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We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. Please call our office or use the quick contact form below.


Office locations:
Taylor
20500 Eureka Rd. Suite 200
Taylor, MI 48180
Phone: 1-800-403-0060
Click here for map Troy
113 East Long Lake Road
Troy, MI 48085
Phone: 1-800-403-0060
Click here for map

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about their vision and general eye health issues.  If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you.

Diana Watson, Castleman Eye Center's surgical coordinator, answers Ken's questions.


View all answers
A:

If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, it means you are living with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, and probably currently wear glasses or contact lenses.  LASIK is a great way to reduce your dependence on, or completely free yourself from, corrective lenses.  It may be especially appealing because of your profession or lifestyle.  It could be that you cannot wear contact lenses and dislike the appearance of glasses, or you may just want to reduce the expense and hassle of glasses and contacts.

However, LASIK is not appropriate for everyone.  There are several factors which determine the best candidate, including age, medical history, individual eye anatomy and expectations.  Each person is a unique case requiring individual evaluation.

No website can tell you for sure if you are a good candidate for LASIK.  The only way to find out is to schedule a LASIK eligibility exam.  Be prepared to talk about your medical history and any current diseases or medications.  You will also discuss instructions and expectations for the procedure, recovery and results.  You will be given a comprehensive eye examination, including some tests especially tailored to evaluate whether your eyes are appropriate for the corrective surgery.  From the results of this exam, the doctor can work with you to decide if LASIK is the right choice for you.
A:

It is important to realize that, like any surgery, LASIK is not without risk.  However, major complications are extremely rare.  Minor complications occasionally occur, such as dry eye, and halos or glare around lights at night.  However, such problems are uncommon, are often treatable, and will usually reduce or disappear within months of the surgery.
A:

There is no pain associated with the LASIK procedure.  Local anesthesia is used on the cornea, which is administered through eye drops.  Some patients may experience mild discomfort or pressure.  After the procedure, patients may experience minor irritation in the eye.  This should fade within a day or two.
A:

Many people achieve 20/20 vision, or better, after undergoing LASIK eye surgery.  Although patients experience an improvement in their vision, some may still need to wear corrective lenses for certain tasks, though the necessary power of correction will be much smaller than before.

The result of the LASIK procedure is also influenced by the amount of correction needed.  Patients within a few diopters of 20/20 vision most often achieve sufficient results after undergoing LASIK that they no longer require corrective lenses.  Patients with a wider error, especially those who are extremely nearsighted, sometimes will still require corrective lenses after the surgery, though their prescription will be greatly reduced.
A:

LASIK surgery is known for having a particularly quick recovery, partly because the flap acts as a natural bandage for the cornea.  Patients can usually return to work in a day or two, although it is best to take a few days off and take it easy to allow proper healing.  One should wait a week or two before recommencing strenuous activities, and at least a month or more before contact sports.  Vision improves vastly over the first one to three days, and generally reaches its final state within three to six months.
A:

Throughout childhood and the teens, a person’s vision often does not remain stable.  The body is constantly developing and changing.  LASIK is a permanent procedure.  For this reason, LASIK may not be performed on minors.  Once your child is 18 or older, and his or her glasses or contacts prescription has been stable for at least a year or two, he or she may wish to consider LASIK corrective eye surgery.
A: This is a very commonly asked question. We recommend you come in for a FREE consultation in which  Dr. Akler and her staff will discuss your unique situation to  help determine if LASIK is really the best option for you. At the Castleman Eye Center, our goal is to provide you the procedure that is right for you!
A: PRK was the first Excimer laser procedure approved in the USA.  With PRK, the surface of the cornea is scraped or ablated along with the corneal tissue underneath.  This sculpting removes microscopic layers of the cornea to correct refractive error.  LASIK, however, uses a special instrument called the microkeratome to gently lift and fold back a thin layer of the cornea.  The VISX Star4 Laser then precisely reshapes the inner surface of the corena to enable light rays to focus more directly on the retina so images are more clear.  LASIK is the most widely used refractive procedure performed in the United States.  Because the cornea is left intact, the recovery time is much quicker.  In fact, most patients report alsmost instantaneous improvements in visual acuity.
A: Dr. Michelle Akler is a board certified opthalmologist and has been performing refractive surgeries since 1999 and is among the top refractive surgeons in the country. Dr. Akler has performed over 10,000 LASIK procedures and 98% of her patients see 20/20 or better.
A: Dr. Akler uses the most advanced technology available in the United States, the VISX Star S4 ActiveTrak Excimer Laser System that incorporates wavefront technology, eye tracking system and iris registration to insure you are receiving the most technologically-advanced treatment.
A: Many patients notice improved vision immediately after the procedure.  Most patients are functional without their glasses or contacts at the one day post operative exam. Patients continue to see a gradual increase in their visual acuity during the first five to seven days after the procedure.  See what some of Dr. Akler's delighted patients have to say about their LASIK experience at the Castleman Eye Center by clicking on our testimonals page.
A: We do offer financing through a company called Care Credit.  Or surgical counselors will be happy to go over the details with you when you come in for your FREE consultation or click here to view our easy financing options.
A: Because of the advanced technology associated with LASIK, both eyes are almost always treated at the same time.
A: LASIK surgery is considered to be a permanent procedure.  However, LASIK will not prevent any age related conditions such as presbyopia or cataracts, and they would be treated in their normal matter.
A: LASIK surgery can eliminate glasses worn for distance and near however the procedure is called monovision LASIK. Monovision LASIK means that your dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and your non-dominat eye would be corrected for near vision leaving you with one eye for distance and one eye used for reading. Dr. Akler and her staff will go over your options and even allow you to simulate what monovision would be like for you during your FREE consultation.
A:

Most patients return to their normal activities the day after the procedure.  The surgical counselor can give you more details on what you can expect when you come in for your FREE consultation.

 

Contact us today to see if you are a candidate for LASIK! 

 1-800-403-0060