LASIK Eye Center of Silicon Valley - Dr. Gary Kawesch

Choosing an Ophthalmologist

2010-02-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

Ophthalmology is a field of medicine that specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and disorders of the eye. Ophthalmologists are doctors trained to provide total eye care such as routine eye examinations, the treatment of diseases and disorders of the eye and to perform complicated and precise surgeries of the eye.

Choosing an ophthalmologist requires just a few inquiries on your part. An excellent way to start your search is by asking friends and associates about their choice of ophthalmologists. Your local hospital also has a list of physician referrals that you can access. If you compare these recommendations, after researching the physician's credentials and special areas of interest you will be able to make an informed decision on your choice.

Some areas of concern you should address in choosing an ophthalmologist are whether they have an M.D. or D.O. degree from an accredited medical school, whether they have completed additional training, and are Board Certified and licensed in the state in which you reside.

Additional concerns to be addressed are whether they work with your insurance company, and have admitting privileges at your hospital of choice. Is the ophthalmologist's office conveniently located with office hours to suit your needs and does the office have an after hour’s or emergency policy you agree with?

Choosing the right ophthalmologist for you is worth some time and effort on your part to provide you with the care and treatment you want for your precious eyes.

Please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to learn more about what services are available to you to prevent and treat disorders and diseases of the eye and do all you can to maintain your eye health. Dr. Kawesch serves patients in the San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco areas of California.

What is Ophthalmology?

2010-02-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Ophthalmology is a field of medicine that concerns itself with the anatomy, function and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and functions of the eye.

Ophthalmologists are trained to provide total care related to the eye. An ophthalmologist can provide a routine eye examination and perform complicated, precision eye surgery and treat diseases of the eye also. There have been many revolutionary advances in the field of ophthalmology in recent years, such as the use of lasers in the treatment of some eye disorders that in the past meant certain loss of vision.

An ophthalmologist must spend at least three years in an ophthalmology residency after four years of medical school and an internship program. During this ophthalmology residency, the ophthalmologist receives special training in all areas of eye care, including prevention, diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of eye conditions and diseases.

Many ophthalmologists then choose to advance their knowledge even more with one to two years training in a subspecialty such as glaucoma or pediatric ophthalmology.

Board certified ophthalmologists have completed a rigorous two-part examination given by the American Board of Ophthalmology that tests their knowledge and ability to provide the best possible eye care.

Please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to if you have questions about your eye health to schedule a consultation and learn what the highly trained and skilled professional staff there can do for you.

What Foods are Good for Your Eyes?

2010-01-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

A diet that is high in saturated fats and sugar does not supply the antioxidants required for good eye health and creates substances that put your eye health at risk. The most important way to ensure good eye health is to eat a nutritious diet full of fruits and vegetables, fish, herbs and spices that contain vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and essential fatty acids for your eyes.

The choices you can make to provide excellent antioxidants to support healthy eyes include green vegetables like broccoli, green beans, spinach, peas, and carrots, corn, celery and leafy lettuces. Sweet potatoes and yams, tomatoes and fruits such as dried apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe and lemons are also included on the must have list. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are an excellent source of antioxidants as well.

Salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel and sardines and herbs like dill, oregano and parsley also provide a great source of what your eyes need to stay healthy. To get the greatest benefit from these foods, make sure you buy the freshest foods you can find as they have more antioxidants and nutrients available.

To learn more about how a healthy and nutritious diet can improve your eye health, please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a consultation to discuss how you can do more to improve your eye health with the knowledgeable professionals on staff.

How Long Do the Results of LASIK Eye Surgery Last?

2010-01-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

The results of LASIK eye surgery are a permanent change. The conditions that can affect your vision, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts or other eye conditions or diseases can still develop even after LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK eye surgery was designed to reduce or eliminate the need to wear eye glasses or contact lenses by gently reshaping the cornea with computer-controlled technology to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

LASIK eye surgery is quick, safe and effective usually requiring one to two minutes for each eye. You are able to see more clearly within minutes and are able to return to your normal daily activities the day after your procedure. Your vision continues to improve over the ensuing weeks and months.

Although there are some risks associated with LASIK eye surgery, they are minimal. However, it must be noted the potential exists for overcorrection or undercorrection, infection and scarring. With recent advances in LASIK technology these risks are minimized in the hands of a highly skilled and trained eye surgeon or ophthalmologist.

If you reside in San Francisco, Oakland or the San Jose, California area and the idea of not having to wear eye glasses or contact lenses any longer appeals to you, please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a consultation to discuss the great benefits and minimal risks involved with LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK Eye Surgery and Eye Health

2009-12-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

LASIK eye surgery is the most frequently performed eye surgery nationwide with over one million surgeries successfully completed every year. LASIK eye surgery takes less than fifteen minutes to complete with the patient experiencing improved vision immediately.

LASIK eye surgery is used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism, reducing your dependency on eye glasses and contact lenses.

Anyone eighteen years of age or older with realistic expectations regarding the outcome of the surgery and who has had no changes in refraction for at least one year may be a LASIK candidate. If you experienced an injury to your eye or have had an eye infection within a year of your surgery, it is recommended you forego the surgery for the time being. Your eye surgeon or ophthalmologist will advise you of the optimum time to schedule your surgery for the best results.

As with any surgical procedure, there is the risk of complications. Risks related to LASIK eye surgery include increased sensitivity to light, haloed or glared vision, irregular astigmatism, dry eyes, and loss of visual clarity. Recent advances in LASIK eye surgery technology have served to reduce the risk of complications with this procedure which is virtually painless.

Please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a consultation and learn more about LASIK eye surgery and how this procedure can improve your quality of life in just minutes.

Questions about Latisse™

2009-12-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

What is Latisse™?

Latisse™ is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved product for eyelash growth for those with no or inadequate eyelashes manufactured by Allergan, a pharmaceutical company with over sixty years of experience in eye care product production.

How is Latisse™ administered?

Latisse™ works from the inside out gradually over the course of twelve to sixteen weeks and could not be easier to use. Latisse™ is applied once daily to the base of your upper eyelashes using a specially provided applicator. Always be sure to use the specially provided applicator designed to release Latisse™ in the appropriate manner. Do not be tempted to use a cotton swab instead.

What are the possible side effects of using Latisse™?

With the use of any prescription medication there is always the possibility of side effects and Latisse™ is no exception. Reported side effects may include eye irritation, redness and dryness of the eyes, temporary darkening of the skin and unintended hair growth. The use of Latisse™ should be monitored by your physician to minimize the risk of side effects and to ensure you get the best result intended for this product.

How can I learn more about Latisse™?

If you are interested in learning more about Latisse™, please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a consultation with the highly trained professionals on staff there so you too can have darker, thicker and longer more natural-looking eyelashes.

Latisse™

2009-11-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to scientific advances in the pharmaceutical industry, Allergan, a company with over sixty years of expertise in eye care products, has introduced Latisse™, a prescription medication that makes darker, fuller and longer eyelashes possible for everyone. Latisse™ is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for the growth of eyelashes in those with none or inadequate lashes.

Latisse™ is available through a prescription from a doctor to ensure the risks of side effects are minimized and also to monitor the use of this medication. It must be noted, as with all prescription medication, some side effects are possible and may include eye irritation, redness and dryness of the eyes and temporary darkening of the skin. A specially designed applicator is provided in order to reduce the risk of Latisse™ coming in contact with unintentional areas of the skin resulting in unwanted hair growth.

Latisse™ is a once daily treatment you apply at the base of your upper eyelashes for a simple, easy to use, effective approach to beautiful, natural eyelashes. The effects of Latisse™ are gradual with the full result attained in twelve to sixteen weeks.

If you have always wanted darker, longer, thicker eyelashes, but not the hassle of applying eye make-up and false eyelashes every single day, please contact the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to learn how easy it is to enhance your eyes with a stroke of the Latisse™ applicator. Dr. Kawesch serves patients in and around the Oakland and San Jose area of California.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation

2009-11-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Laser skin rejuvenation is a revolutionary way to combat signs of aging. No harsh chemicals or long recovery periods are necessary and this non-invasive procedure results in smoother, fresher looking skin by diminishing the appearance of imperfections on the surface of the skin.

Laser skin rejuvenation can reduce the effects of sun and aging that cause age spots, dry, dull skin, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles, acne scars, and spider veins.

Laser skin rejuvenation has been proven to be very effective, but as everyone’s skin and history are different not everyone can expect the same results. It is important to have realistic goals and expectations before having laser skin rejuvenation performed by a highly trained healthcare provider to ensure you get the best care and treatment possible.

Although there are few risks and complications connected to this procedure, it must be noted there are possible risks involved. The most common risk is temporary darkening or lightening of the skin and a very small risk of scarring. Though laser skin rejuvenation does permanently remove signs of aging, the procedure cannot prevent your skin from continuing to age and developing new problems.

If you live in San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, California or the surrounding area please contact the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley and Dr. Gary Kawesch today, to schedule a consultation to discuss how laser skin rejuvenation can give you a fresher, more youthful appearance with no harsh chemicals easily, safely and effectively. Dr. Kawesch serves patients in and around San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, California.

Is BOTOX® Safe?

2009-10-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

Millions of people have had BOTOX® injected into facial lines and wrinkles and the procedure appears to be easy, safe and effective for the majority of those people.

As with any treatment, there may be some side effects noted in some people such as, headache, redness and swelling at the site of the injection, temporary eye-lid droop, nausea and flu-like syndrome. BOTOX® is administered through injections with a tiny needle directly to the area to be treated with almost immediate results. One ten minute treatment brings results that last as long as four months. BOTOX® is the only non-surgical alternative to surgery to have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

The benefits of a BOTOX® treatment far outweigh the risks involved. However, there are certain conditions that exist when BOTOX® treatment should be avoided, such as if you have an infection at the site you wish to have injected, you are hypersensitive to the ingredients of the Botox® formulation or you have a neurological disorder.

BOTOX® is recommended for patients between eighteen and sixty-five years old. Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should avoid BOTOX® treatments. Although millions have been safely and effectively treated with BOTOX® for years, it is important only a trained physician administer your BOTOX® treatment to minimize the risk of complications.

We encourage you to please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a consultation to learn more about BOTOX® treatments and how they can enhance your appearance. Dr. Kawesch serves patients in and around San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, California.

BOTOX®

2009-10-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

BOTOX® is a non-surgical treatment that temporarily smoothes moderate to severe lines between the brows, around the eyes and the mouth. A short time after being injected with a very fine needle you will see a noticeable improvement at the site of the injection according to over 90% of those who have had the procedure.

Having a BOTOX® injection has been described as virtually pain-free, although some healthcare providers choose to apply an anesthetic cream or cold pack to the area to be treated. The entire procedure takes only minutes, with no recovery time necessary. You may experience mild pain, inflammation, tenderness or swelling and redness at the injection site, but this is usually self-limiting and tends to lessen over time. Compared to the benefits of BOTOX®, the risks are minimal

To obtain the maximum benefit of a BOTOX® treatment it is important to have it administered by a healthcare practitioner who is experienced and skilled in the procedure so you are totally satisfied with the results.

BOTOX® is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is safe, easy, convenient and most importantly, effective. You can achieve a refreshed, youthful appearance without the pain and time involved with surgery with a few minutes devoted to a BOTOX® treatment.

Have you been thinking of looking into a BOTOX® treatment but have some unanswered questions? Please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch of the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn more about this procedure.

LASIK and Night Vision

2009-09-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

At the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, we offer Custom LASIK. That is a far more accurate procedure than the early LASIK surgeries done in the mid-1990s. What makes it more accurate is the very detailed diagnosis of your eyes done beforehand. Early LASIK used the same diagnostic method that is used to determine a glasses prescription. Custom LASIK uses Wavefront technology to map the microscopically tiny contours of each eye.

No two human eyes are the same. Your two eyes will have slightly different treatments and nobody else will ever have those exact same treatments. Your Custom LASIK surgery will correct more than just the defects which cause nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These defects are known as the three lower order aberrations.

Higher Order Aberrations
Custom LASIK corrects the tiny defects which cause poor night vision - the higher order aberrations. While there are just the three lower order aberrations, there are many higher order aberrations and more being discovered all the time. Some of them have names such as:

Halos
Starburst
Ghosting
Coma
Trefoil

Others are named by mathematical expressions. When your Wavefront diagnosis is made, the computer shows your eyes as colored three-dimensional topographical maps. This data is used to guide your treating laser and gives you a correction of both lower and higher order aberrations.

Early LASIK procedures gave far less correction - only as much as a pair of glasses can give. They left people with night vision problems because they did not correct the higher order aberrations. But your Custom LASIK will remove most of the tiny contour errors which cause those night vision problems. You will have clear vision and also better quality vision.

For more information on how Custom LASIK can benefit you, please call or email our LASIK surgery office for a personal consultation.

How the Eye Works

2009-09-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

If you're like many people, you probably take the complex process of vision for granted. The eye takes the light reflecting off object and focuses it into a way for you to interpret what you are seeing. If the eye is not shaped correctly, you may not be able to see objects clearly; at our San Francisco office, we perform LASIK vision correction to give your eye a shape that will allow you to see clearly.

Light bounces off objects and enters the eye through the cornea. It passes through the lens (behind the iris) and passes through a clear fluid which fills the main part of the eyeball. The back inside surface of the eye is the retina, filled with light-sensitive cells. They receive the images and convert them to nerve energy. The eye’s large optic nerve carries them to the brain for interpretation.

The Eye's Shape
Vision problems arise when the eye is not shaped correctly. Both the cornea and the lens bend all incoming light to focus it on the retina.

In a nearsighted eye, they bend it too much when it comes from a distant object, so that object looks blurry.
In a farsighted eye they bend it too little when it comes from nearby objects, so those objects look blurry.
In an astigmatic eye, there is an oval shape instead of spherical. Therefore the light is bend at two different angles coming from the same object. That creates two images on or in front of the retina and everything looks blurry to some extent.

To correct these vision problems, we can perform LASIK to reshape the cornea and change the way your corneas bend light.

If you would like to learn more about LASIK or how you can achieve vision without glasses or contacts, please call or email the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule your initial consultation.

LASIK and Athletes

2009-08-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

We have performed LASIK on many different athletes in the San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, California areas. If you’re an athlete who wears contact lenses or glasses, you have probably experienced problems at some point with your vision and your performance. LASIK can improve your vision so that you can compete at your highest level without dealing with glasses or contacts.

LASIK treats astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia. Before the laser gives you the treatment a small flap is created on the corneal surface and folded back to give access to a deeper layer. Then the laser reshapes the cornea and the flap is replaced. It heals up by itself.

You will not be able to play sports for about a month while your eyes fully heal. During this time, any bumps or impacts to the eye could dislodge the LASIK flap. Dr. Kawesch would reposition it but you are better off if it is not dislodged.

Over the course of about three months, your vision may fluctuate. You may temporarily see haloes around lights or have some blurriness. Your eyes will feel dry while the tear gland nerves recover. For your long-term best vision you should stay away from any situation which could cause an impact to your eyes and interfere with their healing.

If you are interested in LASIK and would like to schedule an initial consultation, please call or email the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley. We will listen to your concerns and goals and answer your questions, and if you decide to go ahead with vision correction we will set up an appointment for your complete eye examination.

LASIK and Dry Eyes

2009-08-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Dry eyes can occur regardless of LASIK. Temporary dry eyes caused by such things as working too long at the computer or being out in windy weather are easily treated with over-the-counter eyedrops.

However, there is also a condition called Dry Eye Syndrome which is chronic and often a disqualifying factor for LASIK. It is not caused by external conditions but by the eye’s inability to produce enough tears, or to produce good quality tears. Tears have certain ingredients and sometimes one can be missing.

The Lacrimal Gland
When the LASIK corneal flap is created to give the laser access to a deeper layer of tissue, small nerves are often cut. They run between the cornea and the lacrimal gland which produces tears. It is situated beneath the eyebrow on the outer side of the eye.

When these nerves are severed the tear gland is unable to send tears. This is why moisturizing eyedrops are always prescribed after LASIK. The eyes need to be kept moist while the tiny nerves regrow. Typically they regrow within a few weeks and the dry eye condition disappears.

In rare cases the nerves do not regrow fully and the eye dryness persists past the recovery period. If you had Dry Eye Syndrome to begin with, your eyes would now be very dry indeed, and this is why Dry Eye Syndrome typically rules a person out for LASIK.

If you are unsure whether you have Dry Eye Syndrome or just minor periodic dryness, please contact the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule a personal consultation. Dr. Kawesch may find that you could have LASIK, or perhaps an alternative vision correction procedure instead.

What is Astigmatism?

2009-07-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

Astigmatism is a very common vision problem that occurs when the shape of the eye causes light to pass through the pupil and the lens improperly, hitting the retina in a way that causes the objects you see to appear blurry. We treat many Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco, California patients suffering from astigmatism with LASIK and other vision correction procedures.

For most people, the eye is shaped like a sphere, and the light entering through the pupil is focused on the retina so that they can see. When you have astigmatism, the eye is more oblong shaped, like a football, and it cause light to become skewed when it passes through the eye.

One of the many LASIK myths is that astigmatism cannot be treated with LASIK. Although this may have been true year ago, advancements in LASIK technology now allow us to perform LASIK and improve the vision of people with astigmatism.

If you are suffering from cataracts and you have astigmatism, we can still perform Replacement Lens Exchange so that your clouded lens is replaced with one of our intraocular lenses (IOLs) like Crystalens, ReSTOR, or ReZoom.

To learn more about astigmatism, or how we can correct your vision if you have astigmatism, please contact us today at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule your initial consultation.

Questions About Cataracts

2009-07-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Millions of people develop cataracts as they age. A cataract occurs when there is a protein build-up on the lens of the eye, causing a cloudy spot in your vision. When a cataract has formed, you may be able to function normally for a while, but they can become very bad.

Patients from Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco, California come to our office all the time with questions about cataracts. Some of the most common questions we answer include:

Can I prevent cataracts from forming?
Cataracts are incredibly common, and there are many different theories as to what exactly causes them. Some studies suggest that people living at higher altitudes or with more exposure to sun develop cataracts earlier.
How can I correct my cataracts?
To correct cataracts, we perform Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), to replace your clouded natural lens with a permanent, clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
Will I be able to see with an IOL?
Yes! After your RLE procedure, you will be able to perform nearly all your daily activities almost immediately. For some people, it takes some time getting used to the IOL, but you will be able to see.

If you would like to learn more about RLE or any other vision correction procedure, please contact us today at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule your initial consultation.

Contact Lens Infections

2009-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

More and more people switch to contact lenses every year, and as a result, contact lens infections are becoming increasingly more common. One of the ways you can avoid any type of contact lens infection is by correcting your vision at our San Francisco, California ophthalmology office.

Contact lens infections can occur in a variety of different forms:

Corneal Ulcer -Develops when a microscopic parasite breeds in the cornea. People most at risk for this are swimmers and people who practice poor hygiene.
GPC (also called Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis) -Can be caused simply by a reaction from your body toward the contact lenses.
Solution Irritation -While not as serious as other forms of contact lens infection, some people can become irritated and develop an infection from using certain types of contact lens solutions.

We provide a few different vision solutions for patients who wear glasses and contacts:

If you would like to learn more about the ways you can correct your vision and be free from contacts and eyeglasses, please call or email our Silicon Valley LASIK office to schedule a personal consultation.

How Does Your Vision Change After LASIK?

2009-06-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

LASIK provides improved vision almost immediately but the total improvement is not always evident for perhaps three months. You will have follow-up visits with one of our LASIK doctors – first on the day following your surgery, then after a week, a month and decreasing intervals for about a year. That way we can monitor your vision improvement and make sure no complications arise.

In the first three months it is common to experience temporary vision changes. For the first few days after the procedure, you may be more sensitive to bright lights, it may be more difficult to drive at night, and you may experience blurred or faint double vision.

For many people, these side effects subside in days or weeks, but there can also be fluctuations in your vision over the three months. You may see haloes, more glare, or changes in your distance vision. If these symptoms continue to occur after 6 months have passed, you may consider having revision surgery.

LASIK has provided millions of people with improved vision. If you are curious about LASIK or any other vision correction procedure, please visit our LASIK FAQ or LASIK Alternatives pages to learn how you can correct your vision.

Please contact our LASIK office today to schedule your initial consultation. During that consultation we will listen to your desires and concerns and answer your questions. You can meet our staff and take a look around the office. If you choose, you can make an appointment for a full eye examination.

What is 20/20 Vision?

2009-05-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

20/20 vision is a term developed by optometrists and ophthalmologists to determine what a “normal” person can see when they are 20 feet from an object. Many people who do not have 20/20 vision require glasses or contacts to assist them in seeing more normally. We perform LASIK surgery at our San Francisco, California to improve people’s vision so they no longer require contacts or glasses.

If you have 20/20 vision, when you stand 20 feet from an eye chart, you can see what most other people can see. However, if you are near or far sighted, you may have 20/40 or 20/100 vision, which means when you stand 20 feet away from the chart, you see the same detail that a normal person would see 40 or 100 feet from the chart.

Much of what determines how well you can see involves the shape of the eyeball. When light enters the eye, it passes through the pupil to the retina in the back of the eye. If your eyes are too steep or too elongated, it can cause the light to focus improperly.

During LASIK, a laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue, and allow light to hit the retina properly, providing you with improved vision. LASIK can correct nearly any prescription, and will almost always improve vision enough for you to pass a driving test without glasses or contacts.

If you would like to learn more about your vision and whether LASIK can improve what you see, please contact us at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule your initial LASIK consultation.

What to Expect After the LASIK Procedure

2009-05-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

LASIK is a fantastic vision correction procedure that can provide you with clearer vision almost immediately after the procedure is complete. When people from Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco come to our office, we provide them with a few guidelines to follow during the days after their LASIK surgery.

Immediately after your LASIK procedure, you may feel an itching, burning, scratching, or irritating sensation and your eyes might tear or water for a day or two. This is completely normal, and it is important that you do not touch or rub your eyes because it can dislodge the corneal flap. Your eyes may also be more sensitive to lights and your vision can be blurry or hazy for a few days.

We will schedule several follow-up visits for you so we can monitor your healing. But if you begin to feel any serious pain, you are encouraged to come to us as soon as possible because this could be a sign of infection or other complication.

After your LASIK surgery, you cannot wear any eye makeup, creams, lotions, or any other facial product because they can increase your chances of infection. It is important not to have anything get beneath the flap while it is healing. You will need to protect your eyes from any hits or bumps for at least a month.

To learn more about what to expect after your LASIK procedure, please contact our LASIK surgery office to schedule your initial consultation.

What to Expect Before the LASIK Procedure

2009-04-29T15:57:00.001-07:00

Prior to your LASIK procedure, you will need to schedule an initial consultation with one of the experienced LASIK eye surgeons at our San Francisco, California office. We suggest that before your initial consultation, you only wear glasses for a week or two. Contacts can change the shape of the cornea, so wearing glasses will allow your eyes to return to their natural shape.

During your consultation, we will determine if you are good candidate for LASIK vision correction and we will perform a thorough eye exam. The eye exam will allow us to map your eyes and determine exactly what changes should be made with the laser. This initial consultation will also provide you with time to ask any and all questions you have about the procedure.

On the days before and after your LASIK procedure, you should stop wearing any lotions, make-up, perfumes, and creams because these products can attach to the eyelashes and can increase the chance of infection after the procedure.

Lastly, it is important that you arrange transportation to and from your LASIK procedure. Prior to undergoing the procedure itself, we may prescribe you a relaxation and/or pain pill to help you during the procedure, but these pills can affect your ability to drive.

If you’ve decided that you’d like to have LASIK, please call or email the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley and we will schedule a personal consultation for you.

Are LASEK and PRK Painful Procedures?

2009-04-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

No, vision correction done with a laser is not painful. We first give you numbing eyedrops and make you comfortable on the patient bed that is part of the Custom LASIK hardware. You will feel only a slight sensation of pressure some of the time.

In addition to the more popular LASIK procedure, we also perform both LASEK and PRK procedures at our San Francisco, California ophthalmology office. Much like LASIK, PRK and LASEK both use lasers to reshape the cornea for vision correction, but there are differences between the three:

LASIK-A small flap is created in the cornea and is folded back. The laser then reshapes the underlying corneal layers, and the flap is replaced.
LASEK-A flap is created in the epithelium, which is a very thin layer of cells on the outermost part of the cornea. The laser corrects the shape of the cornea, and the thin flap is replaced so the cornea can heal.
PRK-The epithelium is completely removed so that the laser can correct the shape of the cornea. This layer of cells will grow back after the procedure.

All three of these procedures are completely safe. Recovery after LASIK is usually short and easy, involving use of moisturizing eyedrops to deal with the temporary feeling of grittiness. As the corneas heal that feeling fades away.

Recovery after LASEK and PRK takes longer because corneal cells must regrow. For about two weeks you will need to wear a contact lens “bandage” to promote healing. We will monitor your recovery closely and any discomfort can be soothed by a prescription painkiller.

To learn more about the LASEK and PRK procedures, you can visit our Differences between PRK, LASEK, and Epi-LASIK page.

If you are currently wearing glasses or contacts and are interested in correcting your vision with any of our laser vision correction options, please call or email the Laser Vision Center of Silicon Valley today to schedule your personal consultation.

LASIK and Traveling

2009-03-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Many people from Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco, California come to our office wondering if it will be safe to travel after they have had LASIK. We are happy to tell them that there have been almost no vision problems associated with flying or other travel after a LASIK procedure.

At first your eyes will feel irritated, so we don’t recommend that you travel very soon after your LASIK surgery. The best thing you can do in the immediate recovery period is to rest and relax at home until your eyes are finished healing. Three months is a typical time for complete healing, but it may be shorter in your case. Then you can feel free to travel wherever you like.

LASIK can correct all but the most severe myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism and provide you with near-perfect vision without the use of glasses or contacts. If you have any other questions about LASIK, please visit our LASIK and LASIK FAQ pages to learn more about this procedure.

To speak with one of our experienced LASIK ophthalmologists in person and to schedule your LASIK vision correction surgery, please contact Dr. Gary Kawesch, surgical ophthalmologist at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule your personal consultation.

Will I Ever Need Glasses Again?

2009-03-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

While LASIK can correct most prescriptions, there is no way that we can guarantee everyone’s vision will be perfect following their LASIK procedure. However, nearly all the patients leaving our San Francisco, California LASIK office are able to pass a driving test without the use of glasses or contacts.

Since ophthalmologists began using the LASIK procedure, huge advancements have been made in the technology. Today, our skilled LASIK eye surgeons are able to improve almost anyone’s vision, but there are some LASIK limitations. For instance, LASIK cannot correct cataracts, a lens condition that often develops after mid-life and causes progressive loss of vision.

Even though LASIK cannot correct every vision problem, we have a variety of other vision correction options available to our patients, including:

If you use glasses or contacts, and are curious about what LASIK can do for you, please contact us at the LASER Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule your initial LASIK consultation.

LASIK Affordability

2009-02-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

Having clear vision without the use of contacts or eyeglasses is something everyone should be able to experience. We want all our patients in the San Francisco, California area to afford clear vision. Each LASIK procedure we perform is unique, so the cost of the procedure is different for each customer.

LASIK can correct nearly any prescription and to make sure you can afford your LASIK procedure, we have a variety of different financing options:

CapitalOne Healthcare Financing, Vision Fee Plan
Unicorn Financial
CareCredit
Cash
Check
Credit Cards

You deserve to have great vision; to learn more about the payment options we provide you can visit our LASIK Cost page. In addition to using these payment options for LASIK, you can choose to finance any other procedure at our office, such as Advanced Surface Ablation, Crystalens, ReZoom, or ReSTOR.

If you would like to learn more about your LASIK financing options, please contact us at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to schedule your initial consultation. During your initial consultation, we will outline exactly how you can afford your LASIK eye surgery.