Screening and Evaluation

What Happens at My LASIK Screening?

Many people know someone who has had successful LASIK vision correction. If you need glasses or contacts, you may wonder if you could achieve visual freedom, too. At Dakota Eye Institute in Bismarck, we realize that considering LASIK is a big deal: you may have apprehensions about cost, fear of something going wrong or confusion about technologies. Luckily, we offer a risk-free way to get all of your questions answered. Click here to schedule a free screening online.

No Pressure

Equipped with the knowledge you receive during the Screening, you will know for sure if LASIK is a feasible option – no more wondering! You may want to talk things over with a loved one or think about your budget before deciding to proceed – and that’s fine. We will not pressure you into scheduling the procedure on-the-spot. We simply want you to know your options.

LASIK Evaluation

After Dr. Selid determines that LASIK is a good option for you, you will go through an in depth LASIK Evaluation.  The Evaluation gives Dr. Selid all of the information he needs to perform your custom LASIK correction.

The LASIK Evaluation requires from 1-2 hours and includes:

• Determination of uncorrected vision and vision as corrected by glasses or contacts.
• Determination of the prescription of visual error in each eye to establish the amount of surgical correction that is needed and develop the appropriate surgical strategy.
• Assessment of the surface of the cornea by “mapping” its topography (corneal curvature or shape).
• Measurement of pupil size in dim and room light. Pupil size is an important factor in counseling a candidate about night vision and planning the appropriate laser vision correction strategy.
• Measurement of corneal thickness (pachymetry). The amount of LASIK correction may be determined in part by corneal thickness.
• Examination of the outer eye (external adnexa), including the eyelids, eyelashes, etc. to detect any abnormalities that could affect the outcome of the surgery.
• Examination of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the outer surface of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids, to see whether there are irritations, redness, irregular blood vessels or other abnormalities.
• Examination of the cornea to determine if there are any abnormalities that could affect the outcome of surgery.
• Examination of the crystalline lens to determine if clouding of the lens (cataract) or other abnormalities are present.
• Measurement of intraocular pressure to detect glaucoma or pre-glaucomatous conditions. Glaucoma is visual loss caused by damage to the optic nerve and is a common cause of preventable vision loss.
• Assessment of the back (posterior segment) of the eye: The dilated fundus exam is used to assess the health of the inside back surface of the eye (retina), with the pupil fully dilated. Examination of the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels screens for a number of eye and systemic disorders.
• Additional testing as necessary and adoption of a plan for managing the candidate’s eye-care.
• Watch educational video discussing risks and benefits.