New York LASIK

Eye Surgery in New York City, Manhattan, and Long Island, New York

Most refractive errors in vision are the result of an irregularly shaped cornea. Generally, nearsighted people have a cornea that is too curved, and farsighted people have a cornea that is too flat. Astigmatism is usually the result of an oval-shaped cornea.

LASIK surgery uses an excimer laser to reshape your cornea, allowing it to focus light correctly on the retina. The procedure is very safe and effective. As a result, millions of people across the world have opted for laser vision correction, eliminating the need for glasses and contact lenses once and for all.

New York ophthalmologist Dr. James Kelly offers LASIK at both his Long Island and New York offices.

The LASIK Procedure

The entire procedure can be completed in about 15 minutes. Dr. Kelly will use an Intralase laser to create a thin flap in your cornea. Then, an excimer laser will reshape your cornea so that it focuses light properly on your retina.

After the procedure, you will be taken to a relaxation room where eye drops will be administered. You will also receive postoperative instructions at this time. The results will be noticeable immediately, and your vision should continue to improve over the next few weeks.

Our LASIK Technologies

Dr. Kelly uses only the most advanced and state-of-the-art technology on all of his LASIK procedures. Each of our high-precision, FDA-approved lasers provides Dr. Kelly with the ability to achieve highly precise, accurate, and predictable results. We offer a variety of lasers in order to ensure that we have the right technology to treat your unique refractive errors. At your initial evaluation, Dr. Kelly will determine which laser will provide you with the best results.

• One of the lasers used in our offices is the Wavelight ALLEGRETTO WAVE™ laser system that was FDA-approved in 2003. It is an excimer laser that treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. The Allegretto Wave system provides Custom LASIK, meaning that a Wavefront diagnosis is made of your vision that provides the data to plan your treatment.



Click below to see how Custom Cornea works:



• Wavefront-guided LASIK enables Dr. Kelly to perform a customized treatment based on the unique shape of your eye. The result is a procedure that corrects both higher and lower order aberrations. Many patients who undergo wavefront-guided LASIK achieve better vision than they had with glasses or contact lenses.


• We offer the VISX STAR S4 laser which includes CustomVue wavefront analysis and customized treatment. The VISX ActiveTrak laser lets Dr. Kelly achieve three-dimensional tracking of your eye movements during treatment. This laser is very effective in treating large pupils.


• Using computer-controlled software, the IntraLase laser offers a much higher level of accuracy and precision in flap creation than was ever possible with a mechanical blade. This all-laser approach to LASIK results in a much safer, bladeless alternative to microkeratome treatment.

Click below to see how Intralasik works:

Am I a Candidate for LASIK?

At your initial consultation, Dr. Kelly will perform a thorough examination to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for LASIK. While most of our patients are excellent candidates for LASIK, Dr. Kelly may feel that a different vision correction option may provide you with better results. We offer a variety of other vision correction procedures, including:

• PRK
• Clear lens extraction
• Implant vision correction

Ideal candidates for LASIK meet the following criteria:

• You are not taking any other medications
• You are at least 18 years old
• Your prescription meets minimum strength requirements provided by FDA guidelines
• You are willing to accept the potential risks, complications, and side effects associated with the procedure
• Your vision has been relatively stable for at least one year
• You have a healthy cornea, retina, and eye pressure
• Your cornea is sufficiently thick to undergo laser reshaping
• You do not have any other major eye diseases
• You do not exhibit signs of collagen vascular or autoimmune disease
• You are not pregnant or nursing
• You do not have a recent history of herpes infection of the eye
• You have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure

Your LASIK Consultation

At your initial consultation, Dr. Kelly will perform a comprehensive eye examination in order to determine whether you are a candidate for LASIK. If you are not a suitable LASIK candidate, we may recommend an alternative procedure which may yield better results based on your unique eye condition. This examination generally takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Dr. Kelly will also review your medical history at your consultation. This will help determine whether you meet the criteria for LASIK candidacy. We will also discuss your general lifestyle, since certain occupations and hobbies may impact your ability to undergo LASIK.

We will perform the following tests during your comprehensive eye examination:

• Visual acuity
• Motility (measures muscle balance/your eye’s ability to align and remain straight)
• Corneal topography (measures the smoothness and curvature of your cornea)
• Wavefront aberrommetry (measures all irregularities of your eye from the surface to the retina, provides a “blueprint” for your vision correction)
• Pupil size
• Corneal thickness
• Tonometry (calculation of eye pressure to detect glaucoma)
• Refraction (measurement of your prescription)
• Tear film evaluation (measures your eye’s ability to produce tears)
• Slit lamp examination (evaluates overall eye health to detect certain diseases which may rule out LASIK as an option)
• Dilated funduscopy (pupils are dilated to examine structures in the back of the eye)

All of these tests are performed by Dr. Kelly. Once your examination is completed, he will discuss the results with you and answer any questions you may have.

Risks and Side Effects

The following risks and side effects may occur as a result of your LASIK procedure:

• Dry eye
• Undercorrection/overcorrection
• Nighttime glare/halos
•  Presbyopia

Please contact our New York ophthalmologists today to schedule your initial consultation. Kelly Vision Center serves patients in New York City, Manhattan, and Long Island, New York.