Virdi Eye Clinic

Questions and Answers

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The cornea and lens of the eye focus light like a camera lens to form an image on the retina at the back of the eye. The cornea, where light first enters the front of the eye, provides about two thirds of the eye's focusing power, and the lens inside the eye provides the other third. Some eyes focus, or refract, the light too much, so that the images of distant objects are formed in front of the retina, and the image on the retina is blurred. This condition is called nearsightedness, or myopia. Myopia usually starts in childhood and gets progressively worse through adolescence. If usually stops changing by the late teens, but it can sometimes continue to get worse into the mid-twenties.

In astigmatism the image does not come to a point focus on the retina, but there are at least two points of focus that are differing distances from the retina.

In farsightedness the image focuses beyond the retina. In our youth, the innate accommodating (focusing) power of the eyes often compensates for farsightedness. But as we age, our eyes become less able to accommodate. For this reason, farsightedness most commonly becomes a problem later in life. Many farsighted eyes do not need correction until the individuals reach their forties or fifties.

Nearsightedness can be corrected by any method that reduces the total refractive power of the eye. Astigmatism correction makes all of the rays of light focus at the same distance so that they all fall right on the retina. Eyeglasses and contact lenses do this by putting in front of the eye "negative" lenses that are thicker at the edge than in the center. PRK and LASIK correct nearsightedness by flattening the central cornea by different amounts at different orientations to correct for the uneven focus of the rays of light.

Farsightedness can be corrected by any method that increases the total refractive power of the eye. Eyeglasses and contact lenses do this by putting in front of the eye "positive" lenses that are thicker in the center than at the edge. PRK does it by making the central part of the cornea more steeply curved.

During a regular eye examination, your doctor uses lenses to measure your nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness in units called diopters. The VISX STAR S2 Excimer Laser System is approved for PRK treatments in correcting eyes with up to -12 diopters of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism between -0.75 to -4.0 diopters.

For farsightedness, the system is approved for correcting eyes with up to +6.0 diopters of farsightedness and no more than 1.0 diopter of astigmatism. No astigmatism is corrected with a hyperopia treatment. The VISX STAR S2 Excimer Laser System is also approved for LASIK treatment in correcting eyes with up to -14 diopters of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism between -0.5 and -5.0 diopters.

More Questions and Answers

PRK and LASIK are permanent operations to the cornea and are irreversible.
PRK and LASIK may not eliminate the need for reading glasses, even if you never have worn them before.
Your vision must be stable for at least one year before PRK or LASIK surgery. You will need written evidence that your nearsightedness with or without astigmatism or farsightedness has changed less than 0.50 diopters.
Pregnant and nursing women should wait until they are not nursing and not pregnant to have surgery.
You are not a good candidate if you have degenerative or autoimmune diseases, or have a condition that makes wound healing difficult.
PRK and LASK surgery may result in some discomfort. The surgery is not risk-free. Please read the entire booklet, especially the sections on Benefits and Risks before you agree to the surgery.
PRK and LASIK are not laser versions of radial keratotomy (RK) or automated lamellar keratectomy (ALK). PRK and LASIK are completely different from RK and ALK.
Alternatives to PRK and LASIK include, but are not limited to, glasses, contact lenses, RK, and ALK.
Some people, such as military pilots, have job-related vision requirements that cannot be met by having RK, ALK, PRK, or LASIK.
Before considering PRK or LASIK surgery you should:
- Have a complete eye examination.
- Talk with one or more eye care professional about the potential benefits of PRK or LASIK surgery, and the complications, risks, and time required for healing.


		Lasik Information (FDA Website) CK Information (FDA Website) A Recent Patient's Experience
	Questions and Answers Why Choose Virdi \| Financing \| Q & A \| Procedure \| Privacy The cornea and lens of the eye focus light like a camera lens to form an image on the retina at the back of the eye. The cornea, where light first enters the front of the eye, provides about two thirds of the eye's focusing power, and the lens inside the eye provides the other third. Some eyes focus, or refract, the light too much, so that the images of distant objects are formed in front of the retina, and the image on the retina is blurred. This condition is called nearsightedness, or myopia. Myopia usually starts in childhood and gets progressively worse through adolescence. If usually stops changing by the late teens, but it can sometimes continue to get worse into the mid-twenties. In astigmatism the image does not come to a point focus on the retina, but there are at least two points of focus that are differing distances from the retina. In farsightedness the image focuses beyond the retina. In our youth, the innate accommodating (focusing) power of the eyes often compensates for farsightedness. But as we age, our eyes become less able to accommodate. For this reason, farsightedness most commonly becomes a problem later in life. Many farsighted eyes do not need correction until the individuals reach their forties or fifties. Nearsightedness can be corrected by any method that reduces the total refractive power of the eye. Astigmatism correction makes all of the rays of light focus at the same distance so that they all fall right on the retina. Eyeglasses and contact lenses do this by putting in front of the eye "negative" lenses that are thicker at the edge than in the center. PRK and LASIK correct nearsightedness by flattening the central cornea by different amounts at different orientations to correct for the uneven focus of the rays of light. Farsightedness can be corrected by any method that increases the total refractive power of the eye. Eyeglasses and contact lenses do this by putting in front of the eye "positive" lenses that are thicker in the center than at the edge. PRK does it by making the central part of the cornea more steeply curved. During a regular eye examination, your doctor uses lenses to measure your nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness in units called diopters. The VISX STAR S2 Excimer Laser System is approved for PRK treatments in correcting eyes with up to -12 diopters of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism between -0.75 to -4.0 diopters. For farsightedness, the system is approved for correcting eyes with up to +6.0 diopters of farsightedness and no more than 1.0 diopter of astigmatism. No astigmatism is corrected with a hyperopia treatment. The VISX STAR S2 Excimer Laser System is also approved for LASIK treatment in correcting eyes with up to -14 diopters of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism between -0.5 and -5.0 diopters. More Questions and Answers PRK and LASIK are permanent operations to the cornea and are irreversible. PRK and LASIK may not eliminate the need for reading glasses, even if you never have worn them before. Your vision must be stable for at least one year before PRK or LASIK surgery. You will need written evidence that your nearsightedness with or without astigmatism or farsightedness has changed less than 0.50 diopters. Pregnant and nursing women should wait until they are not nursing and not pregnant to have surgery. You are not a good candidate if you have degenerative or autoimmune diseases, or have a condition that makes wound healing difficult. PRK and LASK surgery may result in some discomfort. The surgery is not risk-free. Please read the entire booklet, especially the sections on Benefits and Risks before you agree to the surgery. PRK and LASIK are not laser versions of radial keratotomy (RK) or automated lamellar keratectomy (ALK). PRK and LASIK are completely different from RK and ALK. Alternatives to PRK and LASIK include, but are not limited to, glasses, contact lenses, RK, and ALK. Some people, such as military pilots, have job-related vision requirements that cannot be met by having RK, ALK, PRK, or LASIK. Before considering PRK or LASIK surgery you should: Have a complete eye examination. Talk with one or more eye care professional about the potential benefits of PRK or LASIK surgery, and the complications, risks, and time required for healing.
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