Laser vision correct was introduced in 1987, with a technique called Photorefractive Keratectomy, known as PRK. This technique has received Canadian Health Protection Branch (HPB) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval when used with a VISX® excimer laser. PRK has received approval for nearsightedness (0 to 12 Diopters), astigmatism (0 to-4 Diopters), and farsightedness (+1 to +6 Diopters).

In the 1990's, a second laser technique, Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), became available. To date LASIK has received FDA approval for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. It is offered as an alternative to PRK and is presently more frequently performed than PRK. Which procedure is best for you depends on your vision needs, and individual eye health.

You are awake during the treatment and you may see bright lights. You cannot see what your surgeon is doing but he will talk with you about what you can expect to happen.

It is always safer to do one eye at a time, however, the majority of our patients choose to have both eyes done for convenience and the ease of returning back to work quickly.

Your treatment itself is typically painless, although you may feel some pressure and feel that you need to blink. We also provide you with a sedative about 30 minutes prior to your surgery to help you feel relaxed and comfortable.

Laser vision correction is considered cosmetic surgery. Therefore public health care plans do not cover these procedures. You are encouraged to check with your private insurance company for their coverage policies. Remember that you may often claim your treatment fee as a medical expense on your income tax.

The benefits and risks of laser vision correction are recorded in the medical literature. We offer handouts for those who wish to see clinical trial results and information regarding the effectiveness and safety. Note that the long-term effects of PRK and LASIK are not known.

At IMAGE PLUS, we use the VISX® Star S4 Active Trak™ excimer laser with Iris Registration. This VISX® Star S4 Active Trak™ laser with guided Advanced CustomVue ™ WaveFront can treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism with both LASIK and PRK techniques.

Link to FDA Approval

Choosing a surgeon is a personal decision based on your individual needs and expectations. Ask yourself a series of questions to help you determine the style of practice that you are most comfortable with. Who will be my contact person after the procedure – a surgeon, optometrist, ophthalmic assistant/nurse?

How comfortable am I in discussing my questions with staff members other than the treating doctor?

Am I comfortable with having someone other than my eye care physician performing follow-up examinations?

Do I want a personal consultation with my surgeon prior to the day of my laser treatment?

Is the practice strictly a refractive surgery centre or a full service ophthalmic practice offering refractive surgery as one component?

Laser vision correction practices approach patient care differently. Our goal is to provide a flexible approach to accommodate your preferences regarding assessments, follow-ups and personal life circumstances, which will provide you with the care that you deserve.

For your convenience, Lasik is performed on-sight in our climate controlled laser suite. The treatment for both eyes takes approximately 30 minutes.

Routine follow up visits after laser vision correction are done at one week, one month, three months, six months and one year. These may be done with your optometrist, or an IMAGE PLUS eye doctor. To provide appropriate continuity of care, however, we recommend that you see your eye care doctor, soon after your laser surgery, and yearly there after. We would be happy to discuss what follow plan best suits you needs and lifestyle.

Initially, your vision will be like "swimming under water". Depending on your prescription, your vision should improve over several hours to several days. Each patient heals differently and so will how quickly your vision improves.

Hormones produced during pregnancy and nursing can cause instability of the eye's refraction, changing your vision. This is usually temporary and returns to normal after pregnancy and breast feeding. If you are pregnant and have already had laser vision correction, you may see a change in your vision. Similar changes may occur even if laser vision correction has not been done. Most women can expect their eyes to return to their pre-pregnancy state after they stop nursing.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should not have laser vision correction. We would advise you to wait until your prescription stabilizes after your delivery or after you stop nursing.

It is important to realize that a minority of those who undergo laser vision correction experience a decreas in night vision quality following surgery. This usually is temporary and subsides within several months for the majority of patients. Some will continue to experience poorer night vision for a number of months. Occasionally it may be permanent. Wavefront treatment with Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront minimizes the chance of night vision quality worsening. Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront tends to maintain or even improve night vision quality.

Our surgeon will use a topical anesthetic drop to temporarily numb the feeling in your eye(s) during your surgical procedure.

For two weeks following surgery, you should avoid excessive dusty and smoky environments, especially for PRK patients. Before your surgery, you should discuss with your surgeon how much time you will need off work.

At your 1 day post op visit with your surgeon, your vision and eyes will be assessed. Once you meet the vision criteria for driving (typically after one day with Lasik) you will be instructed how to get your glasses restriction removed from your license. You should not drive to your one day post-operative visit.

Soft contact lenses must be removed at least two weeks prior to your consultation and surgery. Hard contact lenses should be removed at least four weeks before your consultation and surgery. For this exam we want your eyes in their natural state, to properly assess your candidacy.

In the past, the conventional treatment has provided excellent results and continues to do so. Advanced Customvue™ Wavefront technology, however, provides you with treatment that is more accurate and 25 times more precise than a conventional treatment. Your surgeon will determine what treatment best suits you at your consultation.

Each individual has different experiences regarding pain. You may feel the following symptoms: slight irritation, red and watery eyes, dryness, a burning onion sensation and your sinuses may feel as if they are plugged. We advise you to go home and nap for several hours. When you wake up, the irritation should have lessened or disappeared. You may then resume activity as specified in your post operative instructions.

Presbyopia is the term that refers to the eye's decreased ability to focus, and occurs with aging. This is usually first noticed in the mid 40's. Laser vision correction does not presently correct or prevent presbyopia. Even after having laser eye surgery, reading glasses may still be necessary and can occasionally be needed right after laser vision correction. One option for delaying the need for reading glasses is to have mono-vision. Mono-vision is having one eye treated for close and the other eye treated for distance. Your surgeon will discuss this option with you, if you wish.