Jewel City Optometry · Glendale, CA
Thinking about life with less reliance on glasses or contacts? Start with a clear understanding of your eye health, your options, and what refractive surgery can—and cannot—do.
Discuss your vision goals with Dr. Arlene T. Yepremian, O.D. at Jewel City Optometry. Your appointment is an optometric eye health discussion, not a booking for surgery. A refractive surgeon determines surgical eligibility and performs the procedure.
Understand your options
Both procedures use a laser to reshape the cornea—the clear front surface of your eye—to change how light focuses. The main difference is how the surgeon reaches the tissue being treated.
The surgeon creates a thin corneal flap, reshapes the tissue underneath with a laser, and repositions the flap.
The surgeon removes the thin outer layer of the cornea and reshapes the surface beneath it. The outer layer grows back as your eye heals; no flap is created.
Neither procedure is the best choice for everyone. Your corneal measurements, prescription, eye health, and daily activities guide the surgeon’s recommendation.
Technology explained
iDesign is a measurement and treatment-planning technology used with certain custom, wavefront-guided LASIK procedures. It measures how light travels through your eye, capturing optical details beyond a standard glasses prescription.
A surgeon can use those measurements to create an individualized laser treatment plan. Detailed mapping does not replace a full surgical assessment or eliminate surgical risks.
This information helps you understand a term you might encounter while researching surgery. Platform availability and suitability must be confirmed with the surgical provider; Jewel City Optometry does not perform LASIK or PRK.
Bring your questions about vision correction to an optometric appointment with Dr. Yepremian.
An appropriate surgical plan begins with careful screening. Wanting less dependence on glasses is a starting point—not the only factor in deciding whether to proceed.
Your surgeon reviews whether your prescription has remained stable and whether your level of correction falls within the procedure’s treatment range.
Corneal thickness, shape, and structural health matter. Irregularities such as keratoconus can make corneal laser surgery unsuitable.
Dry eye needs attention before surgical planning. LASIK and PRK can cause or worsen dryness, affecting comfort and visual quality.
Your medical history, medications, age, and healing factors all inform the assessment. Discuss reading needs, nighttime driving, and recovery time with your surgeon.
Surgery reduces dependence on corrective lenses but does not guarantee glasses-free vision or prevent age-related changes in near vision. You may still need glasses, contacts, or further treatment.
Risks include dry eye, glare, halos, difficulty with night vision, and under- or overcorrection. Less common complications include infection, corneal weakening, and lasting loss of visual quality. Your surgeon should explain the risks specific to your eyes before you decide.
01 / OPTOMETRIC EVALUATION
Discuss your prescription, eye comfort, health history, and vision goals. Bring your current glasses and contact lens information, along with a list of medications.
02 / SURGICAL CONSULTATION
A refractive surgeon performs specialized measurements, determines candidacy, and explains the procedure, recovery, and alternatives. Ask for instructions about contact lens wear before testing.
03 / INFORMED DECISION
Review healing time, follow-up visits, eye drop instructions, and transportation needs. Confirm who will manage your postoperative care before scheduling surgery.
You deserve clear answers before making a decision about surgery. Request an eye health appointment at Jewel City Optometry to discuss your questions and next steps.
839 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206
