J. REX PARENT, M.D.

Selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America©” and one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America. Dr. Parent is a nationally recognized board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Parent first performed LASIK in Brazil in 1995 prior to FDA approval in the United States. The Eye Center of Fort Wayne was the first center to offer Custom LASIK and Refractive Lens Exchange in Northeast Indiana. The procedures are performed in The Eye Surgical Center of Fort Wayne which is Northeast Indiana’s first governmentally approved ambulatory eye surgical center devoted exclusively to eye care.

Eye surgery patients from across the country come to Fort Wayne based on Dr. Parent’s reputation. If you would like to explore your options for refractive surgery request a free screening or call us at (800) 393-7874 to schedule an appointment.

LASIK Candidacy

Each individual person has extremely unique eyes, therefore, not everyone is a candidate for the LASIK procedure. Just like with a fingerprint or DNA sample, no two cornea maps are the same. This is why a pre-operative exam is absolutely necessary. Before LASIK is performed, you will be required to undergo a series of diagnostic tests to determine the stability of your vision. After a thorough evaluation of your cornea, the doctors will be able to determine if you are a candidate. This thorough diagnostic evaluation is the first step in creating your best personal vision.

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Expectations

Your decision to have LASIK laser vision correction is a serious one. Ultimately, you will be the one to make the final choice. When selecting a LASIK surgeon, it is important to choose one that can honestly explain your visual needs. In 98% of LASIK cases, the visual outcome is 20/40 or better, however, this is a surgical procedure and risk is still involved. The ultimate goal of LASIK is to reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK does not always create perfect 20/20 vision, though most cases are successful in improving vision. Make sure that your doctor of choice has the right answers to your specific questions and concerns, as well as the best technology and the experience under his belt to ensure a safe and effective procedure. It is possible that this is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. These are your eyes and your life.

LASIK is not an effective method for treating presbyopia, which is vision degeneration due to the aging of the eye.

WAVEFRONT ANALYSIS

A newer, more precise, and automated way to determine the eye’s optical prescription. The device shines multiple small beams of light into the eye and then analyses how the same beams are bent (refracted) by the eye. This not only shows the glasses prescription, but also measures the fine imperfections (higher order aberrations) that are not typically corrected by glasses and contact lenses. This data is then programmed into the Excimer laser to guide a unique, personalized treatment for your eye. Results have shown that using Wavefront Analysis for Custom LASIK and ASA can reduce some of the unwanted night-time glare and halos.

Dr. Parent discussing Refractive Surgery Options on PBS

Host – Mark Evans              Guest – J. Rex Parent, MD, Jessica Hoag

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Not everyone is a candidate for the LASIK procedure. Before LASIK is performed, you will also be required to undergo a series of diagnostic tests to determine the stability of your vision. LASIK is not an effective method for treating presbyopia, which is vision degeneration due to the aging of the eye.

To determine whether you are a potential candidate for the LASIK procedure, complete the self-evaluation test by clicking on the button below.

Self Evaluation
questionnaire for LASIK candidacy
During Surgery
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The surgery should take less than 30 minutes, but please plan on being at the office for 2-4 hours. The laser system includes a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen.

A numbing drop will be placed in your eye, the area around your eye will be cleaned, and an instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. A ring will be placed on your eye and very high pressures will be applied to create suction to the cornea. Your vision will dim while the suction ring is on and you may feel the pressure and experience some discomfort during this part of the procedure. The microkeratome is attached to the suction ring. Your doctor will use the blade of the microkeratome to make a flap in your cornea.

The microkeratome and the suction ring are then removed. You will be able to see, but you will experience fluctuating degrees of blurred vision during the rest of the procedure. The doctor will then lift the flap and fold it back on its hinge, and dry the exposed tissue.

The laser will be positioned over your eye and you will be asked to stare at a light. This is not the laser used to remove tissue from the cornea. This light is to help you keep your eye fixed on one spot once the laser comes on. NOTE: If you cannot stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds, you may not be a good candidate for this surgery.

When your eye is in the correct position, your doctor will start the laser. At this point in the surgery, you may become aware of new sounds and smells. The pulse of the laser makes a ticking sound. As the laser removes corneal tissue, some people have reported a smell similar to burning hair. A computer controls the amount of laser energy delivered to your eye. Before the start of surgery, your doctor will have programmed the computer to vaporize a particular amount of tissue based on the measurements taken at your exam. After the pulses of laser energy vaporize the corneal tissue, the flap is put back into position.

A shield should be placed over your eye at the end of the procedure as protection, since no stitches are used to hold the flap in place. It is important for you to wear this shield to prevent you from rubbing your eye, or putting pressure on your eye while you sleep. This also protects your eye from accidentally being hit or poked until the flap is healed. You will be sent home with clear post-operative instructions and medications.

After Surgery

Immediately after the procedure, your eyes may burn, itch, or feel like there is something in it. You may experience some discomfort, or in some cases, mild pain and your doctor may suggest you take a mild pain reliever. Both your eyes may tear or water. Your vision will probably be hazy or blurry. You will instinctively want to rub your eye, but don’t! Rubbing your eye could dislodge the flap, requiring further treatment. In addition, you may experience sensitivity to light, glare, starbursts or halos around lights, or the whites of your eye may look red or bloodshot. These symptoms should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery. You should plan on taking a few days off from work until these symptoms subside. You should contact your doctor immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit, if you experience severe pain, or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better.

You should see your doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery and at regular intervals after that. At the first postoperative visit, your vision will be tested, and your eyes will be examined. Your doctor may give you one or more types of eye drops to take at home to help prevent infection and/or inflammation. You may also be advised to use artificial tears to help lubricate the eye.

You should wait one to three days following surgery before beginning any non-contact sports, depending on the amount of activity required, how you feel, and your doctor’s instructions.

To help prevent infection, you may need to wait for up to two weeks after surgery or until your doctor advises you otherwise before using lotions, creams, or make-up around the eye. Your doctor may advise you to continue scrubbing your eyelashes for a period of time after surgery. You should also avoid swimming and using hot tubs or whirlpools for 3 weeks.

Strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, karate, etc. should not be attempted for at least four weeks after surgery. It is important to protect your eyes from anything that might get in them and from being hit or bumped.

During the first few months after surgery, your vision may fluctuate. It may take up to three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery.

Glare, halos, difficulty driving at night, and other visual symptoms may also persist during this stabilization period. If further correction or enhancement is necessary, you should wait until your eye measurements are consistent for two consecutive visits at least 3 months apart before re-operation.

It is important to realize that although distance vision may improve after re-operation, it is unlikely that other visual symptoms such as glare or halos will improve.

It is also important to note that no laser company has presented enough evidence for the FDA to make conclusions about the safety or effectiveness of enhancement surgery.

Contact your eye doctor immediately if you develop any new, unusual or worsening symptoms at any point after surgery. Such symptoms could signal a problem that, if not treated early enough, may lead to a loss of vision.

You will return to our office for a one day post-operative visit and then also three or more times over the 90 day healing period.

LASIK FAQ

Am I a candidate for LASIK?

You must be at least 18 years of age with a stable refraction. Schedule a free consultation by calling The Fort Wayne Eye Center at (260)424-5656 or (800)EYE-SURG.

Are expensive places better?

Price may not be indicative of surgical outcome, but cut-rate places may be most interested in maximizing the quantity of surgeries. Dr. Parent prefers to emphasize quality, offering the most technologically advanced techniques available at a reasonable cost. Their surgical outcomes are unsurpassed.

How long will the procedure last?

The procedure is considered a permanent correction with the possibility of a small degree of regression within the first year. Again, this procedure will not eliminate the need for reading glasses later in life.

Can you guarantee 20/20 vision?

No one can. There are no guarantees. You must have realistic expectations.

Where is the procedure performed?

Dr. Parent performs LASIK at The Fort Wayne Eye Center, which is Northeast Indiana’s first Medicare-approved, AAAHC accredited ambulatory surgical center devoted exclusively to eye surgery. In this surgical center, the various factors that affect surgical outcomes such as airflow, humidity, temperature, and sterility are maintained at an optimal level.

Will I need bifocals or reading glasses after the procedure?

LASIK does not alter the aging process of the eye. Therefore, after 40 years of age, you will still need to use reading glasses for most near tasks. Monovision LASIK is an option to reduce dependency on reading glasses, but will not eliminate reading glasses. A newer procedure, Refractive Lens Exchange, is also a very good option to reduce dependency on reading glasses.

Is the procedure painful?

There is no pain during the actual procedure. You may experience some discomfort for 12-24 hours after the surgery. Most of this discomfort can be relieved with eye drops.

When can I return to work?

Our surgeons will need to check your eyes the day after surgery, but most patients have good enough vision without glasses to return to work the next day following LASIK.

What can I expect following LASIK?

The visual recovery is very rapid. Most people can drive and return to work the next day. The clarity of vision will improve over time. It may take up to three months to obtain your best vision. Also, the common side effects of dry eyes and halos at night will slowly diminish over three to six months.

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