Laser Eye Surgery Specialist
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Stephen Khachikian, MD
Ophthalmologist located in Rapid City, SD
Laser eye surgery like laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has a remarkably high success rate, with more than 99% of patients enjoying 20/40 or better vision after their surgery. Both LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are extremely effective laser eye surgery options that can restore your vision if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. At Stephen Khachikian, MD, in Rapid City, South Dakota, leading ophthalmologist Dr. Khachikian expertly performs laser eye surgery, corneal surgery, and other procedures using the latest technology and procedures. Use online booking or call the office to book your appointment now.
Laser Eye Surgery
What are the benefits of laser eye surgery?
There are plenty of significant benefits connected to laser eye surgery, including:
No more glasses or contacts
After laser eye surgery, most patients no longer need eyeglasses or contact lenses. But, if you suffer from age-related focus problems (presbyopia), you may need to wear reading glasses for close-up tasks. You can also consider monovision laser surgery or an implant like KAMRA® to correct presbyopia along with your other vision problems.
Minimal recovery time
Generally, laser eye surgery requires very little recovery time. With LASIK, most patients are back to their usual routine within a day or less. With PRK, most patients resume regular activity within 4-5 days.
Cost-effective
Although laser eye surgery costs more upfront than glasses or contact lenses, if you compare the cost of decades of new glasses or contacts to the cost of a single surgery, you can come out ahead with laser eye surgery.
Takes effect fast
Most patients who have laser eye surgery enjoy greatly improved vision within just one day.
With so many benefits, it's easy to see why laser eye surgery is so popular today.
How does laser eye surgery work?
Before laser eye surgery, Dr. Khachikian administers anesthetic eye drops to ensure a painless procedure. The next step depends on what type of surgery you’re having. For LASIK, Dr. Khachikian creates a flap in your cornea and then moves it to access your inner cornea. For PRK, Dr. Khachikian removes the top layer of corneal tissue and then reshapes your cornea.
Because Dr. Khachikian uses a state-of-the-art laser system for laser eye surgery, the entire procedure follows a precise map of your eyes. As the computer controls the laser to make the necessary adjustments, you may hear a clicking noise. The surgery takes just minutes for each eye.
After the laser reshapes your cornea, Dr. Khachikian places your corneal flap in its normal position and applies eye drops. If you’re having PRK surgery, Dr. Khachikian places a contact lens over your cornea for protection as it heals over the coming week.
Dr. Khachikian also performs other laser eye surgeries, such as cornea repair or replacement, if you have diseased or damaged corneas. There are many different cornea repair and replacement methods, and Dr. Khachikian will choose the one best suited for your situation.
Is laser eye surgery right for me?
If you’re looking for permanent vision correction for myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, laser eye surgery could be the right choice. But, your eyes must be healthy for any laser eye surgery, and your prescription must be stable for at least a year before surgery. If it’s not right for you, Dr. Khachikian can discuss other options, like intraocular lenses, with you.
Request an appointment online or call the office of Stephen Khachikian, MD, to arrange your laser eye surgery consultation today.