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For over 40 years, residents of Detroit and all of Michigan have trusted Fraser Eye Care Center for quality vision care. Our LASIK surgeons and eye care specialists are dedicated to maintaining eye health and improving vision for our patients. We specialize in LASIK laser eye surgery and our team is committed to educating patients to make informed choices that improve their lives.
LASIK is a laser vision correction surgery used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. LASIK is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses lasers to reshape the cornea, or surface of the eye. The newly reshaped cornea improves focus by correcting the way in which light is filtered to the retina.
At Fraser Eye Care Center, we pride ourselves on offering only the safest, most advanced, and effective procedures to our patients throughout Michigan. LASIK has evolved and technology for refractive eye surgery has improved since it was first developed. In a traditional LASIK surgery, a blade called a microkeratome was used to create a flap in the eye. Our doctors take a less invasive and more modern approach which utilizes advanced technology for a blade free procedure. We are proud to provide our patients with state-of-the-art Contoura™ Topography-Guided Laser Vision Correction.
Contoura™ Topography-Guided Laser Vision Correction is an innovative laser platform that allows eye surgeons to correct the surface of the cornea with enhanced accuracy. Contoura optimizes diagnostic techniques to analyze and record imperfections among 22,000 different elevation positions on the surface of the eye in order to create a personalized corneal profile for each LASIK patient. The result is fully custom LASIK which is mapped out to precisely treat each patient’s unique eyes for vision correction that goes above and beyond what glasses or contacts can achieve.
A consultation at Fraser Eye Care Center is the first step toward better vision with LASIK. During your consultation appointment, one of our experienced eye doctors will give you a comprehensive exam and discuss your medical history and vision to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery. The consultation appointment will include a dilated eye exam to assess your eye health, along with advanced diagnostic tools such as the WaveScan WaveFront system which captures a detailed 3D fingerprint mapping of the surface of your eye. Your eye doctor will answer any questions you have about the surgical process and recovery for LASIK.
LASIK is a relatively quick procedure, with no general anesthesia necessary. On the day of your LASIK surgery you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax and numbing drops will be applied to your eyes. You should not feel any pain while your eye surgeon performs the procedure, although you may feel slight pressure. When the surgery is complete you will be provided with protective eye glasses to wear, given instructions to administer eye drops, and scheduled for a follow up appointment the following day. Plan to have a friend or family member drive you home after your LASIK procedure.
Following LASIK Surgery, patients often see clearly and resume most regular activities in as little as 24 to 48 hours. As with any surgery, there is a recovery phase and healing phase following your procedure. General LASIK recovery guidelines:
Following your LASIK procedure, our surgeons will perform a quick post-LASIK check. You will be provided with protective LASIK glasses, which we recommend that you wear until you are seen the following day (even while sleeping) except when administering your eye drops.
Once your friend or family member drives you home, you should plan to take it easy for the rest of the day. We recommend taking a nap when you get home. Relax and avoid straining your eyes too much.
Your eyes will probably be red and mildly irritated, but it is very important that you do not rub, poke or touch your eyes. You need to follow instructions for steroid and antibiotic eye drops and you will also be provided with artificial tears that can soothe any irritation. Mild burning, tearing, or light sensitivity after the surgery is normal. These effects typically last for a few hours after the surgery. You may take over-the-counter pain relievers for any discomfort.
You may resume activities such as reading and viewing screens, but you should skip makeup and avoid strenuous activities and exercise. Continue following your doctor’s recommendations regarding antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and preservative-free lubricating eye drops.
By this time you should be able to appreciate an incredible improvement in your vision! You will be able to resume most normal activities, although swimming, contact sports or strenuous activity should be avoided for another week. For 4-5 days after surgery you should continue to wear your LASIK glasses to bed in order to avoid rubbing or touching your eyes in your sleep. Occasionally, the white part of your eyes may still have some red spots similar to bruising. Rest assured that these spots should fade shortly.
By this point your vision should be excellent and you are able to resume everyday life without restrictions! Although you are fully recovered, the corneal flap may still be healing, so use caution during contact sports, carrying small children, handling pets and doing yard work. Continue to use lubricating drops for at least the first month after surgery and attend your one month follow up appointment so we can ensure that we have met and exceeded your expectations.
LASIK is popular, effective, and widely considered to be one of the safest surgical procedures available. LASIK patients often experience improved confidence and increased enjoyment of sports and day to day activities. LASIK can significantly improve vision and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. Studies show that over 98% of LASIK patients are satisfied with their results.1
There are many factors that determine if LASIK is right for you and the best way to learn if you are a candidate is to schedule a consultation with an experienced LASIK surgeon. As a first step, you can take our LASIK self evaluation quiz to help you figure out if LASIK may be right for you. If you have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK, you may be a candidate for another procedure such as PRK, Implantable contact lens (ICL) , or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).
If you are not an excellent candidate for LASIK, other vision correction options are available including PRK, ICL, or Clear Lens Exchange.
$1,882/eye
$1,882/eye
$1,882/eye
Varies, depending on lens implant
Quick (24-48 hrs)
2-4 Weeks
1-2 weeks
1-2 weeks
10 Minutes
10 Minutes
20-30 Minutes
15-20 Minutes
Yes, up to -12D
Yes, up to -12D
Yes, up to -20D
Yes, up to -26D
Yes, up to +5D
Yes, up to +5D
Yes, up to +10D
Yes, with Monovision
Yes, with Monovision
Yes, with multifocal IOLs
Yes, during recovery
A little, during recovery
LASIK has been a popular vision correction procedure for 20 years and its safety and efficacy has been studied for even longer than that. Studies show that LASIK is successful and has a more favorable patient satisfaction rate than most elective surgical procedures.2 However, all surgery carries some risk of side effects or complications.
When considering the safety of LASIK, it is important to distinguish between side effects and complications. Many people use these two terms interchangeably, but they mean different things. Side effects are things that happen as a result of surgery; they are often minor and temporary. Side effects of LASIK include dry eyes or visual glare, which are often temporary. There are also side effects that can be easily corrected with additional surgery, such as an overcorrection or undercorrection of vision. Complications are more serious unintended events. Possible complications of LASIK include vision loss or corneal infection. However, the rate of complication for LASIK is less than 1%.3
In order to reduce the risk of LASIK complications, the FDA recommends that patients seek an experienced surgeon who uses up-to-date equipment and is careful to screen each patient to determine if they are a good candidate for LASIK.5 Read the full FDA checklist for choosing the right LASIK doctor.
Yes, it is generally best to perform LASIK in both eyes in the same procedure, but if you are interested in having LASIK in one eye at a time, you can discuss that option with your surgeon.
LASIK can significantly reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses, but your results may vary depending on a number of factors, including your starting prescription and your healing process. Be wary of any type of 20/20 vision guarantee. While LASIK surgeons cannot promise patients “perfect” or 20/20 vision, studies show that more than 90% of LASIK patients are within the 20/20 range and 99% have vision better than 20/40.6
There are no restrictions on eating, drinking or medications immediately prior to your procedure. Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea. Since this is the area that’s treated, it’s important to allow time for your cornea to return to its normal curvature. Soft contact lenses should be removed at least 72 hours (3 days) before your procedure. Hard or gas permeable contact lenses should be removed at least 4 to 6 weeks before your procedure. Patients who have worn rigid contact lenses for over 20 years may need to remove them for up to 8 to 12 weeks. Your eye doctor can help you make this determination.
Yes, soft contacts should be removed from your eyes at least two weeks prior to your LASIK consultation appointment. Gas permeable or hard lenses should be removed for a minimum of three weeks. Removing your contact lenses allows your cornea to return to its natural shape.
In general, patients usually get back to work 1 to 2 days after LASIK. You’ll be able to resume most normal activities quickly, but there are some restrictions including:
No. LASIK is a sutureless surgery. The flap on the surface of the eye self seals.
No. Prior to entering the LASIK procedure room you are given a medication to help you relax. Numbing eye drops are used to desensitize the eye. During the actual procedure, a slight pressure is noted by most patients, but patients have not reported pain during the procedure.
After your numbing eye drops are administered, a special instrument called a lid speculum will be used to gently hold your eyes open and prevent you from blinking during surgery.
Patients are seen at least one day, one week, one month, and three months after surgery. For your convenience, we offer follow-up care at any of our four office locations in Michigan.
LASIK permanently changes your cornea, so it will not wear off or fade. However, your eyes will continue to age after LASIK and vision issues that are unrelated to the surface of your cornea can still occur. Presbyopia, a naturally occurring condition that causes age-related near vision loss affects almost everyone over 40 and is the reason that reading glasses may be needed. Patients may also develop cataracts as they get older.
In most cases, LASIK is not covered by insurance, although there are certain insurances who do cover part of the treatment.
At Fraser Eye Care, we strive to make LASIK as affordable as possible while still providing the high quality care our patients deserve. For our patients, the cost of LASIK can be as low as $80 per eye per month, or $3 per day.
Learn More About The Cost of LASIK
Learn More About LASIK Financing
Your choice to have LASIK is a personal one, but your choice of LASIK surgeon should include some research to ensure that you have the best LASIK experience possible. We recommend that you choose a LASIK surgeon with specialized training and a record of success at a comprehensive eye care practice that values personalized care. The highly experienced LASIK surgeons at Fraser Eye have been serving patients in Detroit and throughout Michigan for over 35 years. We are happy to meet with you for a consultation appointment to answer any questions you have about LASIK.
Each of the LASIK surgeons, ophthalmologists and optometrists on our team takes pride in being your local eye doctor. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule a consultation.
1 Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2016 Aug;42(8):1224-34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27531300
2 Solomon KD, Fernández de Castro LE, Sandoval HP, et al. LASIK world literature review: quality of life and patient satisfaction. Ophthalmology. 2009 Apr;116(4):691-701. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19344821
3 American Refractive Surgery Council. LASIK Complication Rate: The Latest Facts and Stats You Should Know. https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/lasik-complication-rate-latest-facts/ Accessed September 16, 2019.
4 Mayo Clinic. LASIK eye surgery. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774 Accessed September 16, 2019.
5 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. LASIK: What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me? https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-are-risks-and-how-can-i-find-right-doctor-me Accessed September 16, 2019.
6 American Refractive Surgery Council. What Is the LASIK Success Rate? Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/laser-eye-surgery-lasik-success-rate/ Accessed November 21, 2019.
The Fraser Eye Care Center Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
