A surgeon removes a thin, hinged flap of tissue on the surface of the eye and reshapes the underlying cornea with a laser, then lays the hinged flap back on the eye, where it reattaches without the need for stitches. About 80 or 90 percent of patients will be totally free of glasses for distance, and about 10 percent will be free except for night driving glasses, says ophthalmologist Robert K. Maloney, director of the Maloney Vision Institute in Los Angeles. Complications occur in about 50 of every 1,000 cases. The dryness in my eyes is horrendous, says Garibay. I use drops every half hour, and my vision fluctuates throughout the day.
Age can also be a factor.
Ophthalmologists insist that there is no upper age limit for the procedure, but people over 50 have special concerns. With monovision, both eyes still see close and distant objects, but the brain suppresses the image that isn t as clear. I can t read fine print without glasses, but I can read most everything else, says Calvin. But there are drawbacks, such as diminished depth perception. Before undergoing the surgery, test drive a pair of monovision contact lenses.