What is refractive surgery?

Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a surgical procedure performed to eliminate and/or reduce the need for glasses and contacts. A cool beam laser is used to reshape the corneal surface to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmtism.

Normal Eye

Clear vision in the normal eye is the result of light rays passing through the cornea, pupil and lens and focusing directly upon the retina.

Nearsightedness

This occurs when the cornea is too curved or the eye is too long. This causes light to focus in front of the retina, resulting in blurry distance vision.

Farsightedness

This occurs when the cornea is too flat in relation to the length of the eye. This causes light to focus at a point beyond the retina, resulting in blurry close vision and sometimes blurry distance vision.

Astigmatism

This occurs when the cornea is shaped like a football, more curved in one direction than the other and often occurs with nearsightedness and farsightedness. This causes light not to focus on any point, resulting in blurry and distorted vision.

How do I know if I am a good candidate for refractive surgery?

The Eye Center offers free consultations. After a thorough eye exam, your surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate. Many factors go into the determination of candidacy, including healthy corneas, a stable prescription for at least one year, and an age of at least 18 years.

Does it hurt?

Your eyes are numbed with anesthetic eye drops. Some patients feel a pressure sensation during the procedure.

What are the risks?

As with any medical procedure, some risks are involved with LASIK surgery. Risks for LASIK surgery include but are not limited to: glare, halos, under-correction, over-correction, and infection. During your consultation, your surgeon can talk in depth about the risks associated with laser vision correction.

How long is the recovery period?

Most people are able to resume their normal activities the next day.

Will insurance pay for laser vision correction?

Most insurance companies do not pay for LASIK surgery.

Are there any side effects?

For the first 2-4 hours after LASIK surgery, you may experience light sensitivity, tearing, or a mild stinging sensation. Dry eyes can be a temporary side effect, which can be decreased with the use of artificial tears.

Will I need reading glasses if I am over 40?

LASIK can reduce the need for reading glasses with monovision but there may be occasions when reading glasses are necessary. With monovision correction one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other eye is corrected for near vision. During your free consultation, your doctor can demonstrate what monovision would look like based on your prescription.

Will I be able to blink my eye during the procedure?

No. A device is used to hold your eyelids open, which will prevent you from blinking.

What if I move my eye?

The VISX Star System will track you eye movement for excellent centration. The Eye Center also incorporates Iris Registration (IR) technology into your treatment. IR greatly reduces any problem that might be incurred by eye movement during treatment.

How much does it cost?

Our prices begin at $1,595.00 per eye. CustomVue LASIK costs $1,995.00 per eye.

Included in the fee are the following:

• Pre-op care (sometimes more than one pre-op is necessary)
• Post-op care for one year
• Enhancements for two years
• Surgeon's fee
• Facility fee

When do I pay?

Payment is due in full the day of your procedure. The Eye Laser Center accepts cash, check, and most major credit cards.

Do you have a financing plan?

Call 221-2343 for more information, or we can give you more specific information and an application during your consultation.

Can I use my flexible spending or cafeteria plan money to pay for laser vision correction?

Yes. You can use your pre-tax dollars to pay for LASIK surgery. However, we suggest you come in for a free consultation to determine if you are a candidate before you set aside your pre-tax dollars.

What if I need an enhancement?

If you and your surgeon decide an enhancement is necessary, a second laser treatment will be done at no charge if it is within two years of your original procedure.

Can my optometrist perform refractive surgery?

Only medical doctors are licensed to perform laser vision correction. However, your optometrist can manage your consultation, pre-op and post-op care while your surgeon will perform your surgery.

What is the next step?

Call our laser vision coordinator to schedule your free consultation @ (970) 221-2343, or email us at Eye Center of Northern Colorado Laser.