Please feel free to contact our office at 814-453-4575, if your specific question is not addressed in any of the following questions and answers.

A. Yes

A. Yes

A. Yes

A.

1. Free LASIK consultation by Dr. Zimm to discuss the procedure as well as answer any questions (approximately 20-30 minutes). LASIK work-up and procedure dates can be scheduled at this time
   
   
2. LASIK work-up which includes a two hour dilated eye exam to thoroughly exam the eye as well as comprehensive eye mapping for determination of LASIK power calculations
   
   
3. LASIK procedure Post-operative appointments for one day, one week, one month, three months, six months and one year – the initial follow-up period is covered in your total LASIK package pricing

 

A. Dr. Zimm will determine if a patient falls within LASIK treatment ranges at the time of the free screening. Ultimately, the two-hour LASIK work-up examination with comprehensive corneal scanning will determine if a patient is truly a good candidate or not. Non-candidates may have corneas which are too steep, too thin etc. Dr. Zimm puts safety at the top of his list of concerns, and if he feels for any reason that you are not a good candidate for the procedure he will insist that you do not have LASIK.

A. Dr. Zimm feels very strongly about using the best technology for his patients. Therefore, Dr. Zimm uses a Pentacam to map the cornea. The Pentacam is one of the only corneal scanners available which maps both the front and back surfaces of your cornea. Many other LASIK surgeons use a corneal topographer which only maps the front surface of the cornea. However, most corneal problems start on the back surface of your cornea. Dr. Zimm urges you that no matter who performs your LASIK procedure, make sure they are imaging the front and back surfaces of your cornea.

 

A. Patients who wear soft contact lenses need to stay out of their lenses for a minimum of two weeks before their LASIK work-up examination.

Patients who wear rigid gas permeable lenses need to stay out of their lenses for a minimum of four weeks before their LASIK work-up examination.

A. Pregnant and or nursing women must wait at least 3 months after delivery/nursing to have LASIK.

A. Yes. Dr. Zimm also performs advanced surface ablation procedures such as LASEK for patients who are not candidates for LASIK based on thin corneas or other reasons.

A. Every procedure has inherent risks and complications. However, Dr. Zimm feels he has invested in the most advanced technologies available to give the best outcomes possible. Furthermore, having performed a fellowship in laser vision correction, Dr. Zimm feels he has the best training available to make the determination whether a patient is a good candidate for laser vision correction or not.

A. In most cases, patients who have had previous RK are able to undergo LASIK.

 

A. The majority of patients who have had cataract surgery in the past and still wear glasses to see into the distance can have LASIK surgery to help correct the distance vision.

 

A. Most people prefer to have both eyes corrected fully to give good distance vision. This gives patients optimal depth perception for driving, hunting and other sporting activities. In this scenario, patients will require only “readers” to perform near vision activities.

Some patients may be candidates to have one eye corrected for distance and one eye corrected for near. This is called “monovision” and will give the best potential to be glasses-free.

 

 

A. The laser used by Dr. Zimm has one of the most advanced eye-tracking technologies available. Therefore, the laser tracks eye movements during surgery at microsecond intervals so the appropriate treatment is given even if the eye moves.

 

 

A. Before the LASIK procedure, patients are offered a mild sedative (Valium) to help with relaxation. An instrument gently holds the eye open during the procedure, so holding the eye open and blinking is not an issue for the patient.

A. Patients are asked to arrive approximately one hour before their procedure. The LASIK procedure itself will take 10-15 minutes per eye.

A. Anesthetic eye drops are placed into the eyes before the procedure. These drops “numb” the eye and make the LASIK procedure virtually pain-free. Some patients describe a mild pressure sensation at the onset of the procedure which usually lasts only 15 seconds.

A. Expect to return back to work fairly quickly after LASIK. Patients are advised to take the first one or two days off work after LASIK.

 

A. Vision is expected to be very misty or hazy and will fluctuate immediately after the procedure. However, the large majority of patients find themselves seeing clearly within the first couple of days after LASIK.

 

• No make-up on the day of surgery or for one week after the procedure
• No swimming pools, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, steam baths, saunas or lakes for one month after LASIK due to the risk of water-borne bacteria
• No heavy lifting or strenuous lifting for one week after LASIK due to the dehydrating effect
• Planes are ok immediately after LASIK
• Showering is ok starting the day after LASIK, just let the soap and water run down the back of your head
• No tanning beds for one week after LASIK
• No colognes or perfumes on the day of LASIK, deodorant is OK
  

 

 

A. LASIK patients will be placed on anti-inflammatory as well as prophylactic antibiotic eye drops for one week. Artificial tears will also be used throughout the post-operative period.

 

 

A. Patients may experience dry eye syndrome for up to 1 year after their LASIK procedure. Dry eye is treated with artificial tear supplements and is usually self-limited.

Glare is an occasional finding after LASIK. Patients are instructed that if they have glare before LASIK then they will also have glare after LASIK. Patients with large pupils are more likely to experience glare after LASIK.