Whether you are nearsighted or farsighted, having blurry vision is extremely frustrating. Although your glasses or contacts can provide good vision, LASIK can provide clear vision — without relying on glasses or contacts! Our cornea-trained surgeons, Dr. Trey Nunnery and Dr. Reza Mozayeni, can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, freeing you from the shackles of glasses and contacts.
An easy way to differentiate the two is remembering that the name of the condition characterizes what you CAN see.
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a refractive error characterized by difficulty in seeing objects in the distance. For individuals with myopia, light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This can be due to the eyeball being too long or the cornea having too much curvature. People who are myopic typically have difficulty seeing road signs while driving, the TV or the whiteboard in class without wearing contacts or glasses.
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a refractive error where nearby objects may be more difficult to see clearly than those that are farther away. This occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. Farsightedness can result from the eyeball being too short or the cornea having too little curvature. People who are hyperopic typically have difficulty reading or seeing letters on a keyboard or their food on a plate. Some people with less severe hyperopia can accommodate enough that they don’t need glasses or contacts, but others are dependent on correction.
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a popular vision correction surgery that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism (blurriness caused by a misshaped cornea). During LASIK surgery, a laser is used to reshape the cornea, improving how light is focused onto the retina, thus correcting nearsighted vs. farsighted refractive errors.
For individuals with nearsightedness, LASIK works by flattening the cornea, allowing light rays to focus correctly on the retina. By correcting the cornea’s curvature, LASIK ensures that light can focus precisely on the retina, enabling clear vision at all distances.
In the case of farsightedness, LASIK surgery steepens the cornea’s curvature, also redirecting light rays to focus directly on the retina. This correction enhances the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects, eliminating the blurriness associated with seeing objects nearby.
Click here to watch a video of Dr. Nunnery explaining how LASIK is used to correct vision for those who are nearsighted vs. farsighted.
Before undergoing LASIK eye surgery for either nearsightedness or farsightedness, patients at Providence Eye undergo a complimentary comprehensive consultation with either Dr. Nunnery or Dr. Mozayeni. During this consultation, your surgeon will evaluate factors such as corneal thickness, refractive error (your prescription) and overall eye health to determine if you are an ideal candidate.
Each LASIK procedure at Providence Eye & Laser Specialists is tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual patient. Your cornea is unique to you, just like your fingerprint. One of the first diagnostic tests conducted upon arrival at Providence Eye is mapping your corneas using the Oculus Pentacam® . These images measure up to 25,000 elevation points in fewer than five seconds per eye and provide topographic information about your corneal thickness, structural integrity and strength. With this information, Dr. Nunnery and Dr. Mozayeni can make the best recommendation for your personal situation.
We employ state-of-the-art, all-laser LASIK technology — specifically the WaveLight FS200 and WaveLight EX500 lasers. This advanced laser technology offers enhanced precision, safety and comfort compared to older lasers like the IntraLase FS Laser (or even older technology: the microkeratome, aka blade). Our WaveLight suite of lasers ensures an accurate, fast and comfortable procedure with smoother, superior visual outcomes.
The LASIK procedure typically takes about 15 minutes in our state-of-the-art laser suite. The actual time to correct the vision with the laser is only a couple of seconds per eye! Providence Eye & Laser Specialists has a tested and fine-tuned process that keeps our patients comfortable during their LASIK eye surgery, which includes a light sedative, numbing drops and the comfort of a weighted blanket if desired. Additionally, your surgeon, either Dr. Nunnery or Dr. Mozayeni, provides “verbal anesthesia,” guiding their patients throughout the procedure with a calming voice so you know exactly what is taking place. This instills comfort, relaxation and confidence in our patients.
Following your nearsighted vs. farsighted LASIK eye surgery, you’ll receive clearly written and detailed postoperative instructions. LASIK eye surgery patients return to our office for four follow-up appointments — one day, one month, six months and 12 months after their procedure — to monitor vision and the cornea’s healing process. Our team remains available to address any concerns or questions that may arise during the recovery process.
LASIK eye surgery provides a long term solution for nearsightedness and farsightedness, offering patients clear, crisp vision without the need for corrective eyewear.
By eliminating dependence on glasses or contacts, LASIK affords patients the freedom to pursue various activities with greater convenience and confidence, whether it’s playing sports, swimming or simply enjoying a hassle-free morning routine.
While LASIK may require an initial investment, it proves to be a cost-effective, long-term solution compared to the ongoing expenses associated with glasses, contact lenses and their related maintenance.
With rapid visual recovery and minimal discomfort, LASIK enables patients to return to their daily routines with minimal disruption, experiencing immediate improvements in vision clarity and quality of life.
LASIK has consistently shown high satisfaction rates among patients, with the majority of individuals experiencing significant improvements in vision and overall satisfaction with the procedure’s outcomes.
At Providence Eye & Laser Specialists, we understand the profound impact that vision clarity can have on your quality of life. Whether you’re nearsighted vs. farsighted, LASIK eye surgeries performed by our cornea-trained surgeons, Dr. Nunnery and Dr. Mozayeni, offer transformative solutions that can liberate you from the constraints of glasses and contacts.
Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Nunnery or Dr. Mozayeni to see which vision correction procedure is right for you.
