensure that you receive the most appropriate, customized treatment for your unique vision correction needs.


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Who can benefit from vision correction surgery?


People with most common vision disorders can be treated effectively by one or more of the above mentioned procedures. Common disorders include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (age-related trouble focusing) and astigmatism.


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Am I a candidate for vision correction surgery?


Possibly. Most people who wear corrective glasses or contact lenses may be suitable candidates. A thorough evaluation by a vision care expert is necessary to determine your suitability. Careful assessment of your overall eye health must be performed before any decision can be made regarding your treatment.


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Will insurance cover my procedure?


Insurance coverage depends on many factors, including which vision correction procedure you require. Typically, LASIK is not covered by most insurance plans. We recommend you bring your insurance card to our office so we can check. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised. We may also be able to work with your human resources or benefits department to arrange flex pay plans or corporate contracts.


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How does LASIK work?


LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that employs a cool beam of laser light to reshape the cornea. Microscopic fragments of cornea tissue are removed to flatten, steepen or smooth the cornea, depending on the disorder being corrected. In recent years, LASIK has become one of the most popular elective surgical procedures in the U.S.


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What sort of results can I expect?


The goal for surgery is to reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Following LASIK, many patients achieve 20/20 vision. Nearly all are able to pass a driving testing in most states.


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Does the procedure hurt?


Most patients feel little or no pain during LASIK. You will remain awake and alert during the procedure. Typically, anesthetic eye drops are all that is required to avoid discomfort. Some patients report a mild burning sensation, which usually goes away by the next morning.


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Is LASIK safe?


The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recognizes LASIK as a safe and effective treatment. The procedure is performed with a cool, highly accurate beam of laser light. There are many important safeguards in place to reduce the risk of surgical errors. As with any surgical procedure, adverse side effects are possible.


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What are the possible side effects?


Studies suggest that three to five percent of LASIK patients experience dry eyes, nighttime glare or other unwanted side effects, which tend to diminish over time.


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When can I go back to work and resume normal activity?


Patients can typically return to work and resume normal activity the day after surgery. Exposing eyes to water from swimming pools, hot tubs, the ocean or intense perspiration should be avoided for 10 days following surgery. Dusty environments and eye makeup should be avoided for the first three days following surgery.


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What is LASIK?


Since it was approved by the FDA in 1995, LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) has become one of the most popular elective medical procedures in the U.S. Also referred to as Laser Vision Surgery, LASIK employs a highly concentrated beam of cool light generated from an excimer laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea. The first step of the procedure involves creating a flap in the cornea. This flap is gently lifted and folded back so the inner layer of the cornea can be reshaped with the laser. After reshaping, the flap is carefully replaced so the natural bonding qualities of the cornea can allow it to heal without the need for stitches. The entire procedure lasts about three minutes per eye, and can be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.


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What is Custom LASIK?


Custom ("Wavefront-Guided") LASIK is a further refinement of the LASIK procedure that facilitates more precise eye measurement and correction. It measures each patient's unique visual imperfections at hundreds of individual points. This enables the surgeon to customize the treatment, not just for the patient's overall prescription, but for each individual point that is measured on the eye. The result is vision that may be better than the best vision attainable with glasses or contact lenses. Custom LASIK tends to result in better nighttime and low light vision than traditional LASIK. Not every patient may qualify for custom treatment.


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What is Blade-Free LASIK?


With ?Blade-Free? LASIK (also referred to as ?Intralase? or ?All Laser? LASIK), surgeons use a femtosecond laser instead of a metal blade to create the corneal flap. Tiny, rapid pulses of laser light pass through the top layers of the cornea to form a uniform layer of microscopic bubbles just beneath the surface. This process creates a uniquely precise flap and smooth underlying surface. Blade-Free LASIKallows the surgeon to retain more of the patient's corneal tissue upon which to apply the cornea reshaping laser. The Blade-Free Intralase technique is especially advantageous for people with high degrees of nearsightedness and/or thin corneas, who otherwise would not be considered suitable candidates for LASIK.


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What is Multifocal IOL?


Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs) are essentially contact lenses placed inside the eye on top of the natural crystalline lens, or attached to the iris (colored part of the eye). Because no cornea tissue is removed (as is done with LASIK), a Phakic IOL can correct extreme levels of nearsightedness and farsightedness. Another benefit is that it can be removed, and its effects potentially reversed.

Dougherty Laser Vision offers two types of Phakic IOLs: The Staar Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) and the Verisys (Artisan) Lens. Dr. Dougherty is currently participating in an FDA clinical study of the Staar ICL as a treatment for farsightedness. The Verisys lens was approved by the FDA in 2004 for treating nearsightedness.

Refractive Lensectomy involves removing the natural lens of the eye with ultrasonic energy and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant to treat high levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. This surgery is typically reserved for patients over age 50 whose lens has stiffened and lost the ability to focus. These patients are also likely to begin to develop early cataracts that can cloud vision. Refractive lensectomy is essentially cataract surgery with an intraocular lens implant to decrease dependence on glasses and contacts. LASIK is often used after lensectomy to fine tune the results obtained with the IOL. Patients who have lensectomy will never need cataract surgery. The lens that is placed in the eye is typically well tolerated and will outlive the patient.

Several different types of IOLs may be used in this procedure:

Traditional IOLs treat a wide range of vision problems from high nearsightedness to high farsightedness. These lenses do not correct astigmatism or accommodate to restore partial reading vision.

Toric IOLs treat a wide range of vision problems from high nearsightedness to high farsightedness, but also have the benefit of treating astigmatism at the same time.

Accomodating and Multifocal IOLs are designed to provide clear near, intermediate and far vision to help people with presbyopia (i.e., age-related loss of zooming power) become less dependent on bifocal eyeglasses. Approved by the FDA in 2003, the Crystalens is an accomodating IOL equipped with tiny hinges that allow it to move back and forth, or "accommodate," in a design intended to provide seamless clear vision. Approved in 2005, the ReZoom lens is a multifocal lens with five distinct focusing zones intended to provide clear vision at wide range of distance.


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What is an Implantable Collamer Lens?


Dougherty Laser Vision is honored to announce the arrival of the implantable collamer lens. A solution for patients with nearsightedness. The ICL is a refractive lens that can correct vision up to ?15 diopters of nearsightedness. If you are a patient experiencing high amounts nearsightedness this procedure might be right for you. The ICL procedure has been repeatedly improved through years of studies and continued refinement. This lens is a posterior chamber implant that is situated behind the iris and in front of the natural crystalline lens. It is also known as a Phakic IOL.

The Surgery

The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that a patient has surgery and leaves the same day. During the surgery your eye will be numbed and a local anesthesia will be administered. There is very little discomfort and normally no pain associated with the procedure. Some drops or perhaps oral medication may be prescribed and a post-operative visit is usually scheduled the day after surgery. Patients will be advised to arrange for someone to drive them to and from surgery.

Are you a Candidate For The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)?

The ICL or implantable collamer lens provides an opportunity to those individuals who are not candidates for lasik eye surgery or laser vision correction. As you may already know certain patients cannot have lasik for reasons ranging from high prescriptions to thin corneas. This new ICL will now give these patients the opportunity to experience the same lifestyle change that lasik has brought to millions of people.


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Paul J. Dougherty, MD
Dougherty Laser Vision

Office Address:

Los Angeles
321 North Larchmont Blvd.
10th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90004

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2230 Lynn Road
Suite 102
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

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1821 Daily Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010

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2034 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
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