LASIK Eye Surgery

About LASIK at Belmont Eye Center

Since its inception, LASIK has given tens of millions of people clearer vision and independence from visual aids. Many patients claim that having elective surgery is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. By restoring clear vision, LASIK helps patients live fuller, more productive lives.

If you have a refractive error and can’t function without glasses or contact lenses, it’s worth considering your laser vision correction options with Dr. Sandra Belmont, a board-certified ophthalmologist LASIK Surgeon in New York City. She has played an instrumental role in the evolution of LASIK and is known around the world for producing truly remarkable outcomes.

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Why Choose Dr. Belmont For Lasik Surgery?

Ask Dr. Belmont’s patients why they chose her to perform surgery and they will probably mention her experience first. A fellowship-trained corneal surgeon, Dr. Belmont played a key role in the development and advancement of laser refractive surgery. She served as one of New York City’s principal investigators in the FDA studies that led to the approval for LASIK and PRK.

Dr. Belmont has performed tens of thousands of procedures, and her patients include other doctors (her nickname is the “Doctors’ Doctor”), celebrities, heads of state and patients from all corners of the world that travel to her NYC practice in search of her expertise.

In addition to offering traditional LASIK, Dr. Belmont is especially known for her “No-Cut” approach to LASIK. No-Cut LASIK has a superior safety profile compared to conventional and bladeless LASIK because it eliminates the risk of flap-related complications. Yet it offers the same, and even better, visual outcomes versus LASIK and bladeless LASIK.

Advanced LASIK Surgery

Traditionally, the laser eye surgeon uses an individual’s lens prescription to calibrate the laser for the LASIK procedure. That means that if two patients have the same prescription, they will receive exactly the same treatment from the excimer laser.

At present, Dr. Belmont is able to employ advanced CustomVue wavefront-guided analysis to tailor and optimize the treatment or guide the laser. The distinct maps produced by the wavefront analysis quantify extremely subtle visual errors and details that the excimer laser will correct at the same time as it corrects for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia.

Concierge LASIK Surgeon

LASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea so it can correctly refract light onto the retina. During a traditional LASIK procedure, a thin flap is created in the surface of the cornea with a microkeratome (or in bladeless LASIK, a femtosecond laser). Then, an excimer laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue. Afterward, the flap is restored over the eye, where it heals itself.

Patients who are thinking about undergoing laser eye surgery can view our LASIK FAQ page to learn more about this procedure.

Appropriate Lasik Candidates

In general, suitable LASIK candidates include individuals who:

Have healthy eyes
Have stable vision with a prescription that has not changed for at least one year prior to the vision correction procedure
Are at least 18 years old if treating nearsightedness or at least 21 years old if treating astigmatism
Do not have a degenerative or autoimmune disease
Do not have any health conditions that impede the body’s healing processes
Are not pregnant or nursing

If You Are Not Eligible For LASIK

If, for some reason, you are not medically eligible to undergo LASIK in Manhattan with Dr. Belmont, do not fret! You may be an appropriate candidate for another vision correction procedure such as PRK. Although PRK laser eye surgery is actually the precursor to LASIK, it offers visual results that are very similar to LASIK results and has certain advantages over LASIK.

For instance, LASIK surgery involves creating a flap in the cornea. In contrast, with PRK, Dr. Belmont does not have to make an incision in the eye. Instead, she uses a laser to ablate the surface of the cornea. Although it may take a few more days to notice an improvement in vision with PRK, there are none of the side effects associated with creating a corneal flap during LASIK surgery.

In the past, when the FDA had only just approved PRK for vision correction, only individuals with mild to moderate nearsightedness were considered appropriate candidates for PRK. But thanks to advancements in PRK and other advanced surface ablation (ASA) techniques, most patients are now eligible for PRK, and it is considered an outstanding alternative to LASIK.

During your initial visit to Belmont Eye Center in New York, Dr. Belmont will review your eye health and medical history as well as listen to your vision-correction objectives. Based on your unique eye anatomy and surgical goals, she will recommend a treatment protocol that is tailored to satisfy your needs.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Belmont and determine your LASIK eligibility, please contact Belmont Eye Center by calling (212) 486-2020.

LASIK Post Operation Recovery

It is extremely important that all post-operative instructions be followed to the letter after your treatment. An instruction sheet will explain the use of medicated and lubricating eye drops to be used post-operatively. These instructions for these drops and all other instructions will apply until the doctor modifies the regimen in the course of your post-operative visits. Typically, patients will be seen one week, two weeks, one month, two months and three months after their procedure. After that, six, 12 and 24 month visits will be suggested.

You will be advised to:

Wear the plastic shield / goggles provided at bedtime, or whenever you lie down, for five days after the procedure
Wear protective sunglasses when outdoors for one week after surgery
Refrain from extended work on a computer on the day of your procedure
Try not to rub your eyes at all
Avoid perspiration in the eyes for one week
Abstain from sexual activity for 24 hours
Restrict exposure to pet hair for one week
Avoid wearing eye make-up, especially mascara, for 10 days
Avoid using a hot tub, steam room, sauna or pool for two weeks
Avoid lake or ocean swimming without goggles for one month

LASIK Cost

LASIK depends on the particular procedure and technology used. Cost and financing options are discussed during the consultation phase.

LASIK FAQs

Why should I choose belmont eye center?

Belmont Eye Center is a premier ophthalmology practice serving individuals seeking LASIK eye surgery in NYC. Dr. Sandra Belmont is a LASIK and PRK pioneer who has held numerous prestigious positions in her field. She has a stellar reputation as a leading ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. Known as a “Doctors’ Doctor,” Dr. Belmont is the eye surgeon many top doctors choose when undergoing laser vision correction.

Am I a candidate for laser eye surgery?

Ideal candidates for LASIK in New York are patients that:

Are over 18 years old
Have a reasonably stable eye prescription
Are in generally good health, free from significant medical conditions or eye conditions such as severe dry eye or keratoconus
Have realistic expectations for the procedure

Does lasik hurt?

No, the treatment itself is painless. Some patients may experience some irritation for one to three days after treatment. Many patients compare this to a sensation of sand in the eye. Your doctor can prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort during the recovery.

How long does the lasik procedure take?

The LASIK treatment itself typically takes less than one minute per eye. Including the time it takes to prepare the treatment area (i.e., sterilizing the treatment area and administering topical anesthetic eye drops), the entire treatment takes about 15 minutes per eye.

How much time I do need to request off from work?

It depends on your job. Many of Dr. Belmont’s patients that have desk jobs return to work within a few days. Patients that have physically demanding jobs might need to take an additional day or two off from work.

Will my vision be blurry after surgery?

Initially, your vision will be blurry, but it should clear up within 24 hours of your procedure.

Can I watch tv after lasik?

Ideally, you should give your eyes a break for the first 24 hours after surgery, and refrain from reading, watching television and using your iPad and other electronic devices. Dr. Belmont recommends her patients relax or sleep as much as possible.

When can I resume wearing eye makeup?

Avoid wearing eye makeup for 10 days after surgery.

When can I start exercising after surgery?

Gentle physical activity is permitted the day after surgery, but any strenuous activities should be avoided for a week. You cannot risk getting sweat in your eyes, rubbing your eyes or coming into sudden contact while playing sports or exercising.

Can I go in a pool after lasik?

Avoid pools and Jacuzzis for two weeks after surgery. Showering is permitted, as long as you avoid getting water in your eyes.

Can I get lash extensions after lasik?

You must wait three weeks after surgery to have eyelash extensions applied. If you already have them on at the time or surgery, leave them on.

Can I drive myself home from the appointment?

No, your vision will be blurry and you might feel a little groggy. Arrange for a companion to drive you home and help you get situated in a comfortable sleeping position.

Will I still need reading glasses after lasik?

The answer depends on certain factors. For instance, if you are over the age of 40, you may require reading glasses after surgery to see objects close up. This is because most individuals over the age of 40 develop presbyopia, an age-related condition that affects a person’s ability to see up close. LASIK cannot prevent presbyopia. However, during LASIK surgery, it may be possible for Dr. Belmont to correct one eye so it sees well in the distance and the other eye so it sees well close up, reducing or eliminating the need for reading glasses after surgery. This is called monovision. During your consultation, Dr. Belmont will establish whether you could benefit from monovision vision correction.

If I have cataracts, can I still have laser vision correction?

Yes. Laser vision correction procedures such as PRK and LASIK address the cornea, while cataracts affect the eye’s natural lens.

Are there risks with laser eye surgery?

Although every type of surgery has some inherent risks, the complications associated with LASIK surgery are rare. This is because the laser vision procedure uses a computer-controlled cool beam of light that is extremely precise and dramatically decreases any room for error. Approximately 3 to 5 percent of LASIK patients report minor difficulties like dry eyes or glare at night. The incidence is even less frequent with Advanced PRK.

Can I undergo surgery if I have astigmatism?

Yes, in most cases where the astigmatism is regular. Dr. Belmont will need to personally assess your eyes to determine whether you are a candidate for LASIK or PRK.

How much does lasik treatment cost?

The overall cost of LASIK surgery varies by patient, depending on several factors, such as whether both eyes are being treated and if the patient chooses all-laser LASIK. To receive a cost estimate, please contact Belmont Eye Center for a consultation, so Dr. Belmont can evaluate your vision health and listen to your surgical objectives.

For our patients’ convenience, we accept several forms of payment, including bank or personal checks, MasterCard and Visa. Financing is also available, for those who qualify, through CareCredit, a third-party healthcare financing organization. CareCredit offers low monthly payments, several payment plan options and other helpful features. To apply for CareCredit financing online, please click here.

Can you go blind from lasik?

There are no known cases of anyone suffering from blindness due to the procedure. Dr. Belmont is an excellent surgeon with many years of real-world experience. She is also very careful when screening candidates, and does not recommend laser vision correction if the patient has any pre-existing conditions or takes any medications that could possibly affect the visual outcome.

How much does lasik treatment cost?

Schedule A Consultation With Dr. Belmont

Dr. Belmont

Find out if you are a candidate by calling or emailing today.

More than 100 eye doctors or their family members from around the world have chosen Dr. Belmont to perform their surgery. Shouldn’t you? Want to see it all, without your glasses? To schedule your Complimentary Consultation, call us or click here to schedule an appointment online.