Do I have to be hospitalized for this procedure?
No. Laser vision correction surgery is performed on-site at the Durham office, with our own Visx Star-4--the finest instrument of its kind.

How long will the procedure actually take?

On surgery day, plan to come to the office for approximately two hours. You'll be in the procedure room for about 15 to 20 minutes per eye. Your family and friends are invited to wait for you in our recovery room. You will need a responsible adult to drive you home.

Is the procedure painful?
It's unlikely that you will experience any pain during the treatment, because the doctor applies effective numbing eye drops. Following treatment, it's possible you will feel a slight stinging and gritty sensation in your eye. These symptoms are temporary and usually disappear in a few hours.

When will my vision improve? Most LASIK patients experience a noticeable improvement in vision the day following surgery. The great majority of patients have good functional vision on the first day. Vision typically continues to improve steadily for a period of some months. However, patients are individuals and heal differently. Quick healing means achieving excellent vision more quickly than does slow healing.

Has anyone ever gone blind from excimer laser eye surgery?
No. More than one million patients in 52 countries have greatly improved their vision as a result of excimer laser technology. No cases of blindness have ever been reported from either the PRK or LASIK procedures.

Are there any long-term effects from laser eye surgery?
This question has been studied at length and in depth for many years. The very best evidence that we have today is that there are no long-term negative effects from this type of surgery.

Are there any risks involved at all?
Use of the excimer laser is a surgical procedure, and there are always risks from any type of surgery. Experts estimate that the risk of a serious complication from this surgery is less than one percent. We encourage you to attend one of our informational seminars, when all of your questions about the procedure will be answered in detail.

Can I have both eyes corrected on the same day?
With the LASIK procedure, we normally do both eyes on the same day if both require correction. If for some reason that is not done, in the time between procedures we suggest several options: the patient can wear a contact lens in the untreated eye: or We'll discuss the best solution in your individual case.

North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat offers free informational seminars each month to present the details of the LASIK procedure, and to answer questions prospective patients may have. Click here for more information.