During these uncertain times, Dr. Pilavas is scheduling in-person appointments but also providing telemedicine visits from the comfort of your own home. Appointments can be booked through our website. Please call 718-204-5100 for more information.
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LASIK Eye Surgery Specialist

John Pilavas, MD Our Services LASIK Eye Surgery

John Pilavas, MD

Ophthalmologist located in Astoria, Long Island City, NY & New Hyde Park, NY

Dr. John Pilavas is a board-certified ophthalmologist who offers LASIK eye surgery in addition to various other types of surgeries and treatment options. Residents who live in the Astoria, New York, area, as well as many of the surrounding neighborhoods and communities, are encouraged to visit Dr. Pilavas at his office for a consultation.

LASIK Eye Surgery Q & A

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is a laser procedure that corrects various vision abnormalities, but it’s primarily for reducing the need for glasses or other corrective lenses. The procedure can be performed with a light laser or a very thin scalpel, also known as a microkeratome blade. During the procedure, Dr. Pilavas removes a small amount of corneal tissue with the laser. That will allow the eye to reshape itself, correcting any refractive abnormalities.

LASIK eye surgery is minimally invasive and heals within a few days, but should only be performed when the risk of a person's vision worsening has decreased.

How is the LASIK procedure performed?

The first step in the procedure involves Dr. Pilavas placing drops in the eyes that numb the entire area. Once the surface of the eye has been prepared, he uses a laser to create a flap in the tissue of the cornea. He then folds the flap back and uses a second laser to remove a small section of corneal tissue in an attempt to adjust the focus of the eye. The flap is unfolded, gently put back into place, and the eye is allowed to heal.

What are the benefits of using laser technology when performing surgery on the eye?

Lasers are excellent tools that allow for exacting precision without traumatizing or damaging nearby tissues. A laser can slice through the cornea according to Dr. Pilavas’s exact specifications. That allows him to place the laser exactly where it needs to be and remove only the amount of tissue that’s causing the visual distortion.

Lasers are minimally invasive and leave very little risk for infection. The incisions created by lasers takes time to heal, but the recovery process is usually uneventful. LASIK surgery is just one way that lasers are used to correct refractive areas within the cornea.