LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery FAQs
LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery FAQsLASIK and Refractive Surgery - General FAQs
- How will I know if I am a good candidate?
- How quickly will my eyes recover?
- Does it hurt?
- Can you treat astigmatism?
- Is Custom better than regular LASIK?
- What are my alternatives to LASIK?
- Will I see 20/20 afterwards?
- Do you have financing plans?
- Can you use tax free dollars?
- Is laser vision correction tax deductible?
Q. How will I know if I am a good candidate?
A. You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have had stable vision for the past year
- Have healthy eyes, good general health and are not taking medication that affects the healing process.
- Are age 18 or over
- Are near-sighted, far-sighted, have astigmatism, or if you need reading glasses
- Have no corneal disease or irregular shaped corneal curvatures
- Have average or above average corneal thickness
We offer a large variety of vision correction possibilities which allows us to help you select the best procedure available. During your screening and your comprehensive examination we will do more extensive testing to determine if you are a suitable candidate.
Q. How quickly will my eyes recover?
A. You will see somewhat better 1-2 hours after the treatment, but the vision on the day of the procedure is foggy. However, by the next day you will notice a dramatic improvement when you wake up. Most people get back to their normal routine quickly-even going back to work the next day. You may need to avoid contacts sports and swimming for 2 or more weeks. Your eye doctor will advise you what is suitable for your individual needs. Please see our chart under forms and instructions that spells out many of the post-operative restrictions for LASIK.
Q. Does LASIK hurt?
A. No. The actual procedure does not hurt. We use numbing drops and there are no needles involved. We also provide you with a minor pain medication as well. This will allow you to go home and take a nap. For about 4-6 hours after the LASIK procedure you can expect some irritation, sensitivity to light, a scratchy sensation, similar to an eyelash in your eye and maybe some mild tearing/watery eyes.
Q. Can LASIK treat astigmatism?
A. Yes. All of the FDA approved lasers are able to treat large amounts of astigmatism. Our outcomes for astigmatism treatments have been phenomenal. Please feel free to discuss your specific case in more detail at your complimentary consultation.
Q. Is Custom/wavefront better than regular conventional LASIK?
A. Traditional LASIK continues to be an incredible procedure for the right type of patient.
With customized/wavefront, we are taking regular LASIK one-step further. We are not only treating your prescription, but we now have the ability to treat more irregularities and measure your eye with 25 times the precision of conventional methods. See our Custom LASIK section for more on this amazing technology.
Q. What are my alternatives to LASIK?
A. Of course, most people have the typical alternatives of glasses and contacts, but what many people don't know is that there are several safe and effective alternatives to LASIK as a means of permanent vision correction. Please see our Procedures section for more information.
Q. Will I see 20/20 afterwards?
A. Although there can be no guarantees in health care, the great majority of patients do achieve 20/20 uncorrected vision after their LASIK procedure.
Q. Do you have financing plans?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you use tax free dollars?
A. Yes. Flexible Benefits Programs can be used for permanent vision correction, so please contact your company's employee benefits department for confirmation of eligibility.
Q. Is laser vision correction tax deductible.
A. Yes in most cases. Please consult your tax advisor.
For extensive details and all the facts you should know about LASIK, Laser Eye Surgery, Refractive Surgery go to LASIK Consumer Awareness Guide
