Is eye surgery in your future? It might be if you are over age 65 and have cataracts, or if you’ve been considering LASIK surgery for vision correction. Elmquist Eye Group has the best eye surgeons near Naples, FL. Not only do we perform cataract and LASIK surgeries, we have performed thousands of other eye surgeries, including corneal surgery, eyelid surgery and glaucoma surgery. In this article, we focus on two of these premier surgeries.
Cataract surgery
Our surgeons perform state-of -the art cataract surgery, including phacoemulsification and laser-assisted surgeries. All cataracts eventually require surgical intervention. The surgery involves removal of the damaged lens and replacement with a lens implant. Laser-assisted cataract surgery allows our surgeons much more surgical precision and accuracy than previous surgical methods. Patients experience far fewer post-surgical symptoms, and rarely experience complications. Cataract surgery is indeed one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures performed today.
LASIK surgery
LASIK, or Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, the clear covering on the front of the eye. We perform the surgery on people over age 21 who have stable refractive error. We usually do not recommend the procedure for people with certain conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis and we don’t recommend it for pregnant women.
LASIK is a noninvasive outpatient procedure that only takes about 15 minutes to complete. Our surgeons can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and even astigmatism with the procedure. Before the procedure, we will perform a complete eye exam and explain the benefits and risks of the surgery. We look at the thickness of your cornea and its curvature to determine whether you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Preparing for the surgery is easy; we just ask that you not wear your contact lenses for a few days before the procedure.
During the procedure, we administer eye drop anesthesia to your eyes and we may provide a sedative to help you relax. In LASIK surgery, we first use a femtosecond laser to create a flap in the cornea, then we use a second laser called an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The reshaping of the cornea is what corrects the vision. Afterwards, the surgeon replaces the corneal flap and it heals in place with no stitches required.
Recovery from the procedure is straightforward. Vision is blurry on the first day, but the eyes heal rapidly. . Most patients are truly amazed at how clearly they see the day after the surgery. Many patients feel a scratchiness for a few hours after the surgery. If it bothers you, we can provide a shield that you can place over your eyes for a day or two to prevent you from rubbing your eyes. A couple of days after the surgery, we will ask you to come in so that the surgeon can examine your eyes and test your vision. We ask that you avoid sports and swimming for a few days while your eyes heal.
Come to the best
If you have been considering LASIK, or if you suspect you have a cataract, don’t delay. Call Elmquist Eye Group today. We are the best eye surgeons near Naples, FL and our experienced team will tell you all you need to know about these and other surgical procedures.