Frequently Asked Questions

Fortunately, most of the side effects associated with laser eye surgery are mild and temporary. They tend to clear up as your eye heals. The most common side effects include:

• Vision changes, such as glare or halos around lights
• Blurriness or eye discomfort
• Dry eyes

The best surgery for you will depend on your refractive error, corneal health, cataracts (if any are present), and more. The only way to confirm is through a comprehensive exam with Dr. Liu. However, here are some general ways to think about the different surgeries:

• PRK tends to be best for patients who have thin or irregularly shaped corneas and can’t have LASIK.
• LASIK is recommended for people with corneas that are thick and healthy enough for the procedure. If you’re prone to dry eyes, we may steer you away from LASIK and toward SMILE or PRK instead. This is because LASIK is more strongly associated with dry eyes after surgery.
• SMILE tends to be a safe option for most people, especially those with a higher nearsighted prescription or an astigmatism of up to three diopters. We may also suggest SMILE if you’re prone to dry eyes, as this procedure is less associated with dryness when compared to LASIK.

Your recovery will depend on the surgical technique used. As a general rule, you can return to work and your normal daily routine according to the following timelines:

• LASIK: One to two days
• SMILE: Two to four days
• PRK: One week

Your aftercare regimen will depend on the health of your eyes and the surgery you had performed. In almost all cases, Dr. Liu will prescribe antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops to promote healing. You’ll need to use these drops a few times a day for at least one week.

If you have LASIK, you can drive again the very next day. If you have SMILE or PRK, you’ll need to wait slightly longer because your vision will still be blurry.

It depends. Most of our patients achieve 20/20 vision after laser eye surgery. Many of them don’t need glasses at all, while others need them when they’re driving at night. Some patients will require reading glasses after the age of 40 to 45. During your pre-surgery appointments, Dr. Liu will talk to you about the results you can expect.

It’s important to avoid eye makeup while your eyes are healing. In general, we recommend waiting a week or two for regular eye makeup and at least one month before wearing eyelash extensions.

Laser eye surgery reshapes your cornea for good. However, if your eyes continue to change after surgery, it may impact your results. For example, a change in your astigmatism or the development of cataracts later on can impact your vision.

Fortunately, laser eye surgery is extremely safe and has a low rate of complications. On the rare occasion that complications occur, they include infection, under- or over-correction, and inflammation.

Yes. If you develop cataracts after laser eye surgery, you can have refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery. During this procedure, Dr. Liu will remove your clouded lens and implant an artificial one that lets you see clearly again.