Why start with lifestyle
Two patients with identical prescriptions can need different solutions. A long-haul driver cares about night glare above everything; an architect about intermediate vision at a screen and a drawing board; a triathlete about a procedure that survives impact and water; a retired reader about near vision in an armchair. The right procedure and, after 45, the right lens design follow from those priorities as much as from the measurements. Starting with the questions makes the measurements mean something.
The questions
- What do you do for work, and at what distances do you spend most of the day?
- How much do you drive at night, and does glare bother you now?
- What do you read, on what devices, and in what light?
- What sports and hobbies do you do, and would a flap or a lens be a liability in them?
- How do you feel about glasses, readers and contact lenses?
- What has bothered you about your vision, and what would you most like to change?
- How do you feel about a short adaptation period, or about night halos, if that is the price of near vision?
The measurements
Refraction with and without relaxing drops; corneal topography and, where appropriate, tomography; pachymetry; wavefront analysis where appropriate; pupil size in dim light; tear film assessment; and, for patients from the mid forties, a dilated examination of the lens and, where appropriate, imaging of the macula such as OCT, which help decide whether the lens is the problem and whether it can carry a multifocal optic. Dry eye found here is treated before any measurement is finalized.
The recommendation
The surgeon combines your priorities with your measurements into a recommendation: custom LASIK, SMILE, PRK, the EVO ICL, blended vision, Refractive Lens Exchange with a specific lens, or cataract surgery with a premium lens; or, honestly, to wait, or to stay in glasses. You hear what result the plan predicts, what it will not do, what recovery involves and what it costs, in writing. Because every option is offered here, the recommendation follows your eyes and your life rather than the equipment in the room.
Before you come
Your team will tell you how long to leave your contact lenses out before your measurements; it is often one to several weeks depending on the lens type. Bring your glasses and any previous eye records, plan for about 90 minutes, and bring a driver if you would rather not drive with dilated eyes. Think about the questions above; the answers shape the plan.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
