LASIK New York | FAQ's | Answers to LASIK and PRK Questions

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a remarkable advancement in refractive surgery for nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness. LASIK vision correction evolved from a long line of refractive surgical procedures and combines the precision of two established procedures that have long been performed by ophthalmic surgeons:

1. The creation of a corneal flap by a procedure known as keratomileusis.
2. The use of an excimer laser to precisely reshape the corneal tissue beneath the flap. This enables light rays to be more accurately focused on the retina at the back of the eye, thereby improving vision. The flap is then returned to its original position.

How do I know if I am a candidate for LASIK?

A thorough eye examination is performed to assess the health of the eye. The corneal contour and thickness are precisely measured in order to rule out any unseen abnormalities. New York LASIK surgeon Dr. Eric Mandel personally answers all of your questions and reviews all of your options. The results of this evaluation will help Dr. Mandel customize the treatment for your specific procedure. Schedule a consultation with our New York LASIK practice to find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery or another vision correction procedure.

How long does LASIK surgery take?

LASIK surgery lasts less than five minutes per eye.

How does LASIK differ from PRK?

With PRK, or Photorefractive Keratectomy, the reshaping of the cornea is done directly on the surface of the eye, without the creation of a flap.

Read more about what to expect from PRK.

What are the advantages of LASIK?

1.     Rapid recovery
2.     Both eyes can be safely treated at the same time
3.     Much less discomfort than with older/other refractive procedures
4.     Better anatomical location

What results can I expect at Mandel Vision®, New York’s premiere laser vision correction center?

Results vary according to the surgeon performing the laser eye surgery. Under the care of Manhattan LASIK surgeon, Dr. Mandel, over 95% percent of patients achieve eyesight within one line of 20/20 and at least 99 percent of patients are able to pass a driving test without glasses or contact lenses.

Is LASIK a safe procedure?

In the hands of a skilled LASIK surgeon who has performed thousands of procedures, LASIK is a very safe procedure. To learn more, contact our Westchester County or Manhattan offices in New York to schedule your LASIK vision correction consultation.

Is LASIK approved by the FDA?

The VISX® Star S4 laser is FDA approved to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. New York LASIK expert Eric Mandel, M.D. has extensive experience using the VISX® Star S4 Laser System.

How soon after LASIK eye surgery will I achieve my best corrected vision?

Generally patients will see better, albeit blurry, immediately following the LASIK procedure. More than 99 percent of our patients are able to drive, return to work, and resume most of their normal daily activities the very next day.

I am 55 years old and I need glasses for both distance and reading. Will laser vision correction help me with both distance and reading vision?

As you age, the focusing lens in your eyes hardens, and this decreases your ability to focus up close. This phenomenon is called presbyopia and begins visually in your early 40’s and continues to worsen through your mid 50’s, at which point it generally levels off. If you see clearly in the distance with both eyes with either glasses, contact lenses or laser vision correction, you will need magnifying reading glasses to see up close. Another way to say this is that if you see clearly in the distance with each eye at age 55, you will almost surely need reading glasses to see things up close. There is one tried and true alternative called monovision that helps many people see both far and near, in this age group, with the laser vision correction procedure.

Monovision means simply that one eye is corrected for distance vision (usually your dominant eye), and the other eye is corrected for reading vision (your non-dominant eye). Your vision with one eye alone is not as clear as with both eyes, but this is a compromise that many people are motivated to make so that they are less dependent on glasses or contact lenses for both distance and reading. For most people, monovision works very well if they have realistic expectations. Monovision works well with contact lenses and with laser vision correction, but not typically with glasses.

What kind of follow up care is needed following LASIK?

New York LASIK surgeon Eric Mandel closely monitors the healing process in order to ensure optimal visual improvement. Unlike some other/older refractive procedures, patients usually do not need to wear a bandage or a contact lens after LASIK. Instead, we recommend that you wear your sunglasses or goggles home from the office and while you sleep that evening. Patients use medicated eye drops for approximately one to two weeks following the procedure. All patients then continue with rewetting drops and other lubricants for approximately three to six months.