Can LASIK fix astigmatism?

YES, LASIK surgery procedure is designed to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. An excimer laser gently reshapes the cornea with computer-controlled precision to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

What makes me a good candidate?

In general, you must be at least 18 years old, have good ocular/systemic health and a stable eye prescription. Those with certain medical conditions and women who are pregnant are not the best candidates.

Will I need reading glasses?

The goal of laser vision correction is to reduce or eliminate your dependence on distance glasses. The need for reading glasses is a normal age-related change. Having laser vision correction does not change this.

Is LASIK painful?

LASIK is an especially painless procedure. Anesthetic drops are used to fully numb the eye before the LASIK procedure begins; during the laser correction you may feel a light pressure sensation around your eye. Prior to surgery you will have the option of taking a mild sedative to help you relax.
After your laser eye surgery, your eyes may feel a bit irritated for a few hours, but most patients are quite comfortable after taking a short nap. You will be given drops for your eyes to provide comfort and healing in the days following your surgery.

What happens if I blink/move during the procedure?

No need to worry. Small movements of the eye are normal and will not affect the outcome of the procedure an advanced tracking technology and iris registration software is also used to follow the movement of your eye. If you move too much, say because you sneeze or cough, or your nose itches, the laser will automatically shut off. A lid separator is utilized during the procedure so you will not be able to blink.

How soon after LASIK eye surgery can I resume my normal activities?

You will be able to see right after LASIK surgery, but vision will be foggy and not good enough to drive yourself home. 99% of people have legal driving vision the next day. Meanwhile Your vision continues to improve for several months after LASIK with some minimal restrictions in the first weeks following laser surgery. We recommend avoiding certain activities, like swimming or contact sports for a few weeks.

How long does the procedure take?

Plan to be in our office for about 1 hour on procedure day, the laser vision correction surgery itself usually takes only 10-15 minutes in total.

How long will vision correction last?

LASIK creates a permanent change in the eyes and, for most people, will last a lifetime. However, as with the course of nature, there are some age-related changes that will occur resulting in the likelihood of needing reading glasses regardless of whether or not you had LASIK surgery.

How does LASIK compare to PRK?

The two most commonly performed refractive procedures are LASIK and PRK, and while there are distinct differences in the two techniques, both procedures are equally effective for vision correction. To determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery, as well as which procedure is best for you, our doctors will conduct a thorough, diagnostic evaluation of your eyes, including but not limited to the shape, thickness, contour and any irregularities of your cornea.

How much does LASIK cost?

Bismarck LASIK makes LASIK affordable providing clear, predictable pricing with no hidden fees. This price is reviewed at your FREE LASIK Consultation. In addition to our interest-free financing options, there are other options you can explore to help reduce the cost of LASIK surgery such as Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Flexible spending accounts (FSA), Health insurance, Tax refunds and Care Credit.

Common vision problems


Vision basics

A normal, healthy eye sees clearly, without any correction, because the cornea precisely bends light onto the retina at the back of the eye. However, if the light is bent incorrectly - due to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism - the result is blurred vision. Glasses and contact lenses have traditionally been the go-to solution to these visual problems.

Today, Refractive Surgery is not just a more convenient option, it's the most popular elective procedure in the world. In surveys taken by patients, LASIK scores highest in patient satisfaction among the many procedures that we do in ophthalmology.
Myopia, or nearsightedness

Nearsightedness (myopia) is a condition in which near objects appear clear, but objects farther away look blurry. It occurs when the shape of the eye is too long causing light rays to bend (refract) inaccurately. Light rays that should be focused on nerve tissues at the back of the eye (retina) are focused in front of the retina.

Hyperopia, or farsightedness

Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a condition in which farther objects appear clear, but near objects look blurry. It occurs when the shape of the eye is too short causing light rays to bend (refract) inaccurately. Light rays that should be focused on nerve tissues at the back of the eye (retina) are focused behind the retina.

Astigmatism

If you have astigmatism, it is because you have a cornea that is not spherical or basketball-shaped as is a normal eye, but your cornea is typically shaped more like a football. The result of astigmatism is that the objects you are viewing are not focused into a single image and vision is distorted or blurry. Astigmatism can be present alone or in addition to nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Presbyopia

If you have presbyopia, it is because you have the inability to focus on objects up close. This occurs normally with age and usually becomes apparent to people in their forties. Presbyopia results from a change within the eye in which the internal lens loses its ability to focus on close-up objects. Although laser vision correction dramatically improves distance vision, most people will still need glasses for close-up activities particularly as they get older. Treatments for presbyopia include reading glasses and multifocal lenses. Surgical remedies for presbyopia such as monovision LASIK are available for qualified candidates. Talk to one of our surgical consultants regarding options for correcting presbyopia at the time of your eye exam.