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| Q1: Is it possible my vision will get worse
after the treatment? |
Your vision will stabilize within one to three
months after treatment.
*In rare cases, a patient may experience a relapse of nearsightedness
and his/her vision may worsen. Some patients may also fail to
maintain the expected visual improvement, however, such cases
can be treated by an enhancement procedure. (Touch-up, if necessary,
is performed free of charge at the Kobe Clinic. However, there
are cases in which the cornea is not sufficiently thick to support
a follow-up procedure.) |
| Q2: What level of visual acuity can I
expect after the treatment? |
| The expected level of visual improvement will
be determined for each individual after consultation with a
physician. Nearly all patients are satisfied with the improvement
after treatment (Most patients whose vision is correctable to
20/20 using eyeglasses or contact lenses can have their vision
corrected to at least the same level after treatment.) |
| Q3 :How soon after treatment will my vision
improve? |
| In the fastest cases, improvement is seen on the
day of the procedure. In most cases, vision improves within
one day to one week following the surgery. |
| Q4:Can LASIK correct even strong astigmatism
and nearsightedness? |
| Myopia (nearsightedness) of up to 14D (diopters)
and astigmatism of up to 6D can be corrected. (However, an examination
must be performed for each individual case to determine whether
an individual is a good candidate for LASIK procedure.) |
| Q5:Is it possible that I could go blind as
a result of the surgery? |
| LASIK procedure is performed only on the surface
of the cornea. The procedure is relatively safe, and should
not cause a loss of vision. The excimer laser is computer controlled
and activated by a surgeon. Statistically, there is a remote
possibility of loss of vision due to corneal infection, which
we address by maintaining sterile conditions in the procedure
suites, and by instructing you to use antibiotic drops for a
few days after the procedure. We will also examine your eyes
the day after the procedure to rule this remote possibility
out. At the Kobe Clinic, we perform a detailed examination and
evaluate all of our patients individually, and only perform
LASIK treatment on those determined to be good candidates for
LASIK. |
LASIK can be performed on any suitable patient
over the age of 18. Patients under 20 require the permission
of a parent or guardian.
*LASIK cannot be performed in patients under 18, as the eye
continues to grow throughout adolescence. |
| Q7: Are there any potential complications
or conditions that can result from LASIK surgery? |
| There are a number of possible post-surgical developments,
which are explained to each patient in detail prior to the procedure.
In nearly all cases, the condition will improve naturally over
time or via treatment by prescription. Some of the potential
complications include dry eyes and myopic relapse. |
| Q8:What are the costs for follow-up examinations? |
| Follow-up exams are performed the day after the
procedure, and one week, one month, three months, six months
and one year after surgery. The fees for all of these exams
are included in the cost of the initial surgery. |
| Q9:Does health insurance cover the LASIK surgery? |
| Nearsightedness and astigmatism are not considered
to be illnesses or diseases, and are therefore not currently
covered by most medical insurance plans. LASIK is not covered
by health insurance in Japan, but you may be able to receive
some reimbursement through a life insurance surgical benefit,
or to claim the costs as an income tax medical deduction. Please
consult with your life insurance provider or local tax office
for details. |
