LASIK Referral and Co-Management

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a type of refractive laser eye surgery for correcting myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. LASIK is intended to reduce a patient’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

The optometrists of Holloway Eye Care & Optique provide the initial refractive surgical evaluation and then refer a patient to a carefully selected surgical specialist for the procedure.

The LASIK procedure involves creating a thin flap on the cornea, folding it to enable remodeling of the tissue beneath with a laser, and then the flap is repositioned and the eye is left to heal in the postoperative period.

Most patients experience minimal pain or discomfort following the procedure and vision typically clears quickly. Often, a patient will notice an improvement in vision immediately following the surgery. Vision clears even more during the first weeks after the surgery as the eye heals. Post-procedure care is important to ensure proper healing and is effectively co-managed between the surgeon and your optometrist.

A patient will usually be seen the day after the procedure by the surgeon, then at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year by Dr. Holloway or Dr. Shilts. This post-procedure schedule can be customized to meet the unique healing differences among patients.

After having the LASIK procedure, yearly eye exams by Dr. Holloway or Dr. Shilts are necessary to prevent and/or detect early eye disease.