LASIK in Des Moines

At Des Moines Eye Surgeons, we are happy to offer our patients a wide range of vision correction treatments and the best technology available. If you want to improve your eyesight with LASIK eye surgery in Des Moines, you can learn more about the procedure here or contact our office with any questions.

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a vision correction procedure that uses specialized lasers to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Irregularities in the shape of your eye can cause these vision issues. 

By reshaping the cornea to refract light onto the center of the retina, LASIK fixes your refractive errors and provides you with clearer vision. Most patients no longer need glasses or contacts to see clearly after LASIK, and enjoy crisper eyesight, improved visual acuity, and better depth perception.

What are the Benefits of LASIK?

When you choose LASIK vision correction, you can enjoy benefits like: 

Decreased Dependency on Glasses and Contacts

The majority of LASIK patients are able to eliminate or reduce their reliance on glasses and contacts. This can save you the frustrating hassles that come with visual aids, like performing a complex contact lens cleaning routine or constantly rubbing smudges off your glasses. If you don’t like how glasses look with your style, LASIK can also help you feel more confident in your appearance by minimizing your need for them.

Ability to Get Up and Go

Instead of scrambling around for your glasses in the morning or searching your cabinets for extra daily contact lenses, you’ll wake up and fall asleep each night with clear vision. This can save you valuable time and energy in your daily routine. You also won’t have to worry about making room in your carry-on bag when you travel for things like backup glasses, prescription sunglasses, extra contacts, or contact lens solutions. Instead, you can look forward to enjoying your destination in gorgeous high-definition and having some extra room for souvenirs!

Improved Visual Acuity

LASIK can improve your visual acuity and depth perception. This is especially beneficial if you play sports, as seconds matter when trying to score a goal, make the basket, or dive for the ball. For patients who enjoy activities like crocheting, cooking, or playing instruments, having vision enhanced by LASIK can help you be more precise with your craft, whether you’re trying to achieve that perfect julienne cut or perform a complex riff on the guitar. 

What to Expect Before Your LASIK Procedure

Before undergoing LASIK, you’ll need to attend a consultation with your eye doctor at Des Moines Eye Surgeons. They will perform a comprehensive eye exam, measure your corneas, and ask questions about your medical history to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. 

You can learn more about who qualifies for LASIK on our LASIK Candidacy page, as well as good questions to ask your LASIK surgeon during your consultation.

What Happens During the LASIK Procedure?

During LASIK, your eye surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to make a small flap in the surface of your cornea, which they will fold back to access the underlying corneal tissue. Then, they will use an excimer laser to reshape this tissue, called the stroma. The flap is folded back over the cornea and helps protect your eyes as they heal. 

What to Expect After LASIK

After LASIK, you will need a friend or loved one to drive you home to begin recovery. It’s best to rest immediately after the procedure and refrain from any strenuous activity until your eye doctor says it is safe to do so. Your LASIK surgeon will send you home with prescription eye drops to apply regularly and an eye shield to wear while you sleep at night. Make sure you follow all of their postoperative instructions to ensure a smooth healing process, including not rubbing your eyes, avoiding getting water in your eyes, and wearing UV-protective sunglasses when outside.

LASIK FAQs

Does LASIK Hurt?

Before beginning the procedure, your LASIK will numb your eyes with anesthetic eye drops. Most patients say they have little to no discomfort both during and after the procedure.  

How Long Will I Need to Take Off Work After LASIK?

Since LASIK has a quick recovery time, you can have the procedure and quickly return to your normal daily activities. Most people return to work within one day, depending on their profession. At your follow-up appointments with your LASIK surgeon, they will give you more specific recommendations on when you can resume things like work, driving, and exercise based on how you are healing.

Will I Need Glasses after LASIK?

With any medical procedure, there is no guarantee of perfect results or that you will not need distance or reading glasses again. However, most patients have enjoyed crisp, clear vision for decades and do not need visual aids to do most or all activities.

How Long Does LASIK Last?

LASIK is a permanent procedure. However, there can be a chance of needing an enhancement procedure.  The chances are higher if you have a more severe refractive error. The enhancement procedure can be done to take care of any significant nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism that may be left. It’s important to note that while LASIK permanently corrects your refractive errors, it cannot prevent vision changes from other conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, presbyopia, or age-related macular degeneration. 

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

Our LASIK fee includes personalized care in a trusted clinical setting. The price for LASIK includes pre-surgical measurements, surgical kit, physician fee, facility and laser fees, and related routine postoperative visits for 1 year from the original surgery date. Enhancements are an additional fee per eye when done within 1 year of the original surgery. If you are interested in pursuing LASIK, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Our initial LASIK consultations are always free. There, we will perform testing to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK and answer any questions you may have. 

Is LASIK Covered by My Insurance?

We recommend that you check with your individual insurance policy or benefits department at work to see if LASIK is covered. Many patients also utilize flex benefit plans. 

Contact Des Moines Eye Surgeons serving the people of Iowa and request an appointment to find out if your vision could be improved through LASIK surgery.