Our 20/20 LASIK Blog

It's a well-documented fact that having dry eyes is a common occurrence after LASIK. Sometimes, it can be associated with other laser vision correction procedures like PRK, Epi-LASIK or LASEK as well. Some can experience just a mild form that last as little as a week or two and some may have symptoms for up to six months or more. It just depends on the individual, the type of procedure performed and the climate. People living in dry climates like Colorado or Arizona typically have a higher risk of experiencing dry eyes post-surgery.

Solutions for Dry Eyes
The good news about this minor complication is that in most cases it is pretty easily and successfully managed.

For mild cases, increasing the number of times a day you use your artificial tears is often enough to alleviate any irritation and aggravation. Other solutions may include:

• Cold compresses
• Using a humidifier in your bedroom at night and work space during the day
• Prescription tears (rather than over the counter ones)
• Punctal plugs (inserted into your tear ducts by your doctor)
• Using supplements like Flax seed oil capsules (as recommended by your doctor)

To answer any further questions you may have about the possibility of dry eyes after your LASIK procedure, please contact us today. We want to make sure all of your questions are fully satisfied before you proceed with your vision correction procedure.

At all three 20/20 Institute locations, in Denver, Portland OR and Indianapolis, all of our surgeons are board-certified ophthalmologists who have focused their medical careers on refractive surgery.

These medical doctors start with an undergraduate degree, then four years of medical school, followed by a one-year internship and then up to three years in residency training for ophthalmology. In addition, some go on to do a one to two year fellowship to study a sub-specialty like refractive surgery or corneal surgery. In most cases they will assist another surgeon or themselves perform thousands of procedures before they ever open their own practice or join an established practice as a refractive surgeon.

All of our surgeons (and other staff members too) attend continuing education seminars and classes to further their current knowledge, learn new and better techniques and keep abreast of new technologies that are on the horizon for vision correction.

To learn more about your 20/20 LASIK surgeon, please contact us today. We'll be happy to answer all of your questions and schedule a free comprehensive evaluation for you ($150 value). We'll also talk to you about affordable financing options and our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life plan.

All LASIK patients should expect to experience a little bit of glare or halos immediately after surgery. Post-surgical eyes can be a little swollen or irritated causing some vision anomalies.

Your surgeon and his staff will review what is normal and what is not normal for your LASIK post-operative healing. Be sure to follow their instructions to the letter when it comes to resting and administering the eye drops at prescribed times and in the right amounts.

If at any time you symptoms worsen or are outside the realm of what you've been told, please do not hesitate to call us ASAP. We'll let you know if you need to come in or if we need to change your post-operative regimen.

For most people, glare and halos are temporary and gradually resolve with time. If they persist, your surgeon will advise you of the best options for you that may involve new types of drops or maybe an enhancement, if necessary.

The doctor and other staff members of the 20/20 Institute are committed to providing a 5-star experience for you and will take care of any issues you have. Open communication is the key. Please contact us if you have any questions about post-procedure instructions or are having any problems.

LASIK enhancements occur when one or both eyes already treated with LASIK are re-treated to correct any lingering prescription or higher order aberration that is causing vision problems.

Even though you will be able to see clearly shortly after surgery, the full healing time and vision stabilization period may be several weeks to a few months. A certain amount of vision fluctuation is normal at first so don't assume that you will need an enhancement if you experience some fluctuation in vision.

You and your surgeon will discuss the when and if enhancements are appropriate for you. There are cases when it is necessary to have an enhancement procedure performed and those cases fall into three main categories:

1. Topographical abnormalities - decentrations, central islands, peninsulas
2. Spherical aberrations - causing night vision problems, halos, starburst, ghosting
3. Irregular astigmatism

If you suspect you need a LASIK enhancement or just want to learn more about LASIK, please call or email us today. We'll be happy to schedule a free evaluation for you and answer all of your vision correction questions.

At the 20/20 Institute, we believe the best choice for the vast majority of our patients is All Laser LASIK with the Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser.

The Ziemer Femto LDV laser is used to create the flap before the correction treatment begins. In traditional LASIK procedures, this flap is created with a mechanical blade called a microkeratome. Studies show that LASIK flaps created with a laser rather than a blade are more uniform in thickness and heal faster. Another plus is that flap-related complications are greatly reduced.

The laser we use for the actual vision correction is the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser. It is currently the fastest and most accurate laser on the market in the U.S. and is the only laser built from the ground up on Wavefront technology. With its advanced technology, it creates better and more predictable results. Many of our patients achieve better than 20/20 vision with this system.

If you have more questions about all laser eye surgery and its benefits for you, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free consultation. Come enjoy our 5-star amenities like freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and free wi-fi while you're here!

At the 20/20 Institute we want you to love your vision. Our focus is you, the patient, and getting great results for you. That's why we invest heavily in our technology and our people, including surgeons, optometrists and other staff members.

All of the laser eye surgeons at the 20/20 Institute are board-certified ophthalmologists whose careers are focused on refractive, or vision correction, surgery. They all attend continuing education classes, seminars and conventions to perfect their techniques and learn about new technologies that are on the horizon.

Which 20/20 Institute location is closest to you will dictate who your LASIK team, including your surgeon, will be. To learn more about the doctors in your area, simply go to our Home page and click on your city and then on Our Doctors link. This link will direct you to the page of doctor bios for your city.

When you're ready to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK or another vision correction procedure, simply contact us and we'll schedule a free comprehensive evaluation for you. You'll know by the end of your visit which procedure is best for you.