LASIK
Life Without Glasses or Contact Lenses Starts Here
At EyeHealth Northwest, LASIK is personalized to you, performed by experienced surgeons using advanced, proven technology.
EyeHealth Northwest is a team of highly skilled, dedicated eye care specialists and board-certified LASIK surgeons serving the Portland metro area. When it comes to your vision, we understand you expect excellence, and we’re here to guide you through every step with clarity and confidence.
Your LASIK Journey
What Is the LASIK Process Like?
Many people are surprised by how simple the LASIK experience is. Here’s what to expect from start to finish.
A Few Weeks Before LASIK: Your Eye Evaluation
During your evaluation, our surgeons will perform multiple tests to check your vision, map the shape of your cornea, screen for eye disease, measure your eyes, and assess the retina for the eye’s visual potential.
On the Day of LASIK: What Happens During Your Procedure
Your surgeon will prep your eyes with anesthetic drops while you’re lying underneath the WaveLight Refractive Suite. Your surgeon then gains access to your cornea by lifting a thin layer of corneal tissue. Cool laser energy from the excimer laser precisely reshapes your cornea. Within minutes, the procedure is complete and the thin layer of tissue is returned.
Immediately After LASIK: Sharper. Brighter. Clearer.
Most LASIK patients notice improvement in vision immediately. Following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions will ensure the best healing of your eyes.
Is LASIK Right for You?
What Are the Pros and Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK eye surgery is a popular procedure that can correct vision problems and eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. However, like any medical procedure, there are pros and cons to consider before deciding whether LASIK is right for you.
While LASIK has the highest patient satisfaction rating of any elective procedure in the United States, it is not suitable for everyone. A consultation with an eye doctor can help determine whether LASIK is a good option for you based on your specific needs and medical history.
Pros
- LASIK is a safe and effective procedure with a high success rate.
- Freedom from glasses or contacts after the procedure.
- The procedure is quick, usually taking only a few minutes per eye.
- Recovery time is relatively fast, with most patients experiencing improved vision within a few days.
- LASIK can correct a wide range of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
- The results of LASIK are long-lasting, providing permanent vision correction.
Cons
- There are potential risks and complications associated with any surgery, although they are rare.
- Some patients may experience temporary side effects such as dry eyes, glare, halos, or sensitivity to light, which usually resolve within a few months.
- LASIK is not typically covered by insurance.
Wondering where you fall? A quick self-test is an easy first step, and a consultation will give you a definitive answer.
Making LASIK Affordable
Easy Payment Options
EyeHealth Northwest can help you manage the cost of surgery through our partnership with CareCredit. CareCredit offers interest-free financing payment plans up to 24 months, helping make laser vision correction more affordable. We don’t want finances to be an obstacle between you and vision freedom. *Flexible spending and insurance discounts may also apply.
During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to spend ample time with your surgeon and counselor, who can provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your treatment.
Advanced Technology
Blade-Free LASIK Technology
Making the decision to have LASIK eye surgery is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. There are many important factors to consider before making your decision to have refractive surgery. At EyeHealth Northwest, our LASIK team takes great care to always recommend the very best in technology to improve your vision. That’s why we now offer advanced blade-free, all-laser LASIK.
Blade-free LASIK utilizes a femtosecond laser. This advanced technology laser generates a tiny beam of laser light to create your corneal flap, which is then gently lifted and your cornea reshaped to your prescription with the excimer laser. This combination of laser technologies is 100% blade-free and has been successfully performed on hundreds of thousands of patients across the United States.
Finding Your Best Fit
Laser Vision Correction Options
Since the approval of laser vision correction in 1995, millions of people have eliminated their nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism and reduced their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. EyeHealth Northwest performs two types of laser vision correction surgery: Custom Blade-Free LASIK and Advanced Custom PRK.
When considering laser vision correction eye surgery, most patients want the quickest recovery. We are going to consider your safety and quality of vision first and recommend what is best for your long-term eye health.
Custom LASIK
Your surgeon may recommend LASIK if your preoperative exam is within normal limits and you require a faster recovery.
Blade-free LASIK utilizes a femtosecond laser to create your corneal flap, which is gently lifted. Your cornea is reshaped to your prescription with the laser and the flap is gently folded back into place. You are back to your normal activities the next day.
Surface Laser Vision Correction (PRK/LASEK)
Your surgeon may recommend Surface Laser Vision Correction, or PRK, if you have thin or dry eyes, an occupation or activities with risk of eye injury, or a preference for a flapless correction.
During Surface Laser Vision Correction/PRK, the laser reshapes the top surface of the cornea after the outer layer of epithelial cells is removed; a completely painless procedure. A bandage contact lens is placed on the eye for comfort during healing. New layers of epithelial cells regrow and heal over the treated area, usually in three to five days. Most patients return to work 4–5 days following surgery.
Not sure which option fits your eyes? That’s exactly what your evaluation is for. Your surgeon will recommend the approach that’s safest and best suited to you.
WaveLight Refractive Suite for LASIK
EyeHealth Northwest offers a state-of-the-art LASIK suite featuring next-generation WaveLight lasers with ‘Perfect Pulse’ laser technology. Our WaveLight Refractive Suite also features the FS200 Femtosecond laser, which provides all-laser, blade-free flap creation; the EX500 Excimer laser, the fastest laser on the market; and Contoura, which maps the unique topography of the eye for precise vision correction.
WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser
The WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser provides all-laser, blade-free flap creation in the first step of the LASIK procedure. Using short pulses of light to separate the layers of the cornea, a customized flap is created. In conventional LASIK, a blade is used to make the flap. With the WaveLight FS200, your LASIK experience is completely bladeless and enables your EyeHealth Northwest LASIK surgeon to tailor the procedure to the unique characteristics of each patient.
WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser
The WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser performs the vision correction portion of the procedure. It is the fastest laser on the market, with an average treatment time of 1.4 seconds per unit of correction. The speed of treatment not only shortens surgical time but also improves the accuracy of treatment, allowing better results. The EX500 also has the fastest eye trackers on the market, so the laser can follow each and every eye movement and adjust the treatment accordingly.
Contoura Topography-Guided LASIK
Contoura is a topography-guided method of LASIK. A Topolyzer maps the unique topography of the surface of the cornea, sampling approximately 22,000 points. The mapping information from Contoura is then integrated with the EX500 excimer laser to smooth out any irregularities on your cornea.
Advanced technology is only part of the picture. It’s paired with experienced surgeons who take the time to get to know your eyes and your goals.
Getting Started
Ready to Picture Life Without Glasses?
Whether you’re just curious or ready to move forward, a consultation is the best way to find out what’s possible for your eyes. We’ll answer your questions and help you choose with confidence.
What Our Patients are Saying
