Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Eye Center: Eye Services

LASIK Eye Surgery at Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center

The decision to have laser vision correction is an important one that you should make carefully.

We know how overwhelming it can be to research your options, and then finally select a qualified surgeon and practice to have refractive surgery. We also know that for many people, just simply making the decision to undergo laser vision correction is an enormous step.

At Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center, we want you to know you’re getting the safest treatment available. We take great care to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery. With the latest advances in lasers and surgical procedures, there are several other options available to correct vision problems, and we will discuss these in detail, and decide with you, which procedure is the best.

As with any surgical procedures, there are potential risks, and this is true of laser vision correction surgery. We encourage you to view LASIK surgery as an important medical and surgical decision, and not an assembly line procedure. But also take comfort in knowing that the complication rate for LASIK is extremely low, making it one of the safest surgical procedures today. Many of the risks and complications associated with this procedure can be reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection and thorough preoperative testing using the latest diagnostic technology.

Like any surgery, the experience of the doctor is the most important factor in achieving the best results. Dr. Sean Pieramici is a board certified and fellowship trained refractive surgeon. He has performed thousands of procedures and has been involved in FDA clinical trials for laser vision correction surgery. Dr. Pieramici will be with you through the entire process; from the pre-operative consultation and examination, through the surgical procedure, and all of the post-operative checks for the entire year after your surgery.

LASIK surgery is correcting the refractive error of the eye, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea (the clear window of the eye) so that light rays focus more precisely on the retina to give clear vision. This procedure is done by first making a thin flap on the cornea using a laser. Next, the surgeon lifts this delicate flap, and a second laser reshapes the cornea precisely to the curvature that is needed. The flap is then repositioned by the surgeon, and the procedure is over.

Creating your personalized vision profile.

The first step in your LASIK procedure is to perform a wavefront scan of your eye using the WaveScan WaveFront System. Because each of your eyes are as unique as your fingerprint, we need an accurate and detailed analysis of your eye. The WaveFront scanner creates a high definition 3D visual representation of the visual pathway of each of your eyes. This information is used by your surgeon to create a personalized LASIK correction plan

Making the personalized flap

Using the IntraLase femtosecond laser, a personalized thin flap is made to your unique eye shape. This thin LASIK flap is then folded back gently in preparation to reshape the cornea. Studies have shown that flaps created with the IntrLase method have fewer com[plications and greater stability than flaps created with a blade.

Delivering your personalized vision correction

Once the LASIK flap has been made and folded back, a second ultra-precise “cool” laser is used to gently reshape your cornea based on your unique measurements performed by the WaveFront mapping of your eye.

The IntraLase® System Method

LASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea so the eyes can see without contact lenses or eyeglasses. The term LASIK is used when the procedure involves creating a corneal flap.

This is also known as blade-free or bladeless LASIK surgery which uses advanced femtosecond laser technology to achieve an accurate and safer flap procedure than using a blade.

With the intraLase procedure, pulses of laser light are used to create a corneal flap. Because the IntraLase is empowered by computer control precision, it allows your surgeon to customise the depth, width, shape and location of the flap needed for your eye. The flap is then lifted, and your cornea is reshaped. Your flap is then carefully repositioned into place, and the procedure is finished.

The IntraLase method has been used on hundreds of thousands of eyes and we trust this highly advanced technology to achieve superior visual results with an exceptional safety profile.

Preparing for LASIK Surgery

Make sure you have been out of your contact lenses for the determined amount of time
Please refrain from using any heavy fragrances
It is important not to wear eye makeup the day of surgery and 24 hours after
You will need a driver to bring you and take you home
Please wear comfortable clothing but no wool or fleece that can interfere with laser
Avoid smoking the day of surgery
Depending on your occupation, you made need to make arrangements for time off work following your LASIK surgery
There are generally no restrictions on eating or taking your medications before your procedure
You can expect to feel nervous or anxious prior to your procedure; this is a completely natural response. You will have the choice of taking a mild sedative before surgery to help you relax

Day of LASIK Surgery

Expect to be in the clinic for about 1-2 hours
Dr. Pieramici will verify all your information and explain the procedure before going to the LASIK suite
We will bring you down to the LASIK suite and numb your eyes with eye drops and clean around both your eyes for sterility
A painless eye holder is used so you do not have to worry about blinking
Only a slight pressure is felt by the patient during the procedure, otherwise there is no pain involved with any part of the procedure
The entire procedure takes approximately 15 minutes and during this time your only job is to look at a flashing light
Many patients worry they can do something wrong during their procedure that can cause a negative outcome. This is completely untrue. With the advanced technology we use to track the eyes, the laser will follow your eye movements even if you look away from the flashing light.

Immediately After Surgery

After surgery you will be escorted back to an examining room to relax. Dr. Pieramici will check your eyes before leaving, and place eye drops in your eyes and protective shields over them which you will wear until the next morning

Recovery is fast. The first couple of hours after surgery, your eyes may feel irritated, with a scratchy or burning sensation and increased tearing. Vision is typically blurry at this time. We recommend you go home and nap for at least a few hours to rest your eyes. No computer or cellphone use is recommended during this time so as not to cause eye dryness

Day After Surgery

Your eyes may feel dry upon awakening the next morning. This is normal. Your vision will be much better than right after surgery

Dr. Pieramici will see you the next morning to check your eyes, place eye drops, and give your instructions for the week.

Postoperative Schedule

Dr Pieramici will monitor the healing process over the next few months to a year to make sure your eyes are healthy and healing normal. Dr. Pieramici will usually see you at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and at 1 year.

Does the LASIK procedure hurt?

The eye is numbed during the procedure. Most patients only feel a little bit of a pressure sensation

What if I blink my eyes or move during the procedure?

You will lie comfortably on your back and staring at a blinking light. A speculum to hold your eye open will be used to prevent blinking. The laser can be stopped at any time by your surgeon to reposition if necessary without any interruption in treatment.

Are the results from your LASIK surgery permanent?

LASIK surgery is usually only needed once for your vision correction. However, some patients may need an enhancement procedure later as their eyes may naturally change throughout their lifetime.

Is LASIK safe?

LASIK is widely considered to be one of the safest elective procedures in modern medicine. The recovery period is fast, and complications are extremely rare and treatable.

When can I resume normal activity?

Patients can resume most normal activities immediately after LASIK. Active contact sports should be postponed for two weeks after surgery unless protective eyewear is approved. Swimming and hot tubs should also be avoided for two weeks.

How long will I need to take off work?

Most patients return to work in a few days, some even go to work the next day. If your occupation has any risks to your eyes, than more time off may be appropriate.

Can I have both eyes done with LASIK at the same time?

Both eyes are usually done at the same time during LASIK surgery. If the surgery of your first eye is not perfect, your doctor may hold off on proceeding with the second eye

How long will it take before I can see well again?

Visual recovery is very fast with LASIK surgery. Most patients achieve good vision the day after surgery. However, vision will continue to improve over weeks to months, particularly in higher prescriptions. Typically it can take 1-2 weeks to see fine details, with the final visual result coming several months after surgery.

Who can have LASIK?

Not everybody who wants LASIK is a candidate for the surgery. There are a number of factors that your doctor must evaluate before they can determine if you are eligible for LASIK surgery. During your LASIK examination; your medical history, eye exam, and testing will be used to make a determination if you are a good candidate. Certain medical and ocular conditions can lead to poor outcomes after LASIK surgery, which is why the LASIK consultation is the most important step in your LASIK journey.