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LASIK

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LASIK Vision Correction

Who is a Good LASIK Candidate?

Are you ready to wake up with clear vision again? Do you want to see Houston and everything it has to offer? If you answered yes then you’re in the right place!

You may be eligible for a procedure called LASIK that’s already changed millions of people’s lives. Keep reading to learn more about the procedure from Houston’s leading LASIK specialists, at Slade & Baker Vision.

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that permanently reshapes the cornea and corrects refractive errors. This includes being nearsighted, farsighted, and even astigmatism. Refractive errors occur due to the cornea being misshapen. When the cornea is an irregular shape, light does not focus on the retina as it should. Because of this, you may see images as blurry or out of focus. Getting LASIK fixes this problem for good.

Who is a Good LASIK Candidate?

Like any surgical procedure, LASIK is not something that’s right for everyone. Between 10-15% of all potential LASIK candidates are not qualified for the procedure. A LASIK eye surgery consultation will provide your results. Take our free LASIK Self-Test to receive your preliminary LASIK candidacy results! Once completed one of our team members will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

How Much Does LASIK Cost in Houston?

Many patients often worry about the cost of LASIK eye surgery. At Slade & Baker Vision Center we offer an honest price with no gimmicks or fake promises. If the cost of LASIK is a barrier we offer special financing programs with Care Credit to enable the reality of getting LASIK eye surgery. Our LASIK counselors will work with you to help find a way to get LASIK surgery. We understand that price does play a role in your decision to undergo LASIK eye surgery. The least expensive or cheapest eye doctor is not always the best surgeon using the best LASIK technology. These are your eyes and this eye surgery is not reversible so be careful in your LASIK surgeon selection process.

The cost of LASIK is typically between $2,000 – $4,500. However, since everyone is different the cost of LASIK will vary depending on your situation. Factors such as your current vision, eye health, and more can go into determining the cost of your LASIK procedure. Contact us today to speak with Houston’s premier LASIK surgeons and learn more!

All LASIK Procedures Include the Following at Slade and Baker Vision:

A complimentary consultation. The best “First Step” to find out the ideal option for your eyes.

The latest state-of-the-art laser and diagnostic technology used to provide top quality vision correction surgery.

A customized approach that provides the best solution for all patients including those with thin corneas, dry eye, irregular corneas, high prescriptions or presbyopia.

24-months, no-interest financing provided (with approved credit through CareCredit).

What Makes Slade & Baker Vision Center the Best Choice for LASIK in Houston?

Dr. Stephen Slade is a world renowned LASIK surgeon who is very involved with clinical trials, research and numerous ophthalmology societies like ASCRS and AECOS. His contributions to the field are deeply memorable and he is a sough after speaker on the topic of LASIK and refractive surgery. He was part of a two man team to be the first ophthalmologists in the US to perform LASIK eye surgery. He has been ranked by Best Doctors as top eye doctor and he has certified over 8,000 eye surgeons to do LASIK eye surgery. He trains many ophthalmologists on LASIK and new versions of LASIK eye surgery. When you come to this practice you know you are getting one of the best.

What Can I Expect During the LASIK Procedure?

Chart Illustrating the LASIK Process

1

Before LASIK ever begins, your surgeon starts by giving numbing eyedrops. These slowly travel over the surface of your eye and make sure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.

2

Next, a speculum will be used to hold your eyes open.

During LASIK, two lasers are used: a femtosecond laser and an excimer laser.

3

The surgeon creates a thin flap in the top of the cornea with the femtosecond laser.

After creating the flap, it’s then pulled back.

4

The excimer laser is then used to remove a tiny amount of corneal tissue from the middle layer of the cornea and then the flap gets placed back down. There are no stitches or bandages used during LASIK since the flap comes back together on its own.

How Long Does LASIK Eye Surgery Take?

LASIK only takes about 15 minutes per eye to perform, but you may need to stay longer while your surgeon watches to make sure you are recovering appropriately. Once cleared, you can go home.

What will my vision be like after LASIK surgery?

Most patients get up from the surgical chair and can read the clock on the wall. We ask that you go home and sleep as much as possible in the first day after surgery. Vision may be slightly blurry for the first few days but will dramatically improve over the first 2 weeks. Feel free to read some of the stories from our happy LASIK patients.

What is the Recovery Like After the Surgery?

The first thing you need to know after having LASIK is you cannot drive yourself home. Make sure you have a friend or a family member that can get you home safely. Once home, you’ll probably be exhausted, so the best thing you can do is rest. If your surgeon gives you eye shields, wear these while you’re sleeping to keep from rubbing your eyes or bumping them in your sleep.

The First Week After Surgery

The first week after you have LASIK, you should be able to return to many of your normal activities. Make sure you attend your first follow-up appointment, which is usually the day after your procedure. Most people can go back to work the next day.

If your eye doctor clears it, you should also be able to start driving again. Do not wear any eye makeup or lotions, or use any face soap during this time.

Avoid any bending over and contact sports that may cause you to get hit in the head or face.

The First Month After Surgery

Avoid any and all bodies of water in the first month after you have LASIK. This includes lakes, pools, hot tubs, the ocean, and anywhere that you may go swimming.

Your eyes are very sensitive and more prone to infections during this time. Attend any other follow-up appointments as scheduled by your eye doctor to make sure your eyes are healing and there are no complications.

Want to learn more about LASIK? Schedule your LASIK consultation at Slade & Baker Vision in Houston today!

Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK

LASIK is a safe and effective type of refractive eye surgery designed to help you eliminate or reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The LASIK procedure is very quick and there have been no reported cases of blindness following any LASIK surgery. In fact, a recent study1 from 2016 did a twelve year follow up to assess the long-term clinical outcomes of conventional LASIK, and found that LASIK indeed offered good long term safety outcomes.

Some potential complications include conditions such as dryness, night glare, under or over-correction, and loss of best-corrected vision. The risks of surgery should be discussed fully with the doctor prior to the procedure. Additionally, proper post-operative care helps to identify and address any potential healing complications.

LASIK is not a painful procedure but some patients experience slight discomfort. At Slade & Baker Vision Center we make every effort to make sure the eye is numb.

There have been no reported cases of anyone going blind from LASIK eye surgery.

Dr. Slade was one of the very first people to ever perform LASIK eye surgery in conjunction with Dr. Stephen Brint in 1991 and has been a pioneer in LASIK eye surgery from the very beginning. He has the outcomes data and experience to prove he is one of the best choices in Houston, Texas.

You must be at least 18 years old to undergo LASIK eye surgery. This is FDA mandated, meaning teenagers under the age of 18 cannot get LASIK.

Many LASIK surgeons prefer patients wait to get the procedure when they are in their mid to late twenties. This is to make sure your eyes are stable and will no longer change after you have LASIK.

You should wait to have LASIK until you know that you are done having children, as every pregnancy can lead to your eyes changing again. If you’re nursing, you must wait at least three months after you’ve finished nursing before you can get LASIK to make sure your eyes have stabilized.

If your eyes are still changing, you should not get LASIK. The best time to get LASIK is when you know your prescription is stable and will not change again. For most people, this means that your prescription has remained unchanged for a year to two years before having LASIK.

Although LASIK is an amazing procedure, you need to have healthy eyes to have it. This means that you cannot have any conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, severe dry eye syndrome, or anything that would impact how you recover. If you do have a condition like dry eye syndrome, you must already have it under control before having LASIK.

You don’t have to be in perfect health to have LASIK, but you should be relatively healthy. You may not be eligible for the procedure if you suffer from conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, HIV, or other autoimmune conditions. You need to be able to heal in a reasonable amount of time after LASIK.


Meet Your Houston LASIK Surgeons

Traveling for LASIK from Out of Town?

We see patients from around the world for LASIK and all procedures. Please click here for more information if you would be traveling to Slade & Baker Vision from elsewhere.

Did You Know?

Doctors have been performing LASIK for over 2 decades and to date, approximately over 40 million LASIK procedures have been performed since 1991! (Fun Fact this was the same year Dr. Slade performed the first LASIK surgery in the US!).

For a complete list of questions, please refer to our Understanding LASIK Eye Surgery page for more questions and information.

Houston LASIK Surgery Center


If you have questions about LASIK or contact lens wear, please do not ever hesitate to call our office at 713-626-5544 and speak to our experts.

  1. Ikeda, T., Shimizu, K., Igarashi, A., Kasahara, S., & Kamiya, K. (2017). Twelve-Year Follow-Up of Laser In Situ Keratomileusis for Moderate to High Myopia. BioMed Research International, 2017.
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The doctors at Slade and Baker Vision have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

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Houston, TX 77027

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