LASIK Experience
Welcome to the Hamilton Eye Institute, where we strive to empower Californians like you in their journey towards better vision. If you’re considering LASIK in Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re seeking comprehensive information or prefer a personal touch, our team is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way. Explore our website to discover insights into LASIK, from understanding the procedure to navigating the advancements in vision correction technology. If you crave more personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Los Angeles LASIK office, where our knowledgeable patient counselors stand ready to provide tailored guidance, education, and support. Your path to clearer vision starts here.
LASIK Los Angeles
LASIK Experience
Welcome to the Hamilton Eye Institute, where we strive to empower Californians like you in their journey towards better vision. If you’re considering LASIK in Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re seeking comprehensive information or prefer a personal touch, our team is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way. Explore our website to discover insights into LASIK, from understanding the procedure to navigating the advancements in vision correction technology.
If you crave more personalized assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Los Angeles LASIK office, where our knowledgeable patient counselors stand ready to provide tailored guidance, education, and support. Your path to clearer vision starts here.
Questions to ask your LASIK eye surgeon BEFORE surgery
- How many vision correction procedures have you performed?
- How many laser vision correction procedures have you performed?
- What type of excimer laser will you be using for my surgery?
- Why did you choose this laser?
- Do I have a good chance at achieving 20/20 vision?
- What happens if I require an enhancement?
- What is your educational background and medical school training?
- What would your colleagues say about you?
- What are my biggest risks with LASIK eye surgery?
- How many patients have you turned away?
Questions to ask your LASIK eye surgeon BEFORE surgery
- How many vision correction procedures have you performed?
- How many laser vision correction procedures have you performed?
- What type of excimer laser will you be using for my surgery?
- Why did you choose this laser?
- Do I have a good chance at achieving 20/20 vision?
- What happens if I require an enhancement?
- What is your educational background and medical school training?
- What would your colleagues say about you?
- What are my biggest risks with LASIK eye surgery?
- How many patients have you turned away?
LASIK Patient Experience
7:25 duration
What Our Patients Say
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Dr Hamilton and his team are incredible! At 52, I never imagined I would achieve perfect vision, but they made it possible. The office is stunning and the staff is exceptionally welcome, efficient, and knowledgeable. Dr. Hamilton is brilliant! He patiently explains every detail with a warm and friendly demeanor. My experience was flawless, and I am thrilled with the results. I highly recommend and trust Dr. Hamilton for any eye surgery- It is one of the very best decisions I have ever made.
LASIK
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a popular surgical option for individuals seeking to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Candidates for LASIK typically include adults over 18 years old with stable vision for at least a year, generally good eye health, and specific refractive errors within treatable ranges.
People opt for LASIK primarily to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, thus enhancing their quality of life and convenience. The procedure itself involves reshaping the cornea using a laser to adjust its focusing power. Before surgery, a thorough eye examination determines the suitability of the patient for the procedure. During LASIK, an instrument creates a thin flap in the cornea, which is folded back to allow the laser to reshape the underlying tissue. The flap is then repositioned, promoting quicker healing.
Recovery from LASIK is typically rapid, with many patients experiencing improved vision within hours. It’s common to experience temporary discomfort, dry eyes, or sensitivity to light initially, but these usually resolve quickly. Full recovery, including stabilization of vision, may take several weeks. Overall, LASIK is considered a safe and effective option for those looking to reduce their dependence on corrective lenses and enjoy clearer vision with minimal downtime.
LASIK
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a popular surgical option for individuals seeking to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
Candidates for LASIK typically include adults over 18 years old with stable vision for at least a year, generally good eye health, and specific refractive errors within treatable ranges.
People opt for LASIK primarily to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, thus enhancing their quality of life and convenience. The procedure itself involves reshaping the cornea using a laser to adjust its focusing power.
Before surgery, a thorough eye examination determines the suitability of the patient for the procedure. During LASIK, an instrument creates a thin flap in the cornea, which is folded back to allow the laser to reshape the underlying tissue. The flap is then repositioned, promoting quicker healing.
Recovery from LASIK is typically rapid, with many patients experiencing improved vision within hours. It’s common to experience temporary discomfort, dry eyes, or sensitivity to light initially, but these usually resolve quickly.
Full recovery, including stabilization of vision, may take several weeks. Overall, LASIK is considered a safe and effective option for those looking to reduce their dependence on corrective lenses and enjoy clearer vision with minimal downtime.
Back to School Special – $1,000 Off
Back to School Special
– $1,000 Off
Refractive Surgery Patient Screening
LASIK surgery with Rex Hamilton, MD, has enjoyed enormous success for more than a decade now due not only to the cutting edge laser technology used during surgery, but also because of the comprehensive screening process utilizing the very latest diagnostic technology to determine your candidacy for LASIK.
GALILEI® G4 (Zeimer)
Rex Hamilton, MD, uses the GALILEI G4 corneal mapping system during the refractive surgery screening process. This amazing tool acquires a detailed, topographical map of the front and back surface of the cornea, the window on the front of the eye. Dr. Hamilton has been using this type of mapping for more than 15 years and has published extensively on the benefits of this advanced technology. It is critical to accurately map both the front and back corneal surfaces to determine the overall health of the cornea. Much like a topographic map identifies areas of elevation for a hiker, the GALILEI system provides a detailed map of elevations and depressions, steep and flat areas, for the both front and back corneal surfaces. In addition, the system measures the corneal thickness across the entire cornea. This information is vital in identifying whether or not the patient’s cornea has enough tissue to safely treat their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. A disorder known as keratoconus can exist without a patient being aware they have it. This disorder is characterized by a cornea that is biomechanically weaker than normal. Performing refractive surgery in such a cornea can lead to a worsening of the overall corneal shape, leading to decreased vision. While using the GALILEI G4 to screen patients does not guarantee keratoconus detection, the system has the most advanced algorithms available to detect this abnormality.
Appearance of normal cornea on Galilei maps. Upper right map is of the back surface of the cornea.
Abnormal cornea appearance on Galilei topography: Compare the upper right map with a normal cornea above. The red ‘hot spot’ indicates corneal protrusion, suggesting corneal weakness, making this eye unsuitable for LASIK surgery in Los Angeles.
Dr. Hamilton has published a number of studies, including several using the GALILEI system, to help develop these algorithms for early keratoconus detection (see references below).
*B Sonmez, MP Doan, DR Hamilton. Identification of Scanning Slit-Beam Topographic Parameters Important in Distinguishing Normal from Keratoconic Corneal Morphologic Features. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2007; 143(3), 401-8. *ME Sy, A Ramirez-Miranda, S Zarei-Ghanavati, J Engle, J Danesh, DR Hamilton. Comparison of posterior corneal imaging before and after LASIK using dual rotating scheimpflug and scanning slit-beam corneal tomography systems. Journal of Refractive Surgery 2013; 29(2), 96-101.
LASIK Surgical Planning
Once all your measurements are completed, Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues use a sophisticated software program that analyzes your unique characteristics (e.g. age, gender, amount of correction, environmental conditions, etc.) to determine the optimum laser setting for each of your eyes. Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues presented a paper at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting describing an advanced nomogram he developed to optimize patient outcomes*. A nomogram is an equation derived using previous patient information to provide the best laser settings for optimized future patient outcomes.
* JB Biebesheimer, DR Hamilton. Development of an advanced nomogram for LASIK surgery (paper). American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, San Francisco. April 2009.
LASIK Flap Creation
Dr. Hamilton uses the highest quality Laser Visumax-Zeiss!
“The VisuMax® Femtosecond Laser Its remarkable features are its precision and innovative detail. With the VisuMax®, Zeiss is significantly shaping the world of refractive surgery. This groundbreaking laser system employs high-performance femtosecond laser technology and is characterized by its outstanding cutting precision, highly efficient speed and gentle treatment technique”.
The accuracy and predictability of the VisuMax® laser have allowed some patients who were previously ineligible for LASIK to now have the procedure. With the FS laser, unlike with mechanical instruments, your surgeon is able to precisely program the dimensions of your flap (diameter and thickness) based on what’s best for your eye. Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues published a scientific study suggesting the use of a femtosecond laser to create the LASIK flap has a more consistent and predictable effect on corneal biomechanics (i.e. strength) than the use of a microkeratome (blade) system.
Corneal Reshaping
The final step in the LASIK experience is the reshaping of the cornea. An excimer laser is used to precisely remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue to change the curvature of the cornea. The ideal excimer laser is fast, precisely controlled with advanced eye tracking and comfortable for the patient.
Refractive Surgery Patient Screening
LASIK surgery with Rex Hamilton, MD, has enjoyed enormous success for more than a decade now due not only to the cutting edge laser technology used during surgery, but also because of the comprehensive screening process utilizing the very latest diagnostic technology to determine your candidacy for LASIK.
GALILEI® G4 (Zeimer)
Rex Hamilton, MD, uses the GALILEI G4 corneal mapping system during the refractive surgery screening process. This amazing tool acquires a detailed, topographical map of the front and back surface of the cornea, the window on the front of the eye. Dr. Hamilton has been using this type of mapping for more than 15 years and has published extensively on the benefits of this advanced technology. It is critical to accurately map both the front and back corneal surfaces to determine the overall health of the cornea. Much like a topographic map identifies areas of elevation for a hiker, the GALILEI system provides a detailed map of elevations and depressions, steep and flat areas, for the both front and back corneal surfaces. In addition, the system measures the corneal thickness across the entire cornea. This information is vital in identifying whether or not the patient’s cornea has enough tissue to safely treat their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. A disorder known as keratoconus can exist without a patient being aware they have it. This disorder is characterized by a cornea that is biomechanically weaker than normal. Performing refractive surgery in such a cornea can lead to a worsening of the overall corneal shape, leading to decreased vision. While using the GALILEI G4 to screen patients does not guarantee keratoconus detection, the system has the most advanced algorithms available to detect this abnormality.
Appearance of normal cornea on Galilei maps. Upper right map is of the back surface of the cornea.
Appearance of abnormal cornea on Galilei. Compare the upper right map with that of the normal cornea above. The red “hot spot” identifies an area of protrusion, indicating the cornea is weak and should not undergo LASIK.
Dr. Hamilton has published a number of studies, including several using the GALILEI system, to help develop these algorithms for early keratoconus detection (see references below).
*B Sonmez, MP Doan, DR Hamilton. Identification of Scanning Slit-Beam Topographic Parameters Important in Distinguishing Normal from Keratoconic Corneal Morphologic Features. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2007; 143(3), 401-8. *ME Sy, A Ramirez-Miranda, S Zarei-Ghanavati, J Engle, J Danesh, DR Hamilton. Comparison of posterior corneal imaging before and after LASIK using dual rotating scheimpflug and scanning slit-beam corneal tomography systems. Journal of Refractive Surgery 2013; 29(2), 96-101.
LASIK Surgical Planning
Once all your measurements are completed, Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues use a sophisticated software program that analyzes your unique characteristics (e.g. age, gender, amount of correction, environmental conditions, etc.) to determine the optimum laser setting for each of your eyes. Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues presented a paper at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting describing an advanced nomogram he developed to optimize patient outcomes*. A nomogram is an equation derived using previous patient information to provide the best laser settings for optimized future patient outcomes.
* JB Biebesheimer, DR Hamilton. Development of an advanced nomogram for LASIK surgery (paper). American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, San Francisco. April 2009.
LASIK Flap Creation
Dr. Hamilton uses the highest quality Laser Visumax-Zeiss!
“The VisuMax® Femtosecond Laser Its remarkable features are its precision and innovative detail. With the VisuMax®, Zeiss is significantly shaping the world of refractive surgery. This groundbreaking laser system employs high-performance femtosecond laser technology and is characterized by its outstanding cutting precision, highly efficient speed and gentle treatment technique”.
The accuracy and predictability of the VisuMax® laser have allowed some patients who were previously ineligible for LASIK to now have the procedure. With the FS laser, unlike with mechanical instruments, your surgeon is able to precisely program the dimensions of your flap (diameter and thickness) based on what’s best for your eye. Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues published a scientific study suggesting the use of a femtosecond laser to create the LASIK flap has a more consistent and predictable effect on corneal biomechanics (i.e. strength) than the use of a microkeratome (blade) system.
Corneal Reshaping
The final step in the LASIK experience is the reshaping of the cornea. An excimer laser is used to precisely remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue to change the curvature of the cornea. The ideal excimer laser is fast, precisely controlled with advanced eye tracking and comfortable for the patient.
More on LASIK
LASIK eye surgery in Los Angeles offers a revolutionary solution for individuals seeking to improve their vision and reduce their dependency on glasses and contact lenses. As one of the most advanced and popular refractive surgeries available, LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) provides a safe and effective treatment for various vision problems, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. In the heart of Los Angeles, a city renowned for its cutting-edge medical technologies and exceptional healthcare professionals, LASIK surgery is performed using the latest state-of-the-art laser technology and precision techniques. The procedure involves reshaping the cornea to correct vision, allowing patients to experience clearer and sharper sight without the hassle of corrective eyewear. Many LASIK centers in Los Angeles offer customized treatments tailored to individual needs, ensuring optimal outcomes for each patient. Whether you’re looking to eliminate the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses, or simply seeking a more convenient and active lifestyle, LASIK surgery in Los Angeles provides an excellent opportunity for vision correction. The city’s leading ophthalmologists and LASIK surgeons are highly skilled and experienced, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools and personalized care plans to deliver outstanding results. Additionally, LASIK centers in Los Angeles often provide comprehensive consultations, during which patients can learn more about the procedure, discuss their specific vision issues, and understand the potential benefits and risks involved. As with any medical procedure, it is essential to choose a reputable LASIK provider with a proven track record of success and patient satisfaction. Los Angeles offers numerous options for those considering LASIK, and with its abundance of top-tier eye care specialists and modern medical facilities, it is an ideal location to explore this life-changing vision correction option. For anyone interested in enhancing their quality of life through improved vision, LASIK surgery in Los Angeles represents a promising and effective solution. By undergoing a thorough preoperative evaluation and following post-surgical care instructions, patients can achieve long-lasting, clear vision and enjoy the freedom that comes with reduced dependence on visual aids. Explore the possibilities of LASIK in Los Angeles today and take the first step towards a brighter, clearer future.
8900 Wilshire Blvd Suite 300A
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles 90211
424-732-2020
Get in Touch
Thank you for visiting our website. To obtain more information please contact us using the form below or feel free to call us during business hours.
LASIK Los Angeles
Frequently asked questions
How does the laser work?
The excimer laser uses a cold light beam to sculpt the cornea’s surface to the desired shape by removing a microscopic amount of tissue, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism.
Does it hurt?
The cornea is easily numbed with eye drops during the procedure. Most patients may experience a pressure sensation for 15 to 20 seconds during the procedure but say they have little to no discomfort both during and after LASIK.
Are both eyes done at the same time?
Some patients may prefer to have each eye done on different days. In most cases, however, both eyes are done on the same day. This avoids the period of imbalance that occurs if one eye still needs correction while the other one doesn’t.
Can LASIK successfully treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?
Yes, LASIK can successfully treat all three of these vision conditions.
Does insurance cover LASIK eye surgery?
Vision correction surgery is rarely covered by medical insurance. If you have had severe medical problems with your eyes such as corneal transplantation, there is a slight chance that it may be covered. Visit our Patient Financing page for more information on payment options.
How long will the surgery take?
We typically ask the patient to arrive one hour prior to the scheduled surgery time to ensure that we have answered all of your questions and to perform any tests required for final surgical planning. The actual surgical time is typically less than 10 minutes per eye.
Can I drive home after the surgery?
No, you will need to arrange for a ride home. Because it is likely that you’ll have light sensitivity and some discomfort for 3 -4 hours after your procedure, it is best that you rest at home that evening.
How long will I need to take off work?
Most patients return to work within one to three days.
Will LASIK interfere with my lifestyle?
Active sports should be postponed for two weeks or until the eye is fully healed, unless protective eyewear is approved by the surgeon. Swimming, hot tubs and saunas should be avoided for three weeks. After a full recovery, normal activity can resume, and the ability to play sports without glasses makes them more enjoyable for many patients.
If I have cataracts can LASIK fix this problem?
No, LASIK is not an appropriate surgery for cataracts. LASIK is performed on the front surface (cornea) of the eye. Cataract surgery is the replacement of the cloudy lens inside the eye with an implant. To understand more about cataract surgery, please visit our pages on Laser Cataract Surgery and Advanced Intraocular Lens Implants
How long will the correction last?
LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea (front window of the eye). In some cases, an enhancement procedure may be required as every eye heals slightly differently. However, the vision in everyone will start changing as they age. By the mid to late 40’s, near vision will become more difficult regardless of whether LASIK was done earlier in life or not. This is due to aging changes that occur in the natural lens of the eye. To learn more about this aging process, check out the page on Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome and the procedures used to address it.
