Dr. Scott Petermann, Affinity’s board-certified ophthalmologist offers the LASIK procedure without the hassle of repeated out of town trips. Dr. Petermann is a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston Salem and completed his residency at Emory in Atlanta. For more information about how this procedure greatly improves vision or to schedule a consultation, call (229)391-4509 or (229)391-4100.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Vision Correction

Q. What is laser vision correction?
A. Laser vision correction is a procedure that improves your vision by permanently changing the shape of your cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) with a laser. Often referred to as LASIK (an acronym for the medical term laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis ), it is the most commonly performed type of laser procedure and is an effective treatment for a wide range of vision problems.

Q. What is an excimer laser?
A. An excimer laser is a technology utilizing cool ultraviolet light to precisely reshape the outer layers of the cornea.

Q. What vision problems does LASIK treat?
A. LASIK can treat a broad range of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Q. How does LASIK work?
A. LASIK permanently changes the shape of your cornea. By reshaping the cornea, the optics of the eye are changed and this brings the image into focus on the retina at the back of the eye.

Q. How long has LASIK been available?
A. LASIK has been around now for almost 10 years in the United States.

Q. How many LASIK procedures has Dr. Petermann performed?
A. Dr. Petermann has performed hundreds of LASIK procedures and was among the first eye care professionals to perform LASIK in south Georgia.

Q. What is CustomVue LASIK?
A. CustomVue LASIK is an individualized laser vision correction treatment using a tool called a wavefront analyzer, which enables Dr. Petermann to measure and correct unique imperfections in your individual vision. With this customized procedure, you have the potential to see clearer and sharper than ever before.

Q. What is the difference between Conventional LASIK and CustomVue LASIK?
A. CustomVue LASIK uses a wavefront analyzer to measure the way light travels through your eye. The resulting map of your eye is then programmed into the laser, and the laser treats your eye based upon that personalized 3-D map. CustomVue LASIK helps treat "higher order" abnormalities, which are tiny imperfections in the eye that can have a significant impact on your quality of vision. These abnormalities have not previously been treatable with contacts, glasses or Conventional LASIK. Dr. Petermann can decide which procedure is best for you and your particular vision needs.

Q. What are some of the results of CustomVue LASIK to date?
A. In an FDA study one year after the CustomVue LASIK procedure: 100 percent of the participants could pass a driving test without glasses or contacts; 98 percent of the participants could see 20/20 or better without glasses or contacts. In addition, many participants reported having clearer vision both during the day and night, compared to their vision with glasses or contacts before the procedure.

Q. Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
A. Only a qualifed Lasik surgeon can determine if LASIK is right for you. The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure is with a detailed eye exam. You can schedule a complimentary LASIK screening with Dr. Petermann to learn more about the procedure and if LASIK is appropriate for you.

Some basic guidelines include the following:

• You must be at least 18 years old, in good general health, and have healthy eyes
• Your vision must be stable for at least one year prior to the laser procedure
• Your prescription must be within range of the laser

Q. Who is not a good candidate for LASIK?
A. You are not a good candidate if you have an eye disease, such as cataracts or glaucoma, have any degenerative or autoimmune diseases, are pregnant or nursing, or have a condition that deters or slows healing.

Q. How do I prepare for the procedure/pre-operative evaluation
A. You should follow Dr. Petermann's pre-op instructions exactly. Soft contact lenses must not be worn for 14 days prior to the Lasik evaluation. Hard contact lenses must be stopped 4 weeks prior to your Lasik exam.

On the day of your LASIK procedure, you should eat a normal meal before your appointment. Do not consume any alcohol. Arrange for someone to drive you to and from the procedure. Shower or bathe prior to your appointment, and wear loose, casual clothing.

Since the laser used for the procedure (called an excimer laser) is extremely sensitive to all odors, the following guidelines must be observed by all occupants of the laser suite, including patients, family members, staff members and anyone else present:

• No hairspray, including scented mousse or gel
• No perfumes, cologne or scented body lotions

In addition, LASIK patients must obey the following instructions:

• No eye makeup on either eye
• No face makeup, including blush and scented facial creams
• No earrings or facial jewelry

Make sure you bring your prescription medications, a copy of your post-procedure instructions and your sunglasses to your appointment.

Q. How long does the procedure take?
A. LASIK is an outpatient procedure that takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You should expect to be in the office for approximately 60-90 minutes.

Q. What will I experience during the procedure?
A. Your eyes will be anesthetized with special drops. You will then lie down, and Dr. Petermann will make sure your eye is positioned directly under the laser. (One eye is operated on at a time.) A device is gently placed in your eye to keepyour eyelids open. Normally, this is not uncomfortable. An ink marker will be used to indicate where the flap should be placed. A small cut is then made with an instrument called a microkeratome. (During the procedure, you won't actually see the creation of the flap, which is very thin.)  

You will be asked to look at a target light for a short time while Dr. Petermann watches your eye through a microscope to make sure it remains in the correct position while the excimer laser sends pulses of light to your cornea. The laser is able track your eye so that small movements do not affect the outcome.

The laser uses a cool, ultraviolet light beam to precisely remove very tiny bits of tissue from the cornea to reshape it. You'll hear a steady clicking sound as the laser is operating. You're also likely to smell a mild odor due to the tissue removal. The flap is then laid back into place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed. No stitches are necessary.

During the procedure, Dr. Petermann will use a computer to adjust the laser for your particular prescription. The higher your prescription, the more time the surgery will take.

Q. How deep does the laser go?
A. The laser only removes a small amount of tissue, usually less than 10% of the corneal thickness.

Q. What prevents me from blinking during the process?
A. A special device called a speculum is used to prevent you from blinking. It does not cause any pain.

Q. What happens if I move my eye during the procedure?
A. It is not uncommon for patients to move their eye during the procedure. A little movement does not cause any undue risk or danger to your eye, and Dr. Petermann can stop the laser at any time during the procedure. He will ask you to concentrate on a red light. If you move your eye too much, the laser will automatically shut down. After you are in position again, Dr. Petermann will restart the laser, and it picks up where it left off. The laser is also able to track eye movments

Q. Is LASIK painful?
A. The procedure itself is painless. Your eyes will be numbed with eye drops, and no general anesthetic is necessary. A small percentage of patients do experience some discomfort after the procedure--often described as if an eyelash is in their eye. An over-the-counter pain medication usually helps with any discomfort. You will also be given eye drops to counteract any potential dryness you may experience after the procedure.

Q. How quickly will my vision improve?
A. Your vision usually improves immediately after treatment. You will typically notice dramatic visual results within the first 24 hours following the procedure, but your vision can continue to improve for the next six months. (Although you may experience fluctuations in your vision for several days after the procedure, this will usually stabilize after the first week.)  

Q. What will my recovery be like?
A. Your eyes may tear and have a "gritty" feeling, as if there is a foreign body in them. They may also be sensitive to light. These symptoms will diminish over a few days. It is also normal to experience a glare as your eyes heal. Taking all of your medications as directed will help relieve any discomfort.

Q. Will I have to wear a patch?
A. No, but Dr. Petermann will give you plastic eye shields to wear for the remainder of the day and through the night. You may remove them the next morning, unless otherwise instructed. You should also wear your eye shields at bedtime for the first week.

Q. What other post-procedure instructions should I follow?
A. Once at home after your LASIK procedure, you should follow these instructions:

• Try to rest, and keep both eyes closed as much as possible
• Take precautions not to get your eyes wet when you shower or bathe for the first two days
• Take your medications exactly as prescribed
• No swimming, hot tubs or saunas for two weeks
• No eye makeup for the first week after the procedure
• Do not rub or bump your eyes for the first week

During the next few days after your procedure, you should follow these instructions:

• Although an eye infection is rare, be careful not to get anything in your eyes during the first week, including soap and water
• Wear eye protection for contact sports or any other activity where you could bump your eyes
• Protect your eyes from sun radiation with a good pair of sunglasses that provide UV protection. Heavy UV exposure can burn your eyes and cause regression problems any time during the first year
• Contact Dr. Petermann's office immediately if you experience any change in your symptoms or notice a decrease in your vision
• Keep all of your follow-up appointments

Q. How long will I have to miss work?
A. Most patients are able to return to work--and resume most of their normal daily activities--the day after the procedure.

Q. What kind of results can I expect?
A. While LASIK has proven overwhelmingly successful in reducing the dependence on glasses and contact lenses, the degree of improvement may vary among individuals. How well and how quickly your vision improves depends on how well you heal and the severity of your prescription. However, most patients with mild to moderate prescriptions achieve 20/20 vision--or are within one or two lines on the eye chart. This means you no longer need glasses or contacts to drive, play sports, or watch movies or TV. But you may still need reading glasses because LASIK cannot correct presbyopia (aging of the eye), which occurs around age 40. Reading glasses may be required for clear, close vision. In addition, LASIK will not prevent you from developing naturally occurring eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal degeneration or detachment.

Q. What are the long-term effects?
A. Laser vision correction has been conducted since the late 1980s with more than one million procedures performed. All studies indicate that the integrity of the eye is maintained. The incidence of long term problems is low. (If you are going to develop a problem, it typically occurs within the first year and usually much sooner than that).

Q. How soon after pregnancy or nursing can I have the procedure done?
A. Two months after pregnancy or nursing, your prescription should be stable enough for the procedure. Dr. Petermann will test for stability at your pre-op exam.

Q. What if I am hoping to get pregnant?
A. If you have an uncomplicated LASIK procedure, you can get pregnant at four weeks post-op (or later), and it will not affect the healing process. If you were to get pregnant four weeks or more after the procedure, and then it was determined that you needed a re-treatment, you would need to wait for the re-treatment. In the meantime, you might need to wear soft contacts or glasses to gain your best-corrected vision until the time of treatment.

Q. What are the risks?
A. As with any medical procedure, LASIK does have risks. However, the incidence of complications has been documented in a number of clinical studies to be low. Some potential complications can include dryness, increased sensitivity to light, night glare or haloes, irregular astigmatism, under correcting or over correcting, complications in making the surgical flap and loss of best-corrected vision. These complications occur in less than one percent of procedures. Dr. Petermann will discuss any possible risks with you during your examination and determine if LASIK surgery is appropriate for you and your specific vision needs.

Q. What does LASIK cost?
A. LASIK is reasonably affordable. It can actually pay for itself by replacing the cost of glasses and/or contacts within a few years. The fee includes all of your pre-op appointments and post-op follow-up care. Also, if you need an enhancement within one year, the cost is included in your original fee. Currently the cost for Lasik is $1400 dollars an eye.

Q. Is a payment plan available?
A. Dr. Petermann's office has a long-term payment plan, which allows you to make low monthly payments for 18-60 months. You can complete the applications at your free screening. For more information, visit www.visionfeeplan.com.

Q. Can I claim the procedure on my income tax?
A. The procedure fee may be tax deductible, depending on your personal tax situation. You should consult your accountant for more information. Often Lasik can be paid for with tax free dollars through an employers flexible spending account.