Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone have LASIK?
No. Some individuals who have deep-set eyes cannot undergo LASIK, because their eye openings are too small to accommodate the LASIK suction ring. Also, their corneas have to be healthy with no corneal problems.

Who can undergo LASIK?
Individuals with up to -15 diopters of myopia, +6 diopters of hyperopia, and 6 diopters of astigmatism - or any combination of these refractive errors - may qualify for LASIK, providing other criteria have been met. With regard to age, 18 years of age is the youngest, and there is no upper age limit.

How much myopia can LASIK correct?
There are differing opinions about the highest degree of myopia that can be corrected with LASIK, but it is Dr. Grandon's opinion that the highest is -15 diopters. Over that, with LASIK, there have been reports of glare with night driving.

Who should I go to for LASIK?
Your eyes are precious, and when considering surgery such as LASIK, you should entrust their care only to an extremely experienced surgeon who has devoted his entire career to refractive surgery, such as Dr. Grandon has done. This is a serious procedure, and surgical experience should be foremost in your consideration of a surgeon.

Can I undergo LASIK to correct my nearsightedness if I also have astigmatism?
Yes. LASIK can correct both refractive problems at the same time; and it can correct hyperopia and astigmatism at the same time, too. Astigmatism alone can be corrected by undergoing astigmatic keratotomy (AK).

Can LASIK correct consecutive hyperopia after RK or myopic changes after RK?
Yes. LASIK is now being used to completely correct farsightedness (overcorrection) following RK surgery and also consecutive nearsightedness after RK. In order to do that, however, the RK surgery must be completely healed for two or more years. This exciting development has helped many people.

If I am pregnant, can I undergo LASIK?
Dr. Grandon would not perform LASIK on a pregnant woman, primarily because her refraction can change slightly during pregnancy, making it more difficult to achieve the desired correction. Also, the eye drop medications needed in the first three months after LASIK may be contraindicated. However, a woman can undergo LASIK when she is breast-feeding.

I am nearsighted in the only eye with which I see. My other eye is an optical prosthesis. Could LASIK be performed on my "good eye?"
No, for the simple reason that if, on the extremely rare occasion the surgery is not successful, your vision would be further impaired than it already is.

Is LASIK safe?
Yes. With the newest keratome, the Hansatome, 6,000 consecutive cases were performed before LASIK was approved, and there were no serious problems with the flap. In Dr. Grandon's experience, he has had no serious flap problems of any type. Thus far, in fact, he has had no serious complication. The worst case scenario is an occasional re-operation, the results of which have been excellent.

What laser does Dr. Grandon use?
Dr. Grandon uses the VISX STAR S4 laser with Wavefront Technology (providing a WavePrint Map-a unique fingerprint of a patients vision that displays the refractive errors and aberrations of the eye), ActiveTrak 3-D Active Eye Tracking (which can capture all three dimensions of intra-operative eye movements), Variable Spot Beam Technology (which has variable-shaped beams that are scanned and offset to allow personalized refractive treatments), plus Larger Ablation Zone (which increases the ablation zone by 51% making the overall diameter of the ablation 8 millimeters for less glare postoperatively). Because of Automatic Centering there is now less chance of a decentered optical zone. The VISX STAR S4 is used along with the newest zero compression Hansatome Keratome, the safest, most advanced, and most precise flap maker on the market. The results were good before, but they are even better now. With these instruments, Dr. Grandon has achieved among the best results in the world, in part because a Ph.D. in physics from MIT maintains the equipment and makes sure the laser works perfectly every time. This VISX expert has compiled thousands of cases that have been done on the laser, and through regression analysis and multivariant analysis has formulated algorhythms that tell them what to do on each new case. As a result, they are able to get the best possible results. Dr. Grandon, to date, has had no serious complications which could not be corrected with glasses or contact lenses or with touch-up surgery. Dr. Grandon's re-operation rate is very low and statistics are among the best anywhere.

We know that Dr. Grandon has performed over 23,000 refractive surgeries, but how many LASIK procedures has he performed?
Dr. Grandon waited for the release of the Hansatome Keratome before he would perform LASIK, because the Hansatome was safer and gave better results than earlier keratomes. It still does. Since the introduction of the Hansatome Keratome, Dr. Grandon has performed more than 6,000 cases. He currently performs 20 to 30 LASIK surgeries per week, making him one of the most active LASIK surgeons in the Midwest.

How is re-operation performed with LASIK?
If LASIK has been performed within the last 4 years, the flap is lifted with the aid of special instruments. After re-operation, a bandage contact lens is inserted for 1 to 4 days. The new laser treatment is then performed, and the flap returned. The results in Dr. Grandon's hands have been excellent. NOTE: Dr. Grandon is the first ophthalmic surgeon to use these new instruments in Michigan.

What precautions are recommended for postoperative LASIK patients?
Immediately after surgery, the ophthalmologist puts a clear plastic shield over the patient's eyes that must remain there until the next day's postoperative check-up. It is especially important during the first 24 hours following LASIK for the patient not to rub his eyes. The shield assures that that will not happen. The shield must be worn during sleep for the first week following surgery. Other restrictions include no eye make-up for 10 days, and no swimming for 14 days. Also, it is recommended that the patient not undergo any strenuous activity or work for several days postoperatively, as sweat might interfere with the healing process. If the patient plays contact sports, he should wear safety glasses for the first two months following surgery.

Are people satisfied after having LASIK surgery?
All Dr. Grandon can say is a resounding YES. While everyone may not be perfectly happy, the vast majority is extremely happy.

Will I need reading glasses after LASIK?
Dr. Grandon can give patients excellent vision, but that does not retard the aging process. Normally people need reading glasses when they reach the ages between 45 and 50. Having had LASIK offers no exception to those patients. [The inability to see close brought on by aging is called presbyopia.] Occasionally, Dr. Grandon purposely leaves one eye (usually the non-dominant eye) a little nearsighted to delay the patient's need for reading glasses.

What are the long-term effects of LASIK?
LASIK has been performed worldwide since the early 1990s and with the Hansatome Keratome only since early 1998. The prospect for long-term stability is very high, based on historical evidence of postoperative corneal healing. There is every reason for us to believe that these reports will continue to hold true. Corneal transplants which require invasive eye surgery with through-and-through corneal incisions have been performed for more than 75 years with complete healing and permanent correction.

Which is better, LASIK or RK?
With the advent of the Hansatome Keratome, and with the newer lasers that give smooth ablations, Dr. Grandon feels that LASIK is now the greater of the two procedures. With LASIK, there usually is little or no pain, and usually the next day the patient sees very well (20/40 or better) and can perform all normal activities. This is an advantage of LASIK over RK because with RK there is more pain, light sensitivity, and the patient doesn't return to work for one to two days. Also the results with LASIK are more stable; they are accurate and predictable. The beauty of LASIK versus RK is that LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

If I have refractive surgery, will I more likely develop cataracts?
No. In most cases, cataracts develop as part of a person's normal aging process. LASIK does not stop the aging process. If a LASIK patient develops cataracts later in life, he or she can be treated the same as if he or she had not undergone refractive surgery.

What causes cataracts?
The complete biochemical cause of cataracts is not known. While most cataracts develop gradually during aging, some occur after eye trauma or inflammation. Cataracts also can be associated with diabetes, gout, and other diseases. Less frequently, cataracts can be congenital, affecting babies or young people.

Can I do anything to prevent cataracts?
Recent studies have shown that taking an asprin a day can prevent cataracts. Other studies have identified the first clear link between exposure to a particular kind of ultraviolet light (sunlight - UVB) and the formation of a faster growing type of cataracts that account for about one third of cataract operations performed each year. A person can reduce exposure to UVB by about 50 percent by wearing a hat with a brim. If the sun is strong enough to burn your skin, particularly between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM in the summer, you should protect your eyes. We recommend sunglasses that fit closely and are UVB absorbent. So, in at least this case, you can do something to prevent cataracts or delay their development.

Can I have cataract surgery if I also suffer from glaucoma?
Yes. However, until recently, cataract operations on patients with glaucoma posed some risk because postoperatively the eye pressure was quite often elevated. Now, Dr. Grandon combines phaecoemulsification cataract surgery with trabeculectomy, a glaucoma procedure that uses a trapezoidal flap to help drain fluid from the eye so pressure will not build up. Combining the two operations is relatively new, but the results have been excellent. Patients will almost always see better, and the eye pressure will probably be better controlled. Usually, patients who have undergone this surgery combination will need to use fewer, if any, glaucoma eye drops.

Will my activities be limited after cataract surgery?
After undergoing the latest no- or one-stitch, no-patch cataract surgery, the patient will enjoy normal activities immediately; however, extremely strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for a few days after the operation.