The LASIK Vision Institute, autor en The LASIK Vision Institute

Oftentimes when LASIK isn’t a good option for someone, PRK is a suitable alternative. Developed in the mid-1980s, PRK carries many of the benefits as other laser eye surgeries.

Photorefractive kerectomy (PRK) remains a common eye surgery today, especially for people who have thin or irregular corneas or who have additional conditions that reduce their candidacy for other types of LASIK vision correction.

How does PRK work?

PRK is what eye surgeons (ophthalmologists) call an “ablative” procedure. This means the surgeons ablate, or remove, tissue from the eye. (LASIK is also an ablative procedure; however, LASIK is both an ablative and incisional procedure, meaning it involves tissue removal and also tissue cutting. PRK does not involve cutting.)

PRK has two basic steps:

Step 1: Removal of outer corneal layer (called the “epithelial layers”). This will grow back.

Step 2: Laser reshaping of cornea’s middle layer (called the “stroma”). This corrects vision.

Step 1: Removal of epithelial layers

Removal of the cornea’s outer layers can happen three ways for PRK. Which way your surgeon uses will depend on his preference. The goal of any of these three ways is to expose the stroma, a middle layer of your cornea, which the laser needs to reach to correct vision.

The surgeon can soak the outer layers with a weak alcohol solution to softens tissue, thus enabling the surgeon to remove it.
The surgeon can remove the outer layers mechanically with a variety of surgical instruments, such as a sponge or a brush.
Finally, the surgeon can remove the outer layers by a laser, the same one that corrects vision.

Step 2: Laser vision correction

Once the epithelial layers are removed, the surgeon can then use a laser, called an “excimer” laser, to reshape your cornea. This laser has traditionally been able to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. However recent technology advancements have enabled surgeons to further customize the vision correction through WaveFront mapping, a technology found in the Hubble telescope! Custom WaveFront PRK can cost more than traditional PRK surgery, but most doctors favor customization for the added safety and the chance it will improve vision beyond what even glasses and contacts could.

How is PRK different from LASIK?

How does PRK compare with LASIK? Recall that in PRK the outer layers get removed and grow back later. In LASIK, your surgeon won’t remove the outer layers. However, instead he will create a flap in the cornea stroma. Lifting this flap provides the same service as the first step of PRK: The surgeon can now reach the stroma to perform laser vision correction.

What are the benefits of PRK?

PRK offers some benefits other eye surgeries, including LASIK, do not. A big benefit is the elimination of flap complications, since there’s no flap created. No flap equals no flap complications, in other words. PRK also leaves the eye in a stronger and more stable condition.

Finally, this is an attractive laser eye surgery for some people who aren’t good LASIK candidates. This might include people with thin or irregular corneas or who prefer not to have a flap created.

What are drawbacks of PRK?

PRK can have a slower visual recovery than LASIK. PRK might require weeks for full recovery to functional vision, for instance, whereas LASIK takes days to functional vision. During the first several days of PRK recovery, patients tend to feel varying levels of discomfort (e.g., burning and watery eyes), and they can have fluctuating vision as epithelial tissue regrows.

What results can I expect from PRK?

LASIK and PRK are surgical procedures and therefore have risks. Results from laser eye surgery vary, but most people who get laser vision correction do achieve 20/20 vision. Some do not. PRK and LASIK have been shown in clinical studies to get similar results. (Most of these studies are based on at least one year after patients’ surgery dates, because by that time, both groups of patients have achieved their full visual acuity based on their procedures.)

For more information on whether or not you’re a candidate for laser eye surgery and to learn more about risks, schedule a laser vision correction consultation.

Find a LASIK Surgery Location Near You

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The cost of laser eye surgery can range from as low as $1999 per eye to up to $4,000 or more per eye. What gives? Why such a price difference? Geography, surgical experience, technology (e.g., which lasers), eye prescription, insurance benefits, and healthcare savings all influence your real cost of laser eye surgery.

Why Cost of Laser Eye Surgery Differs so Greatly

Many factors affect your LASIK price.

First, your eye prescription is a factor in determining the price of your laser eye surgery procedure. This can be discussed with your eye doctor or at the LASIK consultation.

The surgeon you pick will affect your price. LASIK surgeons who have been practicing longer tend to charge more. They bring added experience and expertise to your procedure, and many people feel more comfortable with an experienced surgeon. The most experienced surgeons have been practicing since the 1990s, when LASIK and its predecessor PRK gained commercial popularity. Research surgeons in your area to know what you are getting for the price.

In addition, the technology your LASIK surgeon uses affects your price. Bladeless LASIK procedures use a second laser not used in bladed procedures, and this can raise the price. As you might expect, a bladeless procedure offers additional benefits, such as an oftentimes faster and more pleasant recovery. Adding a customization to your laser eye surgery — which uses Wavefront technology, developed by NASA — will also affect its cost. Your doctor should discuss the benefits of bladed, bladeless, and Wavefront technology as they relate to your unique eyes.

Geography may also influence your price. Places with higher costs of living, such as New York or Boston, may reflect higher costs of laser eye surgery.

Finally, as you assess cost of laser eye surgery, consider what each quoted price includes. Some providers price out just the procedure without factoring additional services you may want. Provider A might give you a price for LASIK, for instance. Meanwhile Provider B may quote you for custom bladeless LASIK with a year’s worth of post-operative checkups and a limited-time or lifetime enhancement package included. Ask specifically what your price includes.

Will Insurance Cover Cost of Laser Eye Surgery?

Insurance usually does not cover laser eye surgery, unless your job requires perfect vision. Athletes and combat fighters sometimes qualify for full coverage, for instance.

Often insurance companies negotiate reduced rates for members, though. If you have insurance, it’s a good idea to ask specifically if the provider you are considering offers discounts for insurance holders like you. You might also ask what other membership discounts, such as those for military or AAA holders, they honor.

Health Spending Accounts for the Cost of Laser Eye Surgery

Many U.S. employees have an FSA, HSA, or HRA to cover health expenses with income-tax-free accounts. The cost of laser eye surgery is an eligible expense for all these accounts. In addition, some people may deduct the cost of major medical expenses. Check with your tax preparer if you think you qualify.

If you know you want LASIK but are concerned about up-front cost, assess your contributions during your employer’s open-enrollment window and consider increasing your savings so you can afford the procedure next year.

Creative Ways of Affording the Cost of Laser Eye Surgery

There are many ways to afford LASIK. Many people finance their procedures, at a monthly cost that has been compared to a utility bill. In addition, some choose to put the balance on a rewards-bearing credit card for points, miles, or other incentives. Make sure your provider accepts your credit card if you plan to do this.

The Real Value of Laser Eye Surgery

The cost of laser eye surgery reflects an elective procedure that has been called life changing. Many people reduce their need for glasses and contacts for years. The money saved on associated costs reflects only part of the surgery’s value though. Many find that after LASIK they can do what they could not have done before, such as SCUBA dive, wear off-the-shelf sunglasses, swim, play freely with their children, and travel without hassle. It’s important to weigh not just the cost of laser eye surgery, but whether the soft gains will increase your quality of living, and thus affect your decision to push forward with the procedure.

Dear Valued Patient,

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact people around the globe, our first priority is the safety and well-being of our patients, team members and communities. We are committed to doing our part to prevent it’s spread and to protect our country during this public health crisis. As a result, effective Friday, March 20, all centers are temporarily closed.

We anticipate all centers will reopen Monday, June 8. We will continue to monitor and reevaluate this timeline as circumstances change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will The LASIK Vision Institute Clinics reopen?
With conditions evolving every day, our tentative date is June 8, 2020. We continue to monitor the situation. When we are given the all-clear and feel it’s up to our medical-grade safety standards, you’ll be the first to know. An email will be sent to you with your local clinic opening.

What should I do if I have an appointment scheduled?
For those of you with scheduled appointments we will automatically cancel them, and a LASIK Vision Institute team member will reach out and reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.

What happens if I want to schedule a FREE LASIK Consultation?

LVI centers are currently closed but we are accepting Virtual Consultations between now and June 8th. Click here to schedule a Virtual Consultation now.

What do I do if I have an eye emergency related to my laser eye surgery?
Please call 866-852-2520 and one of our customer service representatives will connect you to a doctor at The LASIK Vision Institute

Thank you

Congratulations! You’ve made an excellent decision to improve your vision and your overall quality of life with laser eye surgery, or LASIK. But before you take the plunge, you have one final decision to make: selecting the right LASIK eye surgeon for you.

Choosing a LASIK eye surgeon

Choosing your LASIK eye surgeon is one of the most important health care decisions you will ever make, and you will want to consider several factors when beginning your search. Look for a vision center with a reputation for patient satisfaction and for an experienced, board-certified surgeon . Once you have narrowed down your selections, chat with friends or co-workers who have used the vision center, surf the Internet for real patient reviews, ask the vision center for patient testimonials and check its report card from your local Better Business Bureau.

Top of mind for many prospective patients may be the cost of LASIK. Don’t be tempted to look only at the bottom line; bargain-shopping may be fine for shoes, but your eye care is priceless.

Make a list (and check it twice!)

Not all LASIK eye surgery centers and LASIK eye surgeons are equal. The following checklist can help you to determine which LASIK provider will best suit your needs:

Cleanliness: Does the facility appear to be clean? A reputable vision center will appear tidy and hygienic.
Equipment: What kind of technology does the eye surgeon use, and do you have a choice as to the type of technology? Be sure to ask if the surgeon offers 100 percent all-laser LASIK (also known as Bladeless LASIK), or if she uses a microkeratome blade. Many patients prefer a Bladeless LASIK procedure.
Professional, friendly staff: From the receptionist to the surgeon, a vision center’s staff and their demeanor speaks volumes. Look for staff who listen to your concerns and are willing to work with your schedule and financial situation.
Relationship with your eye doctor: Will the surgeon work with your current eye doctor—both before AND after surgery—to ensure your continued satisfaction with your LASIK eye surgery?
Patient satisfaction: What are the vision center’s success rates? Of course, you will want to select a surgeon with a low rate of complications, but be wary of a provider who advertises a 100-percent success rate and is unable to back up his claims with objective data.
Enhancements: Are enhancements frequently needed? Remember, laser eye surgery outcomes may vary based on individual conditions. Even with successful surgery, future enhancements may be needed, or you might require eye glasses for activities such as reading or driving. Additionally, farsighted patients may experience deteriorating vision over time as part of the natural aging process.
Results: Does your provider offer a lifetime commitment on her results, including adjustments at no additional cost to eligible patients? Because every case is unique, be sure to discuss your expectations with your eye surgeon prior to your surgery.

Invest the time now to find the right LASIK surgeon for you—it’s a decision that will pay dividends in improved vision for years to come.

Dry eyes are no fun: They itch, sting and tear up. They’re a possible side effect of LASIK eye surgery, but usually they clear up within the first year of recovery. Some experts have estimated that as many as eight out of 10 LASIK patients deal with some dry eye symptoms in the weeks following their procedures.

Why does LASIK create temporary dry eyes?

Post-LASIK dry eye can be caused by how the surgery itself enhances vision. LASIK surgery involves reshaping the cornea to improve vision, but altering the curvature of the cornea can also affect the tear film. The creation of a corneal flap and ablation, or removal, of corneal tissue, might also affect corneal nerve fibers integral to tear production, thus resulting in dry eyes in the days or weeks following surgery.

Dry eyes can be treated in several ways. Your doctor might suggest preservative-free artificial tear drops. If you suffer from keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye syndrome, topical cyclosporine prescription eye drops can offer additional relief. Even blinking more frequently while at the computer can help with dry eyes in the weeks following a LASIK procedure.

Some people have dry eyes before they have LASIK. It is important for these people to let their surgeons know about this condition before having laser eye surgery. Often, a LASIK surgeon will want to treat a case of dry eyes before performing the procedure.

How do I know if I’ll get dry eyes?

A well-trained eye doctor can measure the severity of your dry eyes. In some cases, your doctor might determine that your condition is too severe and that you are not a good candidate for LASIK. Laser eye surgery is often not a good idea for patients with unmanaged dry eye syndrome because the LASIK procedure can cause further drying of the eyes.

Do you struggle with contacts? Are you tired of waking up to a blurry room? Would you like to be less dependent on eye glasses in the New Year? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it may be time for you to consider LASIK eye surgery.

Benefits of LASIK: See more clearly

Many people make New Year’s resolutions and how they can improve or simplify their lives in the upcoming new year. Many of these resolutions revolve around improving yourself through a healthier, more active lifestyle, spending more time with family or saving money.

Laser eye surgery may be the answer to one or many of your resolutions. Imagine being able to go for a run without your glasses bouncing around on your face or playing a sport and not having to worry about sweat or dirt irritating your contacts. LASIK may be able to help make this a reality, and in turn, may make achieving your health and fitness goals for the New Year easier and more enjoyable.

Another common New Year’s resolution is the desire to spend less money. If you wear glasses or contacts, you know what an expense they can be yearly, not to mention over longer periods of time. Did you know that LASIK eye surgery may be able to save you money? With LASIK prices becoming more and more affordable, the onetime cost of a laser eye surgery procedure can actually save you money over time versus a lifetime of glasses and contacts.

LASIK Results: New Year, New You

One of the major thoughts behind many New Year’s resolutions is a “new year, new me” mindset. What better way to achieve this than starting out the year with better vision? You might be worried that LASIK eye surgery has a lengthy and extensive recovery time, but this actually isn’t true. In fact, most people find recovery time to be very minimal, and most people are actually able to return to work and most normal activities within 2 days after their LASIK procedure.

Don’t let another year pass by experiencing life with blurry vision. If you think LASIK can help you achieve your resolutions in the New Year, consult a LASIK professional today to learn more and find out if laser eye surgery is right for you.

Many optometrists have special training in LASIK. Your eye doctor can play an important role in helping you understand if laser eye surgery is right for you. Here are just three ways a your eye doctor can help.

1. Finding a LASIK provider

Many eye doctors partner with reputable LASIK centers. Through this partnership, they can recommend LASIK surgeons they trust to their interested patients. Often your eye doctor will not just hand you off to this surgeon; rather, they will stay involved in your eye care to make sure you’re getting a safe, effective treatment.

If safety and quality matter to you, ask your eye doctor for the name of a LASIK surgeon she trusts.

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2. Assessing your basic LASIK candidacy

Before recommending you to a surgeon, your eye doctor can give you some preliminary information about your LASIK candidacy. Your eye doctor can tell you, for instance, whether or not your prescription has remained stable for at least one year (the minimum for LASIK). They can also point out if you have conditions that might put into question your candidacy, such as dry eyes or the beginning stages of cataracts.

3. Fielding eye-anatomy questions

There’s another benefit to talking to an eye doctor knowledgeable about LASIK: Eye doctors can tell you about the anatomy of the human cornea, give you a sense for how your eye works and explain exactly how LASIK works.

Not all eye doctors are LASIK surgeons and can’t give you as many specifics as a LASIK specialist, but they are doctors of the eye who have studied ocular anatomy and conditions. Your eye doctor will have your family medical history, knows what types of eye conditions you have, and how that affects your candidacy for laser refractive surgery. This gives you more foundation than most when you go in for your LASIK consultation.

At the end of the day, LASIK is a procedure that reshapes the cornea to better focus light rays—LASIK can correct astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness. By asking your eye doctor questions at your next eye exam, you can open the door to LASIK discussion in a safe environment and get professional advice on where to go and whether LASIK may be right for you.

LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that uses a skilled surgeon and a special laser to improve your vision, reducing your need for glasses or contact lenses.

LASIK eye surgery is a two-step process, beginning with a flap creation and concluding with the corneal reshaping. There are pre- and post-operative preparations cushioning these two steps, but these capture the basic idea of how LASIK eye surgery works.

Flap creation

Your cornea is a clear outer part of your eye. When your eye focuses light, the cornea is the first part of the eye that will intercept the light to start to bring it to a point of focus. Think of it like a window between you and the world. It is clear, and how it is shaped will affect how well you see.

Sometimes the shape of our corneas makes us see near or far objects blurry. LASIK eye surgery is meant to reshape the cornea to improve how we see. This can leave us with corrected vision without the need for glasses and contact lenses.

To create the flap, your skilled surgeon will use either a laser or a microkeratome blade. The laser-created flap is considered more desirable by many surgeons because of its advantages, such as improved recovery time. You might hear this called “bladeless” or “all-laser” LASIK eye surgery.

Reshaping the cornea

All LASIK eye surgery providers use a special laser called an “excimer laser” to reshape your cornea. There are different brands, but the main idea is the same: The special thing about this laser is that it can reshape living tissue without causing any damage, such as scar tissue. The excimer laser was therefore a revolutionary device that began to gain popularity in the 1980s and 1990s once researchers learned its potential for human surgery.

During LASIK eye surgery, your skilled surgeon will use the excimer laser to remove microscopic corneal cells. These cells live underneath the corneal flap he has created and lifted. Because your surgeon will have taken in-depth measurements of your unique corneal topography during your consultation, he will have programmed the laser to remove cells in exactly the right places to correct your vision.

Life after LASIK eye surgery

When the laser reshaping is complete, your surgeon will replace your corneal flap, and healing begins. The flap usually heals itself over the following weeks. The first few hours after surgery can be somewhat uncomfortable while healing initiates, but most patients sleep these hours away while resting their eyes. Most patients feel fine the next day, can drive, and return to work. Discuss your early post-operative restrictions with your surgeon prior to surgery. Functional vision, or about 80 percent of vision, is common in the first few days after LASIK surgery.

At follow-up visits, your doctor will monitor your healing and he will measure your vision. Many patients achieve 20/20 or better vision. Schedule a consultation to learn more.

Many with vision problems seek an alternative to the daily drawbacks that come with wearing glasses, so they’ve opted for contact lenses as their alternative solution.

However, contacts may come with their own set of issues, from the extensive daily maintenance required to the risk of contact lens intolerance. Contact lens intolerance can make it difficult or impossible to wear contact lenses, but there may be another solution for people with vision problems.

LASIK eye surgery is a popular procedure for addressing common vision problems, and may be a potential alternative for those who suffer from contact lens intolerance.

Learn More about Contact Lens Intolerance and the Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 37 million people in the United States wear contact lenses. Contact lens wearers can vary widely in age, background, and vision health. Among that group of contact lens wearers, a percentage may experience contact lens intolerance, which can cause potentially severe reactions to contact lenses.

Causes of Contact Lens Intolerance – The potential causes of contact lens intolerance are wide-ranging, and vary by individual. Contact lens intolerance can be caused by workplace environment, lifestyle choices, chronic dry eye, poor-fitting contact lenses, lack of contact lens maintenance and care, allergies, and certain health problems.
Symptoms of Contact Lens Intolerance – People with contact lens intolerance may experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including dryness, itchiness, redness, irritation, corneal abrasions, and corneal ulcers. Contact lens intolerance can also make it very painful to apply contact lenses.
The Importance of Annual Eye Exams – An annual visit to your eye doctor is a key step in uncovering contact lens intolerance, and learning about your options for dealing with issues caused by contact lenses. Your annual exam is also a great opportunity to ask your eye doctor about the benefits of LASIK eye surgery, and whether the procedure is the right fit for you.
Consider LASIK Surgery – If contact lens intolerance is making every day feel like a struggle, know that there are other solutions than contacts for addressing vision problems. LASIK eye surgery is an option to address common problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Laser eye surgery may help you rely less on vision correction devices like contact lenses, which is good news if you’re suffering from contact lens intolerance.
Learn about LASIK Candidacy – As with any medical procedure, it’s important to discuss LASIK eye surgery with your doctor to learn more about how the procedure may fit your vision health needs. If you are at least 18 years of age, with good overall health and a steady vision prescription for at least one year, then you’re off to a great start.
LASIK and Lifestyle Freedoms – Even if you’re not dealing with contact lens intolerance, you may be tired of the way that glasses and contacts interfere with your ability to enjoy your favorite activities. LASIK surgery may help you get back to enjoying what you love most, without worrying about your glasses or contacts.

Have you wondered about LASIK eye surgery, but just couldn’t imagine why some would choose to have the procedure? There are many reasons why people choose laser vision correction so we decided to explore some of those reasons!

Convenience?

For starters, there’s the simple convenience of not having to fuss with contact lenses or glasses. Sure, you may be used to wearing glasses. And yes, you might even feel that the daily contact lenses routine isn’t that bad. But can you imagine your life without those ‘inconveniences’?

Waking up in the morning and not having to fumble for your glasses to see your alarm clock…
Taking your daily run without your glasses bouncing around on your face…
Wearing non-prescription sunglasses…

The truth is that choosing LASIK is about more than just improving your vision for convenience sake. It’s a way to make meaningful improvements in your quality of life. Let’s take a look at why so many have chosen LASIK, and how laser eye surgery can improve your enjoyment of the activities you love most.

Benefits of LASIK for an Active Lifestyle

You work hard, and you play hard. When you’re hiking, working out, or going for a swim, vision correction devices are the last thing you want on your mind. With LASIK, you can go about your activities without any interferences.

Benefits of LASIK for Your Profession

Whether you are an athlete, work on a construction site, sit behind a desk, or anything in between, LASIK makes it easier to pursue your profession with confidence. If you’ve lived with life-long glasses or contact lenses, you’ll be surprised by the dramatic difference that clear vision could make in your day-to-day work.

LASIK Cost vs Lifetime Glasses & Contact Lenses

LASIK eye surgery is a one-time cost while glasses and contact lenses are an ongoing cost over a lifetime. If you were to do the numbers, you may want consider the following:

Glasses can be expensive, especially if you decide to purchase multiple pairs at a time for your different needs. They need to be replaced fairly often, which can be costly if they break unexpectedly.
Contact lens wearers have a monthly expense between the contact lenses, solutions, containers, etc. Plus they also must also purchase a pair of glasses to have on hand in case they need them.
If you purchase prescription sunglasses, they can be more costly than non-prescription sunglasses.

So while each individual is unique and different, these are just a sample of reasons why many have chosen LASIK eye surgery. Consult with a skilled LASIK professional today to learn more about laser eye surgery and if it might be right for you.

What is PRK?