It is critical to success that during your consultation you undergo a comprehensive examination. A comprehensive eye examination is performed during the consultation for LASIK or other vision correction procedures. This is necessary for several reasons. It must be determined whether or not you are a candidate for LASIK. If not, there may be other procedures which could improve your vision.

If you are a candidate the comprehensive exam will enable Dr. Kelly to council you on realistic outcomes and expectations for your individual set of circumstances and visual needs. A list of tests with explanations appears below. Please note the testing is painless.

History: A complete medical, medication and eye history is obtained. This is important as certain conditions and medications may render individuals ineligible for LASIK. In addition, we are interested in an individual's routine os contact lens use. Contact lenses may change the shape of the cornea. It is therefore imperative that a patient discontinue use of lenses for at least three days before the evaluation.

Dr. Kelly believes knowing an individual's motivation for and expectations of laser vision correction to be an important variable in planning the procedure. There are certain occupations or hobbies that make one laser vision correction procedure better than another. Please keep in mind that certain government and non-government agencies allow only certain types of eye surgeries for their personnel. It is the patient's responsibility to ensure he or she obtain the correct information that applies to them regarding job requirements.

Vision: Visual acuity is assessed with and without correction. This is done both before and after the eyes are dilated. The magnitude of the visual error is established in each eye in order to plan for the correction. At this time the dominant eye is determined for those patients choosing to have monovision. Click here to learn more about monovision.

Motility: This is a test of muscle balance. We check the ability of the eyes to align and remain straight. Occasionally we make the diagnosis of a lazy or wandering eye through this test. This measurement allows us to know if the eyes are working together.

Corneal Topography: This measures the smoothness and curvature of the cornea's surface and creates a "map" of the cornea. The map is used to ensure there are no irregularities that would preclude surgery such as a cornea that is too steep.

Wavefront Aberrommetry: This test measures all irregularities of the eye from surface to retina and provides the "blueprint" to correct vision to the best possible level. The information obtained from this test is unique for every eye and is downloaded to the laser to design the treatment.Click here to read more about this technology: Customized/Wavefront LASIK.

Pupil Size: Pupil measurements are taken with an infrared camera in a dark room. The results are useful because we can: 1) design the appropriate treatment diameter that optimizes each person's vision and 2) counsel patients about their potential risk of having more glare or haloes at nighttime.

Corneal Thickness/Pachymetry: Corneal thickness is determined with an ultrasound. In order to be a candidate for LASIK your cornea must have sufficient thickness in multiple locations for the amount of your visual error.

Tonometry: This is the calculation of eye pressure to detect glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease where the eye pressure is elevated causing damage to a structure in the back of the eye known as the optic nerve. Patients with glaucoma are not candidates for LASIK.

Refraction: This is the measurement of a patient's prescription. It is the level of vision that laser surgery is meant to equal. LASIK usually can not make vision better than the vision determined in the refraction part of the examination. This principal is being challenged by new wavefront technology. The refraction is performed with and without dilating drops.

Tear Film Evaluation: This is a test of the eye's ability to produce the appropriate quantity and quality of tears. In order to feel comfortable and see clearly there must be sufficient tears. There are specific treatments that can be instituted before and after LASIK to assist with the tear film so that the healing process is optimized.

Slit Lamp Examination: The eyes are examined under a microscope in order to evaluate overall eye health. Sometimes diseases are detected which may require treatment other than LASIK.

Dilated Funduscopy: Dilating drops are placed in the eyes during the consultation in order to examine the structures in the back of the eye. We carefully check for diabetes, macular degeneration and retinal holes. Occasionally, we refer to a retinal specialist prior to proceeding with LASIK.

All of these tests are performed by the surgeon and results are discussed openly with the prospective patient by the surgeon. The consultation is complimentary with no obligation. On occasion, supplemental testing such as visual fields must be done before LASIK candidacy is confirmed. If any conditions requiring treatment are discovered during the consultation, a treatment plan will be developed. Please be aware that we recommend ongoing care of your eyes well after LASIK is performed. The eyes go through the same aging as the rest of the body and conditions may develop over time that require treatment.

Call us at 1.877.377.EYES to set up your free vision consultation, or sign up online to set up a free consultation.

Hear what our patients say!

Review our privacy policy.