Best LASIK in Long Beach: Questions to Ask to Find the Best LASIK Surgeon for You

At Lucent Vision in Long Beach California we offer a unique approach to laser eye surgery where we pair state of the art technology with an outstanding patient experience. The prospect of having LASIK surgery can be a scary thing. We provide patients with a personalized journey to better vision with an experienced and caring team as their guide.

Do you only offer LASIK, or do you offer the full portfolio of refractive vision correction procedures?

At Lucent Vision we offer a broad range of refractive surgery to help you ditch your glasses or contact lens. You may have heard of LASIK, which uses an excimer laser to reshape the surface of the cornea to improve vison. Some patients may not be good candidates for this procedure and may be better candidates for a different procedure called Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) which employs the same laser to improve vision with a slightly different effect on the tissue biology of the cornea. As patients reach their mid-forties, an age-related problem called presbyopia can make visual perception for near objects more difficult, in addition to blurry distance vision. For these patients, a different procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange may be a better option. Furthermore, patients that are in their late 50’s and beyond may achieve visual freedom with cataract surgery with a customized intraocular lens. Dr. Pathak is an expert in many different types of vision correction surgery. Your eye examination and eyeglass prescription will help us determine the best procedure for your eyes.

Who will be performing the surgery, and what is their training?

Your surgeon, Dr. Pathak, will be your personal guide throughout your LASIK journey. Not only did he complete an ophthalmology residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, but he also completed his cornea and refractive surgery fellowship at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, one of the top ophthalmology programs in the United States. An accomplished physician, Dr. Pathak has been performing vision surgery including laser-in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) since 2006. He has earned the respect of other eye care professionals and surgeons by being nominated as one of Castle Connolly’s top doctors in 2023. Patients also love his approach. He is one of the most highly rated ophthalmologists in the region and has earned a stellar reputation on Yelp and Google.

What kind of results should I expect?

In our experience, over 95% of patients who have LASIK will achieve a visual acuity of 20/20 or better. Furthermore, over 99.5% of patients typically see at a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. As a reference, the 20/40 line is used by the DMV to test vision for driving. Most patients notice a significant improvement in their vision within the first day after surgery.

What does the LASIK cost include?

The cost of LASIK will include all your pre-operative scans, your procedure, your post-operative medicated eye drops, as well as any of your post-operative vision care up to a year after your procedure. In the very rare circumstance that there is an undercorrection of your treatment, any touch-ups will be included free of charge and are typically performed within the year of your original procedure. We are transparent with our pricing and you will be given your cost up front during your free consultation. Furthermore, our most updated costs can be found on our website.

What type of LASIK technology do you use?

The best technology underpins your entire LASIK journey at Lucent Vision. During your consultation, we use a wavefront aberrometer, a corneal topographer, and a corneal tomographer to learn about all of the facets of your human eye down to the micron. All of these devices help us to precisely determine your prescription, the shape and thickness of your cornea, as well as the over all health of your eye. In the surgical suite, we use to different types of lasers to quickly, safely, and effectively perform your LASIK procedure. Our first laser if a Ziemer femtosecond laser that helps us to create a thin and precise flap on your cornea without using any blades. After this flap is created, a second laser, an Alcon Allegretto excimer laser, is used to precisely re-shape your cornea using light beams to precisely customize your treatment. Finally, in your post-operative care package you will be given an eye drop that has no preservatives and has been made specifically for you. By using these cutting edge technologies, at Lucent Vision we have perfected the art of safely and effectively delivering clear vision to our patients.

Am I an ideal candidate for LASIK?

Ideal candidates for LASIK are typically over the age of 18 with a stable refractive error that is made up of some combination of near-sightedness, far-sightedness, or astigmatism. Other important factors include the shape of your cornea which can be assessed by a corneal topography, as well as the thickness of your cornea. A larger prescription in your corrective lens may require more corneal tissue to treat, so an adequate corneal thickness is important when assessing your candidacy for LASIK. Other types of eye disease such as dry eye syndrome, keratoconus, and cataracts can also impact your candidacy for the procedure. During your consultation we will perform a thorough eye exam, refraction (to determine your most current prescription), as well as multiple types of painless imaging of your eyes. By the end of your 30 minute consultation we will have a good idea of which procedure, if any, is safe and ideal for your vision correction goals.

Will my results last for a lifetime, or will I need another procedure?

The effect of LASIK on the cornea is intended to be a permanent and long term change. Nonetheless, a very small percentage of patients may regain some of their nearsightedness or farsightedness over the course of several years as their eye ages. In some of these patients, a touch up procedure may be necessary to bring the vision back to its target.

There are other age-related changes that occur to the human eye in the mid-forties as well as in the late fifties that may impact your vision. In the mid-forties we all experience a problem called presbyopia where the natural lens inside of the eye becomes more stiff and loses its flexibility. Patients in this age range may find themselves using reading glasses to see objects that are at a near distance. Patient in their late fifties and beyond may start to have further age-related changes in this natural lens of the eye that may cause more cloudy vision. This clouding of the natural lens is called a cataract. An outpatient procedure is usually needed to remove cataracts and replace them with an artificial lens to regain clear vision at all distances. Both of these age related phenomenon, presbyopia and cataracts, are not related to LASIK. Having the LASIK procedure will neither prevent nor cause these two age-related problems of eye health.

What if I’m not a good candidate for LASIK?

If your are not a good candidate for LASIK, there may be other technologies that are available to safely deliver clear vision. An alternative procedure known as PRK can often be a safe alternative to LASIK in patients who have a cornea that is either abnormally shaped or too thin for LASIK. Patients who undergo PRK can usually attain the same types of outstanding outcomes as LASIK patients, but they will have a longer recovery time after their procedure. Some patients may not be candidates for either LASIK or PRK, and there may be the possibility of a procedure known as ICL, or implantable collamer lens. The ICL procedure involves the implantation of a lens inside of your eye (in front of your natural lens) to correct your refractive error. We will thoroughly assess your eyes during your free consultation to determine which procedure is the safest for you.

Your Path to Clearer Vision: Next Steps in Choosing Your LASIK Surgeon in Long Beach

The process of finding a LASIK surgeon and considering vision correction surgery can be stressful. At Lucent Vision we have an experienced team that is dedicated not only to excellent outcomes, but also to the patient experience. The first step is knowing your options and gathering all of the information you can about the LASIK procedure. During your free consultation our team can evaluate your eyes and give you all of the information you need to make your decision. Our process is transparent and personalized because we truly believe in delivering the benefits of clear unaided vision. Schedule a free consultation today to lean more about LASIK!

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