UPMC Eye Center
Frequently Asked Questions About Refractive Surgery
Am I a candidate for refractive surgery?
You must make an appointment with one of the physicians on the refractive
team at the UPMC Eye Center to find out if the refractive procedures
will be safe and effective for you. There are limits to what any one
refractive procedure is capable of achieving. You will be expected to
provide a detailed ocular and medical history, as well as a list of
medications and type of contact lenses worn. Many people who are in
good health and have had no previous ocular diseases or problems are
candidates for some type of refractive procedure. Your doctor will determine
which one is most likely to give you the best vision correction.
How safe is refractive surgery?
Refractive procedures are very safe, but it is important to keep in
mind that they are invasive and have the same risks as any other surgical
procedure. Your doctor will review all of the potential complications
of any particular procedure with you. In addition, the refractive surgeons
at the UPMC Eye Center are all fellowship-trained cornea specialists
with thousands of hours of corneal surgical experience.
Can you guarantee my visual outcome?
While we always strive to provide patients with 20/20 vision, we cannot
guarantee that everyone will achieve this goal. Human tissue can respond
in unpredictable ways to intervention, which can sometimes alter the
final visual outcome. Since refractive procedures are elective, it is
important to evaluate your ability to function efficiently without perfect
vision. Even after refractive surgery, some patients will require part-time
glasses or contact lenses. A realistic approach to any refractive surgery
is to reduce your reliance on glasses or contact lenses, but perhaps
not to eliminate that need entirely.
What should I expect at the screening?
UPMC Eye Center provides screening visits at no cost. During these preliminary
evaluations, your medical and ocular history will be reviewed. Bring
a list of medications and allergies, and your contact lenses, to this
visit. We will determine the magnitude of your refractive error, check
your eye pressure, determine if your eyes suffer from dryness, assess
corneal thickness, and perform computerized topographical analysis of
your corneas. You can expect this visit to take approximately 30 minutes
to one hour.
If you are deemed a possible candidate for a refractive procedure,
you will be asked to return for a full evaluation in which a comprehensive
ocular examination, including dilation, will be performed in order to
check for any disease that might affect a successful surgical outcome.
Additional topographical tests and refractions are sometimes indicated
at this visit. Depending on the procedure, you may watch an informational
video. Complications of your procedure and expected visual outcomes
will be discussed by a doctor on the refractive team. Finally, you will
sign an informed consent document and you will schedule your surgery.
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my exam?
Nothing special is needed for a preliminary evaluation except providing
us with your medical and ocular history, as well as a list of medications
and allergies to medicines. If you wear contact lenses, information
about what kind you wear can be helpful.
For the full evaluation, it is often necessary for you to avoid wearing
contact lens wear for several weeks. This is because contact lenses
alter the shape of the cornea. In order to have a successful visual
result, the cornea must return to its natural shape before any refractive
surgery is performed.
How do I make an appointment?
Call the UPMC Eye Center at 412-647-2917. Debbie Holliday is our refractive
surgery coordinator who will walk you through the process.
What should I discuss with the doctor?
It is important for your doctor to understand your motivation for seeking
refractive surgery. You must also be able to articulate your visual
expectations after the surgery, as well as any visual requirements.
Tell us what your occupation is as well as how you like to spend your
leisure time. Think about any visual difficulties that you may be having,
as well. You should discuss the various options for refractive correction
as they pertain to you, and of course, any possible complications of
the procedures.
What is the cost?
The cost varies according to which procedure you are having.
Call us at 412-647-2200 and speak with our refractive coordinator about
particular questions.
Is there discomfort involved?
Recovery from all surgery is painful, and refractive surgery is no exception.
However, the discomfort involved is usually mild, similar to a foreign
body sensation, and goes away within a day or two. Patients rarely need
more than artificial tears and an over-the-counter analgesic such as
Tylenol or Advil to alleviate discomfort with many of the procedures
we offer.
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