Dr. Roni Shtein
LASIK Online Chat
The chat is over, but the transcript from the September 14, 2011 LASIK online chat with refractive surgery physician, Roni M. Shtein, M.D. and refractive surgery technician Catherine M. Huebner, C.O.A. is below.
Dr. Shtein is a graduate of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed her residency in ophthalmology and a cornea fellowship at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.
Dr. Shtein:
We're here and ready to answer any questions that you all might have.
Question:
Can you have LASIK done if you have astigmatism?
Dr. Shtein:
Yes, although it depends on how much astigmatism you have.
Question:
How long can I wait between my screening and surgery?
Cathy Huebner:
Most of our surgeons can schedule you within a few weeks after your screen. Your evaluation is current for up to 4-5 months. Anything after that, we would want to rescreen you.
Question:
Is there an age limit on LASIK?
Dr. Shtein:
You must be at least 21 to be eligible for LASIK. There is no upper age limit.
Question:
I've heard you need to wait until your prescription stops changing before having LASIK done. Is that a general guideline so it doesn't have to be corrected again later or a hard and fast rule?
Dr. Shtein:
Yes, your prescription needs to be stable before we can safely evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate for surgery.
Question:
How long of a period is generally sufficient to be considered stable?
Dr. Shtein:
We usually prefer to see a stable prescription for at least 1-2 years.
Question:
Do you have to limit activites after LASIK?
Dr. Shtein:
We usually ask you to take it easy the first day after surgery. After that, many people can get right back to their normal activities.
Question:
Do lens implants give better vision than LASIK? Why choose one or the other?
Dr. Shtein:
Lens implants are used in cataract surgery or for extreme nearsightedness. In those situations they can provide good vision. Otherwise, LASIK provides excellent vision for many in the more moderate range of near and farsightedness.
Question:
Could you give general prescription ranges for moderate and extreme cases?
Dr. Shtein:
LASIK is FDA approved for up to 10 diopters of nearsightedness and 4 diopters of farsightedness.
Question:
Is there hope of advances and improvements to LASIK to extend this range or am I doomed to waiting for the next technology?
Dr. Shtein:
There are options outside of this range already. If you are interested, I recommend a complete eye exam to identify potential options that might work for you.
Dr. Shtein:
Thank you all for joining us this afternoon. If you have any further questions please contact us at 734-615-6914 or lasik@umich.edu.
Due to the nature of online communications, this transcript provides brief and general answers to questions about LASIK surgery. The information is not intended to serve as a medical consultation and it is not designed to replace a physician’s judgment about an individual’s suitability for a specific refractive surgery procedure.
We encourage our patients to bring a list of questions to their screening appointment.
