Welcome to Lexington Eye Associates

Refractive Surgery and LASIK - Boston-Area Offices in Lexington and Concord

• What distinguishes Lexington Eye Associates from other practices performing refractive surgery and laser vision correction?
• Who is a good candidate for LASIK?
• What is an excimer laser?
• Does Lexington Eye Associates utilize the best refractive surgery technology available?
• What are the risks associated with LASIK?
• What results can I expect from LASIK?
• Will I need glasses after LASIK?
• Is LASIK painful? What will my recovery be like?
• Can I have both eyes operated on at the same time?
• Are LASIK results permanent?
• What about the health of my eyes 20 or 30 years from now?
• How do I obtain more information on LASIK and refractive surgery?

What distinguishes Lexington Eye Associates from other practices performing refractive surgery and laser vision correction?

The doctors of Lexington Eye Associates have been serving patients for more than 40 years. Dr. Rodman is a board-certified cornea specialist and refractive surgeon with extensive experience in LASIK surgery. Lexington Eye Associates and Dr. Rodman are dedicated to conservative judgment when determining who is a good candidate for LASIK. This is the first and most important step toward achieving excellent results.

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Who is a good candidate for LASIK?

Good candidates for LASIK are typically at least 20 years of age who have myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. Good candidates for LASIK usually have some dissatisfaction with glasses or contact lenses because of discomfort or lifestyle issues. Prospective LASIK patients should have healthy eyes without a significant change in glasses prescription in the last year. Medical requirements include the absence of systemic conditions that might impair healing, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or severe diabetes. LASIK should not be performed on patients who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing. Good candidates for LASIK should also fully understand the risks, benefits, and capabilities of laser vision correction. Patients with realistic expectations are most likely to be pleased with their results following LASIK. We encourage you to contact our Boston-area offices in Lexington and Concord to learn if refractive surgery is right for you.

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What is an excimer laser?

The excimer laser was the first ophthalmic laser to emit a "cool" ultraviolet beam of light rather than the thermal beam of other lasers that burn tissue. The excimer laser is computer-controlled, allowing for precise reshaping of the cornea to sub-micron accuracy. Laser "ablation," or treatment of the cornea, allows light to be focused onto the retina, thereby correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

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Does Lexington Eye Associates utilize the best refractive surgery technology available?

Yes. Dr. Rodman utilizes IntraLase® technology to create the LASIK flap, because it's safer and more accurate than a microkeratome. In addition, we perform CustomVue™ LASIK individualized ablations with the VISX S4™ excimer laser for all eligible patients. This laser system is capable of measuring and treating the "fingerprint of vision" that makes our eyes unique. Studies have demonstrated that there may be improved quality of vision at night, for example, following the CustomVue™ LASIK procedure.

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What are the risks associated with LASIK?

In general, LASIK is a safe and effective procedure for the correction of vision. However, as with any surgical procedure (and even contact lens wear), there are potential risks involved. Some of these risks include over-correction or under-correction, trouble with night vision (glare or halos), dry eyes, and flap irregularities. Although the most serious complications are extremely rare, we want each of our LASIK patients to have a complete understanding of potential risks of the procedure. Dr. Rodman attempts to minimize the risk of complications by using cutting-edge technology and screening LASIK candidates carefully. At our Boston-area offices in Lexington and Concord, we can further discuss the risks and benefits of LASIK with you.

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What results can I expect from LASIK?

The goal of LASIK is to reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses. The vast majority of patients can see better than 20/40 without glasses after LASIK ( 20/40 is the level of vision required to obtain a driver's license in most states). Approximately 90 percent see 20/25 or better, and 80 percent see 20/20 or better after LASIK. Please remember that there can be no guarantees regarding a perfect visual outcome. In addition, low to moderate amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be more accurately corrected than higher amounts. For more information on LASIK in the Boston area, contact our Lexington and Concord refractive surgery offices.

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Will I need glasses after LASIK?

Many patients who have LASIK performed do not require glasses for routine activities. However, some patients will use glasses for fine visual tasks, such as driving at night. Patients who are over the age of 40 must wear reading glasses after LASIK (if both eyes were corrected for clear distance vision). Some patients will choose "monovision" LASIK, in which one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye is corrected for nearby objects. Monovision represents a compromise that can allow one to see both distant and nearby objects, but may not completely eliminate the need for glasses.

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Is LASIK painful? What will my recovery be like?

For most LASIK patients, the procedure is painless. Many patients are aware of pressure or touch but do not experience pain. Immediately after LASIK, a majority of patients are quite comfortable, but may experience tearing or mild irritation. Several hours later, these sensations have mostly resolved. By the next day, many patients typically feel and see well enough to work. The vision continues to become clearer and stabilize over the next one to three weeks after LASIK.

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Can I have both eyes operated on at the same time?

It has been demonstrated in several large clinical studies that LASIK results and safety are identical whether LASIK surgery is performed on both eyes simultaneously or one eye at a time. Most of our LASIK patients elect to have both eyes operated on the same day out of convenience. This allows them to take less time off work and avoid the imbalance between corrected and uncorrected eyes. Dr. Rodman will help you determine whether it is better to perform refractive surgery on both eyes simultaneously or one eye at a time.

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Are LASIK results permanent?

In general, yes, LASIK results are permanent. The vision correction achieved by LASIK generally does not wear off over time. Less than 10 percent of LASIK patients experience mild regression (a loss of laser effect). Regression occurs in the first few months after LASIK and can be corrected by an enhancement or "touch up" procedure. In addition, the natural difficulty with reading after age 40 (presbyopia) will increase over time. Following LASIK, distance vision remains stable as the power of reading glasses increases over time.

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What about the health of my eyes 20 or 30 years from now?

LASIK has been performed since 1991, and its safety is established. Twenty-year follow-up data are not currently available. Still, the likelihood of delayed problems is extremely low. LASIK is a variant of lamellar surgery, which has been performed for 50 years, and lamellar surgery patients have not been known to develop late problems. Once again, maintaining a conservative definition of "a good LASIK candidate" is critical for long-term success.

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How do I obtain more information on LASIK and refractive surgery?

To learn more about LASIK and refractive surgery, call Lexington Eye Associates at (978) 369-1310. You can also sign up online for information about the next LASIK seminar, or schedule a consultation with Dr. Rodman.

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