LASIK EYE SURGERY

LASIK is an FDA approved procedure that is painless, fast, and effective. In most cases, it only takes a few seconds per eye. In total, the surgical appointment is about an hour from start to finish. LASIK the world’s most popular refractive procedure.

Tens of millions of patients are enjoying excellent vision and improved lifestyle without having to resort to glasses or contacts. Modern All-Laser Wavefront Optimized LASIK may even help patients achieve better vision than possible with glasses or contacts.

What is LASIK?

BENEFITS

OF LASIK SURGERY

• Painless. LASIK is associated with very little pain.
• Quick. Both the procedure and vision correction are quick. Vision is corrected almost immediately or by the day after LASIK.
• Little impact. No bandages or stitches are required after laser surgery.
• Highly effective. Around 90% of patients will have their desired vision after LASIK.

AM I A LASIK CANDIDATE

Have you ever had a contact lens fall out only to exhaustively search for it? Have you found yourself searching for contact solution late at night when you forgot to pack it for trips? Do you feel burdened by eye glasses or contact lenses during sports or other common outdoor activities? Have your questions answered by our team at Benjamin Eye Institute.

Dr. Benjamin has performed thousands of LASIK surgeries in Los Angeles, and he can speak to the benefits of LASIK. Not only does he perform the procedure on patients daily, but he has also experiences the benefits of LASIK in his own vision. Dr. Benjamin, as a patient, experienced the Modern All-Laser Wavefront Optimized LASIK on his own eyes – read more about Dr. Benjamin’s LASIK Experience.

Almost a million LASIK surgeries are performed each year, correcting vision for Americans suffering with nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatic vision. Our vision experts at Benjamin Eye Institute will work with you to answer all of your questions if you are interested in learning more about LASIK eye surgery.

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR CANDIDACY

Patients may be ineligible for LASIK if they suffer from any of the following conditions:

• Thin corneas
• Corneal scarring
• A history of dry eye
• A high degree of refractive errors
• Large pupils

For patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK, Dr. Arthur Benjamin, MD offers alternatives for patients seeking better vision.

MONOVISION

Monovision is a strategy for eliminating the need for bifocals or reading glasses. The goal of the treatment is to achieve spectacle freedom while performing everyday visual tasks. Monovision can be achieved through the use of contact lenses or LASIK. As a result of treatment, one eye, usually the dominant one, is focused at distance. The fellow non-dominant eye is focused at near. With both eyes open, the brain automatically picks the image that is best in focus.

For example, when looking at objects that are at near, such as a watch, cell phone or a price tag, the “near” eye is doing most of the work. While performing tasks that require distance vision, such as driving or watching TV, the “distance” eye does most of the work.

This strategy is well tolerated by most people but is not for everyone. For this to be successful, careful pre-operative planning must be done which includes:

• Determination of eye dominance, working distance
• Simulation of monovision with loose lens test and/or soft contact lens
• Planning for treatment of any corneal astigmatism that may be present

6 STEPS OF LASIK

• Step 1 -Create a thin corneal flap
• Step 2 -Lift and reflect the hinged flap to expose the underlying corneal stroma
• Step 3 -Correct the refractive error by reshaping the cornea with an EXCIMER laser
• Step 4 -Return the corneal flap to its original position
• Step 5 -Smooth the flap to remove any wrinkles
• Step 6 -Ensure adherence of the flap to the underlying stroma (without stitching or glue)

Although the basic steps listed above comprise the general nature of the procedure, all LASIK surgeries are not the same. The results will depend on a multitude of factors such as:

• Diagnostic technology used to measure the eyes before the surgery
• The technology used to create the flap (e.g. Microkeratome vs. Intralase)
• The EXCIMER laser used to correct vision (e.g. Visx vs. Allegretto)
• The environment in which the procedure is performed
• The experience and the skill set of the eye surgeon performing the procedure
• The quality and training of the support personnel, Benjamin Eye Institute’s technicians, nurses, and assistants are of the highest quality in the Los Angeles area.

PRIOR TO PROCEDURE

Remove your contacts. This is extremely important to both maximize the health of your eyes and assure good results.

There are generally no restrictions on eating or taking medication before or on your surgery day, however, please advise us of any medications you are taking. We recommend avoiding alcohol several hours before and after your procedure, as this tends to dehydrate the tissues. You will be given prescriptions for post-operative eye drops that must be filled prior to your procedure.

Payment is due before the surgery day so that you can focus on your procedure and getting well, rather than the hassles of payment and financing. Please review and sign the consent form prior to your procedure. Please arrange to have someone take you home after the procedure.

With Benjamin Eye Institute’s modern All-Laser Wavefront Optimized LASIK, our patients enjoy the most cutting-edge technology available. Wavefront offers the latest technological advancements, creating a computerized “map” of the eye, allowing for more precise correction with the Excimer laser.

ON THE LASIK SURGERY DAY

You can eat lightly prior to the procedure; however, do not consume caffeine (soda, chocolate, and coffee), alcohol or tobacco. Do not wear any facial make-up, eye make-up or any skin creams, lotions or moisturizers. Do not wear any scented products (i.e. perfume or cologne) or use hair products that contain alcohol (such as hair spray or mousse). The aromatic and alcohol vapors can impair the laser beam.

Wear comfortable clothing. The laser room temperature is cool so you may want to wear a sweatshirt or a sweater. Avoid wearing clothes made of materials such as wool that may generate lint in the surgical suite. Do not wear any jewelry, e.g. earrings, necklaces, and chains. To ensure safety of your jewelry, please leave it at home.

In consideration of others, and to make certain your visit is as comfortable as possible, please do not bring children with you on the day of your surgery. Turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices prior to entering the laser room.

Duration of your visit will be approximately 1 1/2 hours.

DURING THE PROCEDURE

LASIK in Los Angeles is performed on each eye separately, with each procedure taking only about five minutes. First, Dr. Benjamin uses a femtosecond laser to create a thin, circular “flap” in the cornea. The flap is then folded back to access the underlying cornea (stoma) and Dr. Benjamin eliminates some corneal tissue using another laser called an Excimer laser.

This highly specialized Excimer laser uses a cool ultraviolet light beam to remove microscopic amounts of tissue from the cornea to reshape it, refocusing light entering the eye for improved vision. For nearsighted people, the goal is to flatten the cornea. For farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. For astigmatism, the Excimer laser works by smoothing an unbalanced cornea into a more normal shape. After the laser reshapes the cornea, the flap is then laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed. The cornea is then allowed to heal naturally.

YOUR LASIK RECOVERY

Please be advised that your follow-up care is as important as the actual procedure.

You are required to come to our office within the first 24 hours after your LASIK procedure for your first post-operative appointment.

Continue using your eye medications.

You may take a shower the day after surgery, but keep your eyes closed. Do not allow water to spray directly into your face. Avoid soap or shampoo in your eyes for one week.

Do not submerge in any bodies of water such as pools, Jacuzzis, oceans, rivers, or lakes for two weeks after your surgery.

Mascara should not be used for one week. It is okay to use eye shadow and other make-up.

Do not rub your eyes for six weeks following your treatment. If your eyes itch, notify your eye doctor and an anti-itch medication can be prescribed.

Use sunglasses when outdoors for the first four weeks to protect your eyes from wind and dust.

Wear your eye shield at bedtime for one week (two weeks if you sleep on your stomach) to keep from rubbing your eyes while asleep.

Light exercise is okay, but avoid excessive workouts for five days.

It is always recommended that you wear protective eyewear for racquet and contact sports and safety goggles for jobs/hobbies that require them.

Do not swim; use a sauna or hot tub for two weeks following surgery.

You may fly two days after surgery.

Please use your antibiotic eye medication every even hour (e.g. 12PM, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM, 8PM) and your steroid medication every odd hour (1PM, 3PM, 5PM, etc.)

No scuba diving for three weeks.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PRACTICE FOR YOUR LASIK PROCEDURE.

FIRST...

...when choosing a practice for your LASIK procedure, it’s important to thoroughly interview the surgeon and ensure that you have a full understanding of the costs involved. To begin, you want to assess your surgeon’s expertise. Where did he go to medical school? Did he complete any fellowships? How many LASIK procedures has he performed in the past? Try to gauge his level of skill. Don’t be afraid to ask for references from other patients.

THEN...

...once you’re comfortable with the surgeon, inquire about the facility where your procedure will be performed and the technology that will be used. Does he leverage the latest advancements in the field, or is the technology a bit dated? What can he tell you about his facility that conveys its safety?

AFTER...

If you like both the surgeon and the facility, you’ll next want to take a closer look at the quote provided. We recommend asking the following questions to make sure there are no surprises when you receive the final bill:

• What is not included in this quote?
• Does this quote include one or both eyes?
• How many pre-op and post-op visits are included?
• Is the cost of prescription medications included?
• Are temporary eyeglasses or contacts required? How much do they cost?

LASTLY...

...once you have answers to all of those questions for a couple of different practices, review your findings and make an informed decision based on the information you’ve gathered and who you feel is most qualified to perform your procedure.

PATIENT TESTIMONIAL

"A blessed miracle! I've worn glasses since the age of 8 and after my Lasik procedure with Dr. Benjamin, and his Superior, Informative, Attentive and Excellent staff, I can experience life without the crutch of always reaching for glasses to simply see. My vision is crisp, clear and so welcome. Thank you Dr. Benjamin, Mayka and the entire staff at Benjamin eye Institute. I could not be more satisfied. You've changed my life."

- C.M.

READ MORE

WHY CHOOSE BENJAMIN EYE?

We will thoroughly examine your eyes, evaluate your visual needs and design and recommend a treatment that’s best for you. Not everyone is an ideal candidate for LASIK, but don’t worry—we offer a complete range of refractive services, including PRK, ICL, CLR and Premium Cataract Surgery. If you are not a good candidate for one of the procedures we offer, we’ll tell you.

Modern refractive surgery will give you great vision for years to come. However, your eyes and your visual needs may change over time. With our Lifetime Commitment Policy, we will be here every step of the way. Here at the Benjamin Eye Institute, we view your visit with us as the start of what we hope will be a positive, life-long relationship.

UNMATCHED ATTENTION TO DETAIL

The ambient humidity and temperature greatly affect not only the laser performance, but most importantly how your eyes respond to the treatment. That’s why at BEI we have a unique, autonomous climate-control system in our laser suite. The air in the suite is conditioned independently from the building’s air conditioning system.

The air passes through a series of HEPA filters, which prevent bacteria from contaminating the surgical environment. The air is constantly maintained at a certain humidity and temperature level. This system, unique to our suite, is quite costly, but we think you are worth it!

Of course, modern, well-maintained and calibrated laser equipment, an experienced surgeon, meticulous pre-operative evaluation, experienced and well-trained laser technicians are crucial to the success of the procedure. However, one important factor is frequently overlooked–the operating room environment.

State of the art technology is at the heart of every successful LASIK procedure. At the Benjamin Eye Institute, we are at the forefront of LASIK technology, employing only the latest technologies and advancements for laser vision correction.

BENJAMIN EYE INSTITUTE:

FEATURINGSTATE-OF-THE-ARTTECHNOLOGY

State-of-the-art technology is at the heart of every successful LASIK procedure. At the Benjamin Eye Institute, we are at the forefront, employing only the latest technologies and advancements for laser vision correction. The Wavelight Allegretto Eye-Q 400 excimer laser and Intralase FS2 60 KHz femtosecond laser represent the latest laser vision correction technology.

The combination of these advanced surgical lasers allows us to deliver safety, precision and remarkable vision correction outcomes. We have a unique, brand new climate-controlled laser suite and advanced diagnostic equipment, such as the Pentacam HR, to add an extra margin of safety and precision.