| Thank you for taking this step in
order to learn more about laser vision correction. For most
farsighted, nearsighted, and astigmatic people, laser vision
correction can reduce dependence upon corrective lenses, allowing
a degree of freedom and lifestyle enhancement unimaginable
until recently.
There
are several ways that your vision can be corrected, including
glasses and contacts. Hundreds of doctors and tens of thousands
of patients have discovered laser vision correction through
LazerVue Centers is a safe and effective alternative to the
other available methods.
- Laser vision correction
is a non-invasive procedure that uses a beam of cool light
to reshape the top layer (less than 10%) of your eye, so
that images focus correctly on the retina.
- Laser vision correction
is entirely different from Radial Keratotomy, as RK is a
surgical procedure that involves a series of freehand incisions
on the cornea.
- Laser vision correction
has been performed worldwide on over 2 million eyes since
1987.
- Recent studies show
that ninety-eight percent of patients no longer required
glasses or contact lenses to pass a driver's license test
without correction.
- Over 1000 ophthalmologists
and optometrists are affiliated with the ClearVision program.
- When looked at over
a 20-year period, the cost and care of contact lenses could
be double that of the one-time laser vision correction treatment.
- Laser vision correction
patients can return to work between 24 and 48 hours after
the procedure.
- Side effects including
vision fluctuations, haze, or glare, are usually temporary
and often diminish within 3-4 days.
- Laser vision correction
is affordable for all through The Vision Financing Plan:
Patient Financing Program.
Take
the True/False Quiz on Laser Vision Correction
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Does
it hurt?
PRK and
LASIK are generally considered to be "painless procedures."
Your eye is numbed with eye drops and you are awake and aware
during the entire procedure. Some patients may experience
what they describe as a slight discomfort, similar to feeling
as if there is something in your eye, during the initial healing
period of 2-3 days after the procedure is performed.
Does
it require stitches or shots?
No. At
the time of the procedure, drops are used to numb the eye
and then you will be asked to stare at a light during the
laser procedure. With PRK, a protective contact lens, or medicated
ointment is then placed on your eye until it completes its
healing process. With LASIK, the "flap" is resealed using
air, so a bandage contact lens is not required.
Is
it an outpatient procedure?
Yes.
You will spend about an hour at the laser center, but the
actual laser procedure times are 5 minutes for PRK and 10-15
minutes for LASIK.
How
do I keep my eye open? What if I can't see the blinking light?
Many
people are worried about blinking or not being able to focus
on the light during the procedure. An eyelid holder is used
to hold the eye open during the procedure and the doctor can
stop the procedure at any time during the laser treatment
if you were to look away from the light. The computer will
remember exactly where the doctor stopped the treatment and
it will not have an impact on your outcome. Again, since the
laser is a cool laser, there is no damage to the tissue and
even if you somehow blinked, nothing would happen to your
eyelid.
How
does laser vision correction affect the eye long term?
In numerous
clinical studies throughout the world since the late 1980's,
excimer laser procedures have not produced any long-term negative
effects on the eye's integrity. Experts are confident that
they will not discover any long-term problems, but significant
data is not year available for over 10 years. Since the excimer
only evaporates only a very small amount of the tissue of
the cornea, the integrity of the eye remains intact and no
stability problems for the future are expected. The procedure
is considered permanent, although in some cases the procedure
must be retreated to enhance the final outcome.
Can
I wear contacts again?
One of
the advantages of LASIK and PRK is that they do not alter
the integrity of the eye and, therefore, do not generally
result in scarring which would eliminate your ability to wear
contacts again.
How
well will I see after the surgery?
It is
realistic to expect to achieve correction comparable to what
you are able to achieve with glasses and contacts after the
surgery. Ninety-eight percent of all people can see well enough
to pass a driver's license test without any correction after
laser vision correction. We cannot, however, promise you that
you will never have to wear glasses again. While almost everyone
has significant improvement in their best uncorrected vision
(what you can see without any glasses or contacts), some people
may still need to wear a mild milder prescription for reading
or driving after the surgery.
What
are the risks?
As
with any surgical procedure, you may have some risks and/or
potential complications. Early and temporary complications
for refractive surgery are considered to be:
- Discomfort - Very
few people experience discomfort, which is normally described
as a slight stinging feeling or the feeling as if you have
something in your eye. You may take Tylenol or another over-the-counter
pain reliever and some people find that ice packs help in
the discomfort.
- Light
Sensitivity - We provide you with a pair of sunglasses
to wear upon leaving the center to assist you in the light
sensitivity that will affect you for the fist few days
after the procedure.
- Corneal
Haze - It usually resolves itself shortly after surgery;
extreme cases are removed by free laser enhancement.
- Under/Over
Correction - Unless severe, these situations do not usually
affect the overall vision results. High amounts of under
correction are generally retreated with a no-cost enhancement
procedure. Low amounts are corrected by wearing glasses
for activities such as driving. Over corrected eyes are
extremely rare and most tend to regress back toward the
original shape as the eye heals. However, some patients
may require glasses for reading.
- Infection
Rate - This risk is greatest in the first 48 hours following
the procedure and is usually treated with antibiotic drops.
The risk rate for infections is around 0.2%. This risk
is controlled by bandage contact lens and post-operative
medication. It is important that you carefully follow
all of your post-operative instructions and see the doctor
for all of your post-operative visits.
- Halos/Glare
- If you experience problems driving at night or have
halos and glare prior to the procedure, having the procedure
may or may not affect those problems which are associated
with your pupil getting bigger. Most of the time halos
and glare go away with time, and some people find that
driving with the dome light on in the care is helpful
in diminishing halos with night driving.
- The
risk of a serious vision threatening complication is less
than 1%.
Can
I do both eyes at once?
The decision
to have one eye done or both eyes done consecutively is a
decision for the doctor and the patient. Initially, it was
felt that time should be allowed between eyes. However, the
standard of care in the United States, particularly with LASIK
has evolved to be either both eyes done on the same day or
one eye at a time - whatever the doctor and patient decide.
How
do I compensate for the other eye's correction in between
surgeries?
This
is only a problem if you have your eyes done on separate days.
If you wear contacts, you can continue wearing the contact
in the uncorrected eye until your doctor instructs you to
discontinue its use to prepare for surgery on the second eye.
If you wear glasses, you can have one lens without any correction
put into your glasses until you can have the second eye corrected.
Do
I have to do anything special before or after the procedure?
A comprehensive
eye evaluation is required prior to the procedure. Your doctor
will explain all of the instructions to you for before and
after the procedure. If you wear contacts, you will have to
remove them prior to you pre-operative evaluation (2-3 weeks
before for hard lenses, 3 days - 1 week before for soft contacts)
and the procedure. After the procedure, you will need to have
someone drive you home, and you will need to see your doctor
within the first few days following the procedure. You will
also be required to visit your doctor post-operatively at
one-month, three months, 6 months and 1 year.
How
much time off of work will it require?
This
answer is closely related to the option above regarding having
both eyes performed at once. Most people can return to work
within 2 days. Although your vision may continue to improve
over time, average initial healing times for the procedures
are as follows:
- PRK
- initial healing 2-3 days with continued vision improvement
over 2-4 weeks.
- LASIK
- 24-48 hours for visual recovery
How
does it affect my eyes long term? Does it lead to future unrelated
procedures?
Since
both PRK and LASIK are relatively new procedures, there may
be some long term risks that have not yet been discovered.
To date, however, excimer procedures have not been found to
affect or cause any unrelated eye problems. Certain conditions
of the eye related to aging, such as presbyopia (the loss
of flexibility in the lens of the eye), will not be corrected
by the procedures and will be experienced by everyone sooner
or later. Many patients are candidates for monovision, however,
which is a technique to counteract presbyopia. Monovision
relies on correction of one eye for clear distance vision
and undercorrection or no correction of the other eye for
clear reading vision.
How
much does it cost?
The cost
is dependent upon the laser vision correction procedure chosen.
The fee includes the price for the procedure and all follow-up
care, including enhancements when necessary. Many patients
choose to use our patient finance program, which works out
to be a little over $100 per month for both eyes.
Is
laser vision correction covered by insurance?
Refractive surgery is generally
considered to be an elective procedure and, therefore, is
not usually covered under most insurance programs. There are
a few progressive companies that may provide coverage. The
doctor will be happy to provide you with a letter for your
insurance company and will also provide you with a receipt
so that you may submit the expense for reimbursement.
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