Today's Vision LASIK candidates have their surgeries
performed at the Laser Eye Institute of Houston
(LEI), located at 5400 Bissonnet in Bellaire,
TX. LEI is the most utilized independent LASIK
surgery center of its kind in Texas. By the time
you visit LEI the day of surgery, your doctor
will have explained much of what will occur and
all of your pre-surgery measurements and tests
will have been completed. At that time, you will
meet the LASIK surgeon.
Please wear comfortable clothes on your procedure
date and no makeup, perfume/cologne, jewelry or
hair spray. You should report to the center with
your designated driver one hour before your procedure
time. As with any other surgical procedure, you
will be asked to read and sign a consent form.
The following outlines the surgical process:
- You will be escorted to a pre-operative room
(also known as the relaxation room) where a
series of drops will be administered and you
may be given a mild sedative such as Valium.
- Once you are taken to the surgical suite,
the surgeon will position you under the Excimer
laser, and place a device in your eye to hold
your eyelids open. Your other eye will be covered
with a patch. A suction ring will hold your
eye in place (and cause your vision to go black
temporarily) while an instrument called a microkeratome
makes an incision across the outer layer of
your cornea. Your surgeon will lift this flap,
and begin your laser treatment. The laser produces
a clapping noise - and sometimes a faint odor
as molecular bonds separate and are evaporated.
You will be asked to fixate on a light in the
center of your vision during the few minutes
the laser does it work.
- At the end of the procedure, the lid speculum
is removed, and the process is repeated if your
other eye is receiving surgery (most LASIK procedures
involve both eyes).
- After surgery is completed, you will be taken
to an exam room where the surgeon will check
your eyes, and review post-operative instructions
with you. Your doctor may place plastic shields
over your eyes to promote quick healing of the
outer layer flap.
- Typically, you will visit your Today's Vision
doctor's office the following day to continue
to begin the process of monitoring your progress.
