LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) is a laser vision correction procedure where, in a matter of a few minutes, you can lessen, and in most cases, eliminate your dependence on glasses or contacts. It is a painless, outpatient procedure with such rapid improvement in vision that most people can actually drive a car the next day. While improvement in sight is immediate, it may take a few days to weeks to achieve maximum vision.  Millions of LASIK surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Most degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be successfully treated.  LASIK involves little or no discomfort both during the procedure and through the recovery period.  Numbing eye drops are used and mild sedation may be given to enhance patient comfort. 

At the Alabama Vision Center, our patients have become the primary source of our referrals. They appreciate our individual approach to their care and the fact that we use nothing but the finest technology. We get to know each patient and follow them through the entire process beginning from the initial evaluation with the doctor, through the procedure, and each postoperative visit. In fact, we have been called "The Doctors' Doctor" because of the many physicians and their family members who have chosen us for their LASIK procedure. Regarding technology, we no longer use a metal blade (microkeratome) to cut the cornea as most other centers still do. Instead we use a blade-free laser technology called Intralase to create the corneal flap. Some patients are nervous about having LASIK because of the creation of this flap. The unparalleled precision of the Intralase created flap gives our patients peace of mind knowing they are receiving the best and safest technology for this critical step of the procedure. This flap is gently lifted and an excimer laser is then used to sculpt the cornea to a more regular shape. The excimer laser we use is a VISX Star4, the most advanced excimer laser in the world. It has the proprietary Active TRAK, CustomVue and Iris Registration technologies. In fact, more LASIK procedures have been performed with this laser than all others combined. The combination of VISX + Intralase provides the most precise blade-free all laser LASIK available. Most experts agree that a Cornea Specialist is the most qualified doctor to perform LASIK. At our center, every LASIK procedure is performed by a cornea specialist

Reasons to consider LASIK:

• Nearsightedness (myopia)
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Astigmatism (irregularly shaped cornea)
• Desire to decrease or eliminate dependence on glasses or contacts

The Ideal Candidate

In general, the ideal candidate for LASIK is over 18 years of age and has healthy corneas. Candidates must not have had significant change in their prescription in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not be good candidates for LASIK. The goal of LASIK is to reduce dependence on corrective lenses and restore good natural vision. While it cannot specifically correct presbyopia (a condition that occurs around age 40 and may require the use of reading glasses or bifocals), a technique called monovision (one eye corrected for distance vision and the other corrected for near) is an excellent option for many patients over 40 who do not want reading glasses. Dr. Kloess and Dr. Velazquez will help you make the appropriate decisions regarding your vision correction procedure.