laser vision correction WHO-TV Interviews Dr. Husain WHO-TV Surgical Video Real Media video (2618k) Listen to Dr. Husain (Click links below) CustomVue Wavefront Flap Free Laser Vision Correction & the Restor Lens Discount Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Mid-Iowa Mind & Body a Des Moines Register Custom Publication 11/21/03 Lasik Institute Laser Eye Center of Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions What other options are available for correcting refractive errors? By far, the most common method is eyeglasses. Another popular option is contact lenses; either soft or rigid gas permeable. Common problems with contact lenses include irritation, daily inconvenience, and ongoing cost of lens replacement and contact lens solutions. Is laser eye surgery painful? The LASIK procedure is associated with a sensation of pressure during certain steps of the surgery, but the patients rarely describe it as painful. There may be mild or, rarely, moderate discomfort following LASIK, but most patients find that their eyes are quite comfortable following this procedure. The advanced surface ablation (ASA) procedure usually causes some discomfort. However, the discomfort only occurs during the first one to three days following the surgery. A soft contact lens is placed on the eye at the end of surgery, and this acts like a bandage to help minimize discomfort. In addition, comfort drops are prescribed to treat eye pain. The amount of discomfort is quite variable among patients. Most individuals have minimal discomfort, while some have mild to moderate discomfort. How do I decide between undergoing ASA and LASIK? The results of both procedures are comparable for low to moderate amounts of near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. The advantages of LASIK are that vision often recovers within just one or two days and there is usually only minimal or no discomfort after the procedure. LASIK does introduce the small additional risk of the use of microkeratome (flap-maker), although problems with this fortunately are very rare. The advantage of ASA is that there is no flap, so no chance of flap complications, but the recovery of vision takes a little longer. We will be glad to discuss these options with you and make our recommendation, according to your particular situation. What if I move my eye during the laser treatment? While the treatment is being performed, you are required to look at a red blinking light located on the inside of the laser. It is important that you look steadily at the light throughout the operation, since this keeps the eye centered for the laser. However, if you temporarily look away or lose the ability to look at the fixation light, do not be concerned. The laser uses the most advanced 3D active tracking technology and will stop the treatment, if the eye is not perfectly centered and resume treatment once your eyes are re-centered. Can I have both eyes treated at the same time? We have successfully performed bilateral sequential LASIK and advanced surface ablation (ASA) procedures in thousands of patients. Most patients prefer this to waiting between eyes. In the field of laser vision correction, most doctors usually do perform surgery on both eyes on the same day. Is Laser Vision Correction permanent? Laser Vision correction has been performed for more than a decade. Presently, the procedure appears to be permanent with regard to distance vision correction. However, the main change that occurs during aging is associated with reading vision. This will be discussed during the consultation process if it applies to you and your specific refractive error and age. How long does the LASIK procedure take? The procedure takes approximately ten minutes per eye and the average length of time at the center is about 1½ hours. The actual exposure to the laser is less than a minute. When can I resume my normal activities following laser surgery? Following LASIK, one can usually drive within a day or two and return to full activity by 2 or 3 days. Following advanced surface ablation (ASA), most individuals find that they can return to work and drive in 4-5 days. Full activity can begin within 4-5 days, but patients are asked not to go swimming or use hot tubs for three weeks following either procedure. How often do I need to be seen? Typically, patients will need to be seen the day after the procedure followed by visits at one week, and another visit at four to eight weeks. We highly recommend that patients be available for follow-up during the first 7-10 days after surgery. When does my vision recover following laser refractive surgery? Following LASIK, vision is quite satisfactory in one or two days following the operation. Vision then improves over the next week (although in some cases vision may further improve over the next few months), assuming that no additional correction is needed. Following ASA, vision is typically blurry for the first 5-7 days. Some patients experience excellent vision as early as one week, whereas for others, the full recovery may take several weeks. In some cases with high corrections, vision can take a few months to improve but throughout this time you are fully functional. Can laser refractive surgery cause me to lose vision? As with any operation, advanced surface ablation and LASIK are not risk-free. In the U.S. studies of Laser vision correction using the VISX excimer laser, serious complications or problems occurred in less than 1% of the patients. These complications included loss of vision even with glasses; over and under correction and visually significant corneal haze. Will I be able to wear contact lenses following LASIK or ASA? Yes, although fitting contact lenses following either of these procedures is sometimes a little more difficult. Another possible option, of course, would be to undergo LASIK or ASA again to touch-up or improve the correction achieved by the first operation. What is Visx CustomVue technology? Visx CustomVue is an individualized laser vision correction procedure that is wavescan driven. This advanced wavefront technology enables us to measure and correct imperfections that are unique to each individual’s vision that could not have been measured before with standard equipment. CustomVue helps us to create a tailor-made correction for your eyes. Will LASIK or ASA eliminate my need for reading glasses? Neither procedure changes the gradual loss of focusing power that occurs as we get older. If one’s near-sightedness in both eyes is nearly or fully corrected with LASIK or ASA, then reading glasses will be required at around age 40-45. One option that is successful in some patients is called monovision. In this approach, one eye is deliberately left with a modest amount of near-sightedness, permitting this eye to serve as the reading eye. In many patients, this can reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses until the mid-50s. The compromise, of course, is that the eye that is left with some near-sightedness does not see as well at distance. This could slightly decrease depth perception and is not recommended for individuals with special needs, such as pilots. What if any side effects will I notice after LASIK Laser Vision Correction? Most everyone will experience glare and halos in the immediate postoperative period. Your eyes will also feel dry after the LASIK procedure, but this can be relieved by the use of non-preserved artificial tears. It is rare that these side effects persist longer than 2-6 weeks. Some patients may not achieve their expected uncorrected visual outcome. If this is related to an under-correction or over-correction, you may be a candidate for an enhancement of the original surgical procedure. Why do so many patients choose to have their eyes corrected by Dr. Husain? When it comes to correcting your eyes, there should be no compromise. We are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to our patients with attention to the finest detail. Our reputable and well established practice enjoys among the highest satisfaction rates in the field. Our rate of enhancement (touch-ups) is also among the lowest in the field. Every aspect of our practice including our laser and examination equipment is state of the art. Most of all, we truly care for our patients! Dr. Husain has performed thousands of successful refractive procedures. He personally takes care of each patient, pre and post-operatively. He does not delegate this responsibility to anybody else. Please do not be misled by inaccurate, deceptive and overly sensational advertising that is commonly seen in the newspapers and the media. Your goal is to find an experienced and ethical and a established surgeon who will provide an honest assessment about your likely outcomes and risks, and personalized quality care after your surgery. We hope this brochure will help address most of the commonly asked questions. If you have any further questions, please feel free to write them down and ask us on the day of your consultation or call us. We believe that an educated patient knows what to expect and will find the procedure less intimidating. It is our goal to make you as comfortable as possible and alleviate any of your fears. Laser Vision Correction Checklist Will the surgeon personally do my screening? Who would you want telling you if you are a candidate for laser eye surgery? A surgeon, a non surgeon, or a sales person. Will the surgeon be available to answer all my concerns and questions? Will I personally see my surgeon for all my post-operative care? Is the facility that will do my Laser Vision Correction using state of the art equipment? Is the facility employing deceptive, inaccurate or overly sensational advertising? (if it sounds too good to be true, be very cautious) Will state of the art FDA approved technology be used for my surgery? Has the technology that will be used on my eyes been tried and tested exhaustively on millions of patients worldwide, or am I a guinea pig for a new technology? What is my surgeon’s complication rate? What is my surgeon’s enhancement/ retreatment rate? Has my surgeon treated thousands of patients successfully? Has my surgeon completed an accredited fellowship in refractive surgery? Is the practice pushing technology over quality of outcomes? Do I feel rushed and under pressure to commit to surgery during my initial consultation? Does my surgeon inform me that laser vision correction does not provide perfect vision, but rather will make me much more functional with decreased dependence on glasses and contact lenses? Does my surgeon show concern about my well being rather than treating me like a number?  Join us for a complimentary evaluation or come to our Free LASIK Seminar Call 244-EYES (3937) Associated Ophthalmologists, P.C. 1212 Pleasant Street Suite 202 Des Moines, Iowa 50309 E-mail:  eyes@dmeyemd.com Telephone: (515) 244-EYES (3937) Fax: (515) 243-1442 home |  our location |  our physicians contact us |  Iowa laser vision correction Iowa LASIK FAQs | Lasik testimonials Iowa cataract surgery | cataract testimonials Des Moines contact lenses | Des Moines eye glasses Visx Star S4 ActiveTrak™ Laser | Privacy Practice