West Coast Eye Institute is proud to be the only LASIK ophthalmology practice in Bakersfield, CA. LASIK is the most effective procedure to permanently treat refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If you want to be liberated from eyeglasses and contact lenses for good, you should consider your laser eye surgery options. Please contact our Harvard-trained refractive surgeon to determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK eye surgery in Bakersfield.
What is LASIK?
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Like other types of refractive surgery, the LASIK procedure reshapes the cornea to enable light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision.
LASIK surgery is essentially pain-free and takes only about 15 minutes for both eyes. The results (improved vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses) begin immediately after the procedure, and vision usually continues to improve and stabilize over a few days. LASIK is a permanent correction of the refractive error of your eye.
LASIK treats the following conditions:
- Myopia (Nearsightedness): You can clearly see objects close to your field of vision, but objects far from your vision appear blurry.
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness): You can clearly see objects far from your field of vision, but objects close to your vision appear blurry.
- Astigmatism: An imperfection in the curvature of your eyes leads to generally blurry and distorted vision, regardless of the distance.
Can LASIK fix other eye problems, such as cataracts, dry eyes, or glaucoma?
LASIK surgery only treats refractive errors of the eyes by reshaping the cornea. It cannot fix other eye conditions and problems, such as dry eyes, cataracts, or glaucoma. These conditions occur because of protein buildup in the lenses (cataracts), pressure buildup in the eyes (glaucoma), or insufficient tear production (dry eyes).
LASIK in Bakersfield is used to reshape the cornea, so it can’t treat these eye problems. However, if you have signs and symptoms of other eye problems, please schedule an exam with our eye doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Our Harvard-trained refractive surgeons will identify the root cause of your eye problems and recommend the ideal procedures for you.
How does LASIK surgery work?
To understand how LASIK surgery works, you must understand what causes refractive errors. In eyes with normal vision, the cornea refracts light onto the retina at the back of the eye, thus producing crystal clear vision. However, if you’re suffering from refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, the cornea bends light incorrectly, leading to blurry vision.
LASIK surgery is a quick, in-office procedure wherein a special type of laser is used to change the shape of your cornea, i.e., the curved tissue at the front of your eyes. The cornea is shaped to ensure that it bends light correctly onto the retina, thus restoring optimal vision. The procedure usually concludes within 15 minutes for both eyes.
Am I a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery?
LASIK in Bakersfield is an extremely popular treatment used to correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. Your ophthalmologist will carefully assess your eye health, corneal thickness, prescription, pupil size, age, and overall health conditions to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
Generally speaking, LASIK eye surgery is only meant for patients with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. You should also be in generally good physical and emotional health with realistic expectations from the procedure. You should also have stable vision for a year to ensure that your cornea won’t continue changing after the procedure, which could undo the results.
If you’re not a good LASIK candidate, a number of other vision correction surgeries are available, such as PRK, LASEK laser eye surgery, and phakic IOL surgery. Please contact our ophthalmology practice in Bakersfield to determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
Is LASIK surgery safe?
LASIK is a completely safe, FDA-approved procedure that has been performed on millions of patients worldwide. Furthermore, our talented ophthalmologists carefully assess all patients to ensure they’re suitable candidates for LASIK eye surgery, Bakersfield.
What are the benefits of LASIK eye surgery?
- Concludes within 15 minutes
- Treats most refractive errors
- Liberates you from eyeglasses and contacts
- 85% of all patients achieve 20/20 vision
- 95% of all patients achieve at least 20/40 vision
- No downtime or recovery period
- No follow-up treatments
- Long-lasting or permanent results
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): An alternative to LASIK eye surgery?
Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, is another method of surgically reshaping the cornea using the excimer laser and is used in circumstances when LASIK cannot be safely performed. The PRK specialists at our Bakersfield clinic will determine whether you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery or PRK.
PRK is a form of refractive surgery, similar to LASIK. The main difference between LASIK and PRK is that during PRK, the corneal flap is not created, and the procedure is performed on the outer surface of the cornea. Most patients are candidates for LASIK, however, PRK is the best option for some.
Is LASIK eye surgery painful?
LASIK eye surgery in Bakersfield is completely painless. Anesthetic eye drops will be used, so you won’t feel anything other than slight pressure in the tissues around your eyes.
What happens after LASIK eye surgery?
You might experience mild grittiness and sensitivity in your eyelashes after the procedure, but it should dissipate within a few hours. You’ll have to take over-the-counter medications to ensure optimal comfort. You should rest and relax your eyes the day of the surgery, but you can resume most of your daily activities and work the next day. However, you should avoid swimming, hot tubs, and strenuous workouts for at least 1 to 2 weeks.
How long do the results of LASIK last?
LASIK is a permanent procedure, and it corrects all refractive errors. However, it doesn’t prevent other age-related eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
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Explore your laser eye surgery options in Bakersfield, CA
West Coast Eye Institute is the only practice providing LASIK in Bakersfield, led by a Harvard-trained refractive surgeon. Our ophthalmologists and eye surgeons carefully assess your condition, discuss your goals, review your medical history, and determine if you’re a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. If you’re not suitable for LASIK, they might also recommend other possible surgeries to address your concerns. Please schedule an appointment to determine if you’re a viable candidate for LASIK eye surgery in Bakersfield, CA.
