REFRACTIVE SURGERY (LASIK and other Procedures)

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The following are rough guidelines but may change depending on your specific case. We will discuss your case in detail during your pre-operative visit. 

1.) When can I shower after my surgery?

Carefully shower from the neck down for 3 days. You can wash your hair after 72 hours. 

2.) When can I start wearing make-up after my surgery?

Wait 2 weeks prior to using make-up. Please discard old make-up and start with fresh products. 

3.) When can I fly after refractive surgery? 

Wait 1 week (or until your bandage contact lens is removed). 

4.) When can I exercise after refractive surgery? 

LASIK: 1-2 days

SMILE: 1-2 days

PRK: 3-5 days

5.) Do I have to come back after surgery to be examined? 

Yes, it is very important to be seen by us after your surgery. We operate in Beverly Hills and Dr. Sand sees you personally for all pre-operative and post-operative visits in our clinic in Los Angeles. 

6.) Who performs the surgery? 

Dr. Sand performs surgery on all patients. 

7.) How can I minimize risks with LASIK?

Flap dislocation and striae are some of the greatest risks with LASIK surgery. Avoiding activities that might cause trauma to the flap and avoiding eye rubbing is very important. Make sure to come to your follow-up appointments after surgery in our clinic in Los Angeles (near Santa Monica) so Dr. Sand can evaluate you. 

8.) How can I minimize risks with PRK?

Corneal haze and irritation can happen with PRK. Avoiding UV light by wearing UV protection when outdoors during the day as much as possible and avoiding situations or activities when the eyes can become irritated is very important to minimize these risks. Make sure to come to your follow-up appointments after surgery so Dr. Sand can evaluate you. 

1.) Are there different kinds of corneal transplants? 

Yes, the cornea has several layers and at Sand Pacific Eye Group we tailor surgery to your case by recommending surgery only for the layers that are not normal. Dr. Sand has extensive experience with all forms of corneal transplantation (PKP, DALK, DSAEK, DMEK) and is happy to provide consultation or a second opinion. Tailoring the surgery to the patient helps decrease the risk of glaucoma. 

2.) Where do healthy corneas come from?  

Dr. Sand works closely with eye banks that preserve corneas from corneal donors who decided to give the gift of sight to someone else after their death. 

3.) What is keratoconus?

Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea where the central or paracentral part of the cornea starts to thin out and cause irregular astigmatism. 

4.) Can you do something about the progression in keratoconus?

Yes, in 2016 the FDA approved corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL). This procedure utilizes UV light and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) to halt the progression of keratoconus thus preserving vision prior to further deterioration. Dr. Sand has extensive experience with CXL and was in charge of setting up one of three sites for a large multi-specialty group covering 250,000 members directly and several million members as part of the regional network. He also performed the first CXL case for the group. 

5.) I have dry eyes. Is there something I can do besides artificial tears? 

Yes, there is a myriad of options available depending on what type of dry eye you have. Dry eye is a composite term of many individual disease processes and the right treatment needs to be offered for a given disease. We are happy to help evaluate you and give you our recommendations when you see us in our clinic in Los Angeles (near Santa Monica). 

6.) What is the cornea? 

If you think of the eye as a video camera, the cornea is the very first lens of the eye. 

7.) Is LASIK surgery of the cornea? 

Yes, LASIK reshapes the cornea to correct for the refractive error. 

8.) Where are your cornea surgeries performed? 

We operate in Beverly Hills. 

1.) What is a cataract?

The eye is a very sophisticated video camera with multiple lenses. One of those lenses that sits inside the eye is clear when we are born but as we age it becomes cloudy. That is called a cataract. We evaluate you in our clinic in Los Angeles (near Santa Monica) during a full examination for this. 

2.) Can a cataract be surgically removed? 

Yes, cataracts can be removed in the outpatient setting (we do not plan to keep you in the hospital after surgery). 

3.) Is there a possibility for me to be less dependent on glasses after surgery? 

Yes, there are multiple options available that help decrease the need for glasses after surgery. During our consultation we will go over your goals and also evaluate your eyes (checking your cornea and retina as well as screening for glaucoma among other things) to see what lenses you are a good candidate for. 

4.) Do you offer advanced technology lenses and femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery? 

Yes, at Sand Pacific Eye Group we offer the newest technology of lenses and femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery. We tailor surgery to your goals and give you the options to help you decide what will work best for you as an individual. 

5.) Am I asleep during cataract surgery? 

The majority of the time  cataract surgery is not done under general anesthesia. You are given relaxing medication by the anesthesiologist and some patients fall asleep during the procedure. 

6.) Can I drive right after surgery? 

No, please arrange for transportation because it is not safe for you to drive right after surgery. We operate in Beverly Hills and our surgery center is easily accessible. 

7.) Will I be seen in the office after surgery? 

Yes, please plan on seeing us in the office after your surgery for your visits where we examine your eye and evaluate the healing process. 

8.) I have had LASIK/PRK in the past. Is this a problem?

At Sand Pacific Eye Group we specialize in patients who have had refractive surgery in the past and are happy to help you. 

1.) What is a glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. 

2.) What is the optic nerve? 

If you think of the eye as a video camera, the nerve is the cable that connects the camera to the TV (or the eye to the brain). 

3.) Why do I need to be screened for glaucoma? 

Generally glaucoma affects the peripheral vision first and patients do not notice the disease until it is too late. We look forward to evaluating you in our office in Los Angeles (near Santa Monica). 

4.) What can be done if I have glaucoma? 

Medication in the form of eye drops or laser are good initial options to allow the pressure to come down to prevent further damage. 

5.) Do you perform glaucoma lasers?

Yes. Our specialists are firm believers in the benefit of glaucoma lasers for many patients. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) helps drain fluid out of the eye, lowering eye pressure in the majority of patients. In many patients, laser is an option as first-line treatment for their glaucoma. Contact us or make an appointment online if you would like to be evaluated for glaucoma laser therapy.

6.) What happens if medication or laser is not enough? 

There is incisional surgery that can be done including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery which is offered at Sand Pacific Eye Group. 

7.) Do you offer Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)?

Yes. We offer the iStent inject among other minimally invasive surgical options. While conventional glaucoma surgery still has an important role in treatment, many patients are opting for the iStent inject. At Sand Pacific Eye Group, our glaucoma specialist has performed many advanced glaucoma surgeries at several major university eye centers. We offer a glaucoma management approach uniquely tailored to each patient. For more information on the iStent inject, please check out our info material section or make an appointment for a full consultation here.

8.) Can glaucoma be cured?

As of right now we do not have the ability to "cure" glaucoma, but we can manage it in order for you not to loose any additional vision.