LASIK Eye Surgery in Fresno

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is laser vision correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It reshapes the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, so that light focuses where it should. For most people it greatly reduces or ends the need for glasses and contact lenses.

At InSight Vision Center our refractive surgeons perform custom, bladeless LASIK: both steps, making a thin flap in the cornea and reshaping the cornea beneath it, are done with lasers. Most patients are back to their normal routine the next day. Your LASIK consultation is always free, and the procedure is $2,095 per eye.

How LASIK works

To see clearly, light entering the eye has to come to a sharp focus on the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. When the cornea is too steep, too flat or unevenly curved, the focus lands in the wrong place:

• Nearsightedness (myopia): distant things are blurry.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia): close-up things are blurry, and in stronger cases distant ones too.
• Astigmatism: vision is blurred or stretched at every distance, because the cornea is curved more like a football than a basketball.

LASIK corrects all three. One laser creates a thin, hinged flap in the surface of the cornea, which the surgeon folds back. A second, the excimer laser, then removes a microscopic amount of tissue underneath, following a treatment planned from your own measurements. The flap is laid back down, where it stays in place on its own, without stitches.

Is LASIK right for you?

Your surgeon decides that at your consultation, after measuring your eyes. In general, good candidates:

• are 18 or older
• have had a stable prescription for at least a year
• have corneas thick enough to treat safely
• have a prescription within the range the laser can correct
• aren't pregnant or nursing, since hormone changes can shift your vision
• have healthy eyes, without conditions that could slow healing or affect the result

If LASIK isn't the best fit for your eyes, there are usually other options. PRK corrects the same problems without a flap, which suits thinner corneas, and lens replacement is often the better choice after 40. Both are below. Read more about who's a good LASIK candidate.

Your free LASIK consultation

Every LASIK consultation at InSight Vision Center is free, with no obligation. It takes about an hour:

1. Measurements. We map the shape and thickness of your corneas and measure your prescription precisely.
2. An eye exam. Your surgeon checks that your eyes are healthy, looking for cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye and anything else that could affect surgery.
3. A conversation. Your surgeon talks through your vision goals, what LASIK can and can't do for you, and which procedure fits your eyes best.

If you wear contact lenses, leave them out before the consultation, because they temporarily change the shape of the cornea: soft lenses for at least a week, and rigid or gas-permeable lenses for at least four weeks. We'll confirm the timing when you book.

Surgery day

LASIK is an outpatient procedure. You'll be with us for about an hour in all, and the laser treatment itself takes less than a minute per eye. Most people have both eyes done the same day.

1. Planning. The measurements from your consultation program a treatment for each eye.
2. Numbing. Anesthetic eye drops make the procedure painless. You may feel some pressure, but not pain.
3. The flap. A small device holds your eyelids open, so you don't have to worry about blinking, and a laser creates the corneal flap.
4. Reshaping. The excimer laser reshapes the cornea. It tracks your eye throughout, following its small movements, and pauses if your eye moves out of range.
5. Finishing. The flap is laid back into place, and drops go in to protect against infection and help healing.

You'll go home with protective eyewear, sunglasses and prescription eye drops. You can't drive yourself home, so bring someone who can.

Recovery

• The first few hours: your vision is usually clearer right away, but foggy for several hours. Mild burning, itching or watering is common. Go home, rest, and keep your eyes closed as much as you can.
• The next day: you come back for a short check with your surgeon. Most people return to work and their usual activities. Don't drive until your surgeon tells you your vision is ready.
• The first week: no swimming, hot tubs, sports, heavy exercise or eye makeup.
• The following weeks: your vision keeps settling. Dry eyes, and glare or halos around lights at night, are common for a while and usually fade as your eyes heal.

Read more about LASIK recovery.

PRK: laser vision correction without a flap

In PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), the surgeon gently removes the cornea's thin surface layer instead of making a flap, then reshapes the cornea with the same excimer laser. The surface grows back over the next several days. PRK suits people with thinner corneas, and people whose work or sports put their eyes at risk of a blow. Recovery is slower than with LASIK, with a few days of discomfort and a few weeks for vision to sharpen, but the final results are similar. LASEK is a close variation of PRK. Compare PRK and LASIK.

After 40: LASIK and lens replacement

From the early 40s, the eye's natural lens gradually loses its ability to focus up close. This is presbyopia, and it's why reading glasses become necessary. LASIK reshapes the cornea, not the lens, so it doesn't stop that change. There are ways to correct both distance and near vision with LASIK or PRK, such as monovision, which sets one eye for distance and the other for near; your surgeon can tell you whether that would suit you.

Some people over 40 are better served by refractive lens exchange, which replaces the eye's natural lens with a lens implant, as cataract surgery does. Read about lens replacement on our cataract surgery page.

Cost, insurance and financing

LASIK at InSight Vision Center is $2,095 per eye, and the consultation is free. Because LASIK is elective, insurance doesn't usually cover it. We offer 0% interest financing for up to 12 months through CareCredit, or longer terms, on approved credit, and we also accept HSA and FSA cards, credit cards, cash and checks. See what goes into the cost of LASIK in Fresno.

LASIK questions

Does LASIK hurt?

No. Numbing drops make the procedure painless, though you may feel pressure for a few seconds. Afterward your eyes may burn, itch or feel scratchy for a few hours. Resting with your eyes closed helps, and so do the drops we give you.

Is LASIK safe?

The lasers used in LASIK are FDA-approved, and the procedure has been studied for decades. Serious complications are rare. The most common side effects, dry eyes and glare or halos around lights at night, are usually temporary. At your consultation your surgeon will go through the risks that apply to your own eyes.

Can I have both eyes done on the same day?

Yes. That's how most people have it done when both eyes need correcting.

What if I blink or move during surgery?

You can't blink: a small device holds your eyelids open, and the numbing drops take away the urge. The laser tracks your eye and adjusts to small movements, and it pauses if your eye moves too far.

Will I still need glasses?

Most people no longer need glasses for everyday distance vision. Some need a second, touch-up treatment, called an enhancement, for the sharpest result. And once you're past 40, you'll probably need reading glasses for close work, because of presbyopia, which LASIK doesn't prevent.

How long does LASIK last?

The correction is permanent. Your eyes can still change with age, through presbyopia or a cataract later in life, whether or not you've had LASIK. How long LASIK lasts.

Can I have LASIK if I have glaucoma or dry eyes?

Often, yes. Tell your surgeon about every eye condition you have and any past eye surgery, and they'll recommend the safest option for your eyes. LASIK with dry eyes.

Who can answer my other questions?

Our LASIK coordinator can answer most questions by phone at (559) 449-5050, and you'll have time to ask your surgeon anything at your consultation.