To determine if Laser Vision Correction is right for you, you should consider your degree of refractive error, lifestyle including occupation and leisure activities, age, general health, and personal expectations. For most patients, Laser Vision Correction provides normal or near-normal vision (20/40 or better) in more than 90% of all cases. Your Kaiser Permanente refractive surgeon will discuss your expectations, individual risk factors, and benefits at your initial consultation.

Guidelines for Candidacy

To be eligible for Laser Vision Correction surgery, you will need to have a comprehensive evaluation with a Kaiser Permanente refractive surgeon and/or optometrist and you should meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have stable vision for at least one year before surgery
• Have healthy eyes that are free of diseases, scars, retinal problems, and corneal malformations
• Be nearsighted or farsighted with or without astigmatism
• Be well informed and have realistic expectations
• Be in general good health

What are the Benefits?

• Less reliance on eyewear or, in some cases, freedom from the inconvenience of eyeglasses and/or contact lenses
• Better vision and convenience for recreational sports, especially water, winter and contact sports
• Wider scope of peripheral vision than glasses provide
• No more fears about being incapacitated if eyeglasses and/or contact lenses are lost or damaged

What are the Risks?

Laser Vision Correction has passed extensive scrutiny from public health agencies and medical professionals. After nearly a decade of research, complications seriously affecting vision are reported at a rate of less than 2%. As with all surgical procedures, however, there are risks associated with Laser Vision Correction. For example:

• Under and Over Response - If you have a very strong prescription, more than one treatment may be required if your eye does not respond fully to the first treatment. Provided that your cornea is of adequate thickness, a second treatment can be performed when any residual refractive error has stabilized, usually a few months after the first treatment. Alternatively, some patients may over-respond to the treatment.

• Regression - Although the initial treatment response may be ideal, some patients may begin to “wear-off” some of the effects of the treatment as their eye heals. This is somewhat more common in hyperopic patients. Regression may occur during the first several months after treatment. Provided that your cornea is of adequate thickness, a second treatment can be performed when any refractive error has stabilized.

• Night Glare - Some people experience poor night vision or night glare (haloes, star bursting) even before they have Laser Vision Correction. Refractive surgery will not make these symptoms go away. Patients with large pupils and strong prescriptions may have persistent symptoms after surgery. Other patients may notice small amounts of glare or haloes initially after surgery. If present, these symptoms typically go away in several weeks to several months after surgery. Wavefront technology can reduce the risk of these symptoms.

• Dryness and Irritation - After LASIK, your eye may experience some dryness and irritation while your eye heals. If you have a pre-existing dry eye condition, you should discuss this with your doctor, as the symptom may be more pronounced after the surgery. These symptoms are usually relieved by using artificial tears. PRK patients may experience more discomfort than LASIK and require additional medications to relieve these symptoms.

• Fluctuation of Vision - While your eye heals, you may notice intermittent small fluctuations in your vision. This is normal and usually resolves several weeks after the surgery, but in some cases may persist longer.

• Infection - Applying antibiotic drops both before and after the procedure minimizes infection. Most minor infections are easily treated. Risk of infection is greatest 48 to 72 hours following the procedure.

• Corneal Flap Risks - An incomplete or irregular flap rarely occurs during the procedure. If this occurs, the laser procedure will be stopped and rescheduled. Some patients may develop problems following the LASIK procedure as the flap heals. These problems may consist of wrinkles, abnormal healing or inflammation. Usually this can be treated by eye drops or by rinsing the corneal flap. The flap can shift or even dislocate if the eye is hit hard after surgery. Wearing a protective eye shield minimizes this risk.

• Healing Haze - Healing haze is a term for the collagen protein that forms on the eye’s surface following PRK. When haze occurs it is usually invisible to the naked eye. Many patients are not even aware they have haze. Mild haze usually clears gradually over many months. Many patients with a faint degree of haze do not notice any effect on their vision. Some patients will develop severe haze that may require treatment.

Expectations

Your personal expectations play a significant role in determining whether Laser Vision Correction is right for you. While it is true that most patients who have Laser Vision Correction significantly reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses, Laser Vision Correction does not promise 20/20 vision. You may be a good Laser Vision Correction candidate if you agree with the following statements:

• I would like to be less dependent on glasses or contacts
• I would like to see well enough to take care of myself in an emergency without relying on my glasses or contacts
• I like being active and would like the freedom from corrective lenses to engage in sports activities