Preparing for Surgery
Planning for Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a normal aging problem in which we gradually lose the ability to read, starting around age 40. No eye surgery is able to completely replace the ability to read without glasses but several strategies to deal with this problem are available.
Monovision
The most practical of these is "monovision" in which one eye (usually the dominant eye) is corrected to see well in the distance and the other eye is left slightly nearsighted to see better up close. While this sounds confusing, in actual life with both eyes open, you are not really aware of the difference between the eyes but instead find yourself able to see both near and far!
Bifocal Contact Lenses
Bifocal contact lenses have been available for a number of years but have enjoyed limited success for a variety of reasons. Recent technological advancement in the design of both hard and soft lenses has, although, led to improved success for some patients. Ask the staff or Dr. Buzard to help you decide whether or not bifocal contact lenses may help you.
Another exciting new option is the multifocal intraocular implant, which affords both near and far vision in each eye. In this lens there are alternating rings of distance and near correction, allowing both in a single lens. This option can be exciting but requires adaptation over a period of several months and is only applicable to some patients. Distance vision may be impacted in some patients by a slight haze around letters and nighttime glare may be a problem as well. In actual practice only a small number of patients find this option right for them.
Dr Buzard will discuss this and your other reading options before the surgery.
Preparing for Surgery
Prior to performing the LASIK surgery, about an hour of specialized testing needs to be performed to assure Dr Buzard that your corneas are going to respond normally to the surgery and to help Dr Buzard formulate the optimal surgical plan individualized for your eyes. We have a large array of the latest computerized eye tests at the Buzard Eye Institute including computerized corneal topography and keratometry (measuring the precise shape of your corneas), photokeratometry (an invaluable test for determining smoothness of the cornea and your visual axis) and computerized refractions (assuring the most accurate determination of your refractive error or need for glasses). Your eyes will be dilated to assure an accurate refraction and this will leave you blurry for 1-2 hours after the test. You will be instructed to leave your contact lenses out prior to these tests to avoid refractive errors, which can be induced by the wearing of contact lenses (approximately 3 days for soft and 3 weeks for hard contact lenses).
Following the tests, Dr. Buzard will analyze each of the tests, both alone and taken as a group to determine the proper treatment for your eyes. You may be asked to repeat one or more tests if the tests do not agree or if the effect of contact lens wear has not sufficiently dissipated. The use of multiple tests to evaluate your corneas leading to a final evaluation is the most accurate and reliable approach to a successful outcome for your LASIK surgery.
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