LASIK

What is LASIK?

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is an outpatient vision correction procedure that treats myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. LASIK uses a microsurgical instrument and a laser to reshape the cornea (the clear covering of the eye) to improve the way the eye focuses light rays onto the retina.

How can LASIK help me?

LASIK may decrease your dependence on glasses and contact lenses or, in some cases, allow you to do without them entirely. Most people who have this procedure are corrected to 20/40 vision and many people achieve 20/20 vision.

How Do I Know If Dr. Meyer and The Eye Care Institute Is Right For My LASIK Procedure?

John C. Meyer, MD has performed over 4,000 laser vision correction procedures. He first used the excimer laser while completing his Fellowship in Refractive Surgery and Corneal Diseases at Emory University during 1994 and 1995. As such, he is one of the first doctors in the county to have had access to an excimer laser. If you schedule an appointment with The Eye Care Institute to be evaluated for laser vision correction, you will personally meet with Dr. Meyer. He will take the time to answer your questions and concerns. Your initial screening with Dr. Meyer is complementary. If you decide to proceed, Dr. Meyer will perform a thorough eye exam to measure your prescription and determine which refractive procedure is right for you.

I Hear Terms Like PRK, CK, LASEK, WaveFront, CustomVue, Monovision Blade-Free, Intralase and LADARVISION. Are These Different Than LASIK?

In our practice, we use the term "LASIK" as a generic term meaning any form of refractive eye care. Upon evaluation of your individual needs, Dr. Meyer will determine exactly which refractive procedure is best for you. We have access to the latest in refractive vision technology, no matter how it is advertised.

What Will My Vision Be Like After LASIK?

It is important that anyone considering LASIK have realistic expectations. LASIK allows people to perform most of their everyday tasks without corrective lenses. However, people looking for perfect vision without glasses or contacts run the risk of being disappointed.

The majority of people who have LASIK achieve somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40 vision without glasses or contact lenses. If vision is under-corrected after the procedure, Dr. Meyer may decide to perform a second procedure, called an enhancement, to further refine the result.

LASIK cannot correct presbyopia, the age-related loss of close-up focusing power. With or without refractive surgery, almost everyone who has excellent distance vision will need reading glasses by the time they get to be 40 or 50 years old. Some people choose to be corrected by monovision, which leaves one eye slightly nearsighted. The nearsighted eye is used for close work, while the other eye is adjusted for distance vision. No matter what others tell you, there is no laser procedure that can correct both distance vision and near vision in the same eye.

Am I A Good Candidate For LASIK?

People who want to minimize their dependence on glasses or contact lenses make good candidates for LASIK. Lifestyle, hobbies, and amount of correction needed are all factors that may determine whether you are a good candidate. The ideal candidate for LASIK is over 18 years of age, not pregnant, and free of any eye disease. You should experience stable vision for at least one year before having LASIK.

How Is LASIK Done?

LASIK is performed in a reclining chair in an outpatient surgical suite. First, the eye is numbed with a few drops of topical anesthetic. These drops may sting. An eyelid holder is placed between the eyelids to keep them open and prevent you from blinking.

A suction ring, placed on the eye, lifts and flattens the cornea and helps keep the eye from moving. You may feel pressure from the eyelid holder and suction ring, similar to a finger pressed firmly on your eyelid. From the time the suction ring is put on the eye until it is removed, vision appears dim or goes black.

The microkeratome, an automated microsurgical instrument, is attached to the suction ring. As the microkeratome moves across the cornea, you will hear a buzzing sound. The microkeratome stops at a preset point, far enough from the edge of the cornea to create a hinged flap of paper-thin corneal tissue.

The microkeratome and the suction ring are removed from the eye, and the flap is lifted and folded back. As the flap moves, your vision gets blurrier. The laser, preprogrammed to your prescription, is then centered above the eye.

While you stare at an overhead light, the laser sculpts the exposed corneal tissue. A clicking sound, made by the laser, can be heard during the procedure. After the laser has completed reshaping the cornea, the surgeon places the flap back into position and smoothes the edges.The flap adheres on its own in just a few minutes.

Is Blade-Free LASIK really better than other forms of LASIK?

To perform LASIK, a flap must be created. This can be done with either an instrument called a microkeratome that uses a blade or with a laser. There are two brands of laser that can create the flap. Each will create the flap without the need for a blade. Dr. Meyer has used each of these lasers and several different microkeratomes.

There are a variety of terms to describe laser vision correction and another blade free solution is PRK. The initial way the laser was designed to use was to treat the surface of the cornea rather than to treat under a flap. This procedure is called PRK and is blade free but is not LASIK.  It can accomplish the same thing that LASIK can but its recovery time and risks differ from LASIK. Dr. Meyer can help select the solution which is best for you.

What Happens After LASIK?

Plan on going home to take a nap or just to relax after the procedure. Eye drops are given to help heal and alleviate dryness. Healing after LASIK is usually comfortable. Often, LASIK patients are able to go about their normal activities, including returning to work, the next day.

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

Our charge per eye is $1,995. This includes all pre-operative testing, CustomVue LASIK, cost for use of the laser, and post-operative care.

Your initial visit to determine if you are candidate for LASIK is complimentary.

We frequently offer special pricing for LASIK. We also offer many businesses, organizations, and other groups, discount pricing for LASIK. Be sure to ask if you qualify for special pricing.

If price is your only issue, we can offer a customized plan to your employer, religious organization, or club that will allow the entire group to receive discounts on LASIK, eyeglasses and contact lenses. Ask to speak with our Administrator about offering our Preferred Pricing Plan in your workplace.

LASIK is almost never covered by insurance. To help you pay for LASIK, we accept cash, checks, money order, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Chase Health Advance. Our LASIK counselors can provide you with information on financing programs. Rest assured, we treat your financial information with the same level of confidentiality as we treat your medical information.

What Technology Is Used At The Eye Care Institute?

Our practice is committed to the latest in medical innovation and technology. That is we uses the VISX S4 with CustomVue to perform LASIK. Our practice also features digital corneal topography measurements including the VISX WaveScan to ensure the most accurate and precise measurements prior to your LASIK procedure. We do our best to customize your eyes.