Our eye doctors at Harlingen Eye Professionals offer complimentary consultation for various types of refractive surgery options and work closely with the finest surgeons in the Harlingen and Browning, Texas area. We provide exceptional pre and post-operative LASIK care, and save you money.
Here are some frequently asked questions about LASIK:
What makes me a candidate for laser eye surgery?
An initial comprehensive eye exam is performed to determine the condition and degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. We measure pupil size, thickness and detailed shape of the cornea, and check for cataracts or glaucoma.
Why go through us, beginning with a free LASIK consultation, instead of directly to a LASIK surgery center?
We have a co-management relationship with experienced ophthalmologists, so our patients immediately qualify for discounted pricing and extended warranty programs that are not typically offered to the general public. In addition to saving you money, we offer non-biased recommendations and gladly answer all your questions every step of the process including post surgery follow up visits to ensure proper recovery.
Can I afford LASIK?
After determining your candidacy, our staff will review the range of pricing. Many of our co-managed LASIK offices offer payment options, including no deposit and long-term payment plans. Also, be sure to inquire if your employer offers a Flex Plan option, allowing you to pay for LASIK using pretax money through payroll deduction.
How safe is the procedure?
LASIK eye surgery is very safe. Vision-threatening complications are extremely rare. More minor complications do exist, but in most cases the patient recovers with good vision. One out of 5,000 patients contract infections or experience irregular healing leading to “irregular astigmatism” (potentially requiring additional surgery or contacts to improve).
What if I have an astigmatism?
An astigmatism is when the cornea (clear front cover of the eye) is irregularly shaped. Lasers can treat most levels of astigmatism and by removing more tissue in one area of the eye to create a rounder shape.
Is it painful?
The cornea of the eye is numbed with eye drops. Most patients report a sensation of pressure lasting 10-20 seconds; many experience little to no discomfort during and after the LASIK procedure.
How much work would I miss?
On average patients fully recover in the range of one to three days.
What can I expect the recovery process to be like?
The first couple of hours after surgery, vision will likely be blurry and eyes will feel a little irritated, typically with a burning sensation and some tearing. We recommend a three or four hour nap right after the procedure to aid in the healing process. After that, the irritation will begin to dissipate. The day after the procedure, most of the uncomfortable sensations will be over and vision will be remarkably clear!
Can LASIK help with my Dry Eye Syndrome?
Many patients experiencing Dry Eye opt for LASIK surgery. Contact lens wearers in particular consider the procedure because the lack of lubrication makes contacts uncomfortable. Occasionally LASIK can worsen dry eyes, but typically it is temporary and treated with artificial tear lubrication. In special cases of severe dry eyes, special plugs placed in the lower eyelid tear ducts can result in significant improvement in dryness. There are either “permanent” plug easily removed once the issue is resolved, or dissolvable plugs that disappear over a period of several months.
How long will the correction last?
LASIK is a permanent procedure but it doesn’t prevent future changes to your vision. So in some cases an enhancement procedure may be needed.