iLASIKTM FAQs
What is Laser Vision Correction?
How does Laser Vision Correction improve vision?
Am I a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction?
Is this a good time to have Laser Vision Correction?
Will something better come along in the near future?
What is iLASIKTM?
What is Intralase?
What will happen on procedure day?
What is The Eye Center's experience?
What type of technology does The Eye Center use for iLASIKTM?
What are the long-term effects of having iLASIKTM?
Is iLASIKTM safe?
What are the risks?
What is Advanced CustomVue with Iris Registration?
Will I need reading glasses?
Will I have perfect vision after the procedure so that I will never need glasses?
What does The Eye Center's comprehensive iLASIKTM fees include?
May I see my family optometrist for pre and post-operative care?
What is Laser Vision Correction?
Laser vision correction is a permanent, surgical procedure that alters the shape of the cornea in order to reduce or eliminate the need for contact lenses or glasses.
How does Laser Vision Correction improve vision?
Laser vision correction uses cool pulses of ultraviolet light to remove a very small amount of tissue from the cornea at the front of the eye. This corrects the abnormal curve of the cornea and allows light to properly focus on the retina. The result is clear distance vision.
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Am I a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction?
Candidates for laser vision correction must meet the following criteria:
- 18 years of age.
- Stable prescription for glasses or contact lenses for a year prior to treatment.
- Be without certain diseases of the eye.
- Have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure.
- Understand that complications, while rare, may result.
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Is this a good time to have Laser Vision Correction?
Will something better come along in the near future?
Laser vision correction techniques have gone through an evolutionary process and have reached a level where further innovations for The Eye Center treatment range will only be incremental. Treatment options for more severely nearsighted and farsighted patients will continue to evolve. The decision of when to have a refractive procedure is highly personal. Some of the considerations depend on the individual such as age, visual needs and lifestyle. In order to determine the best option for your eyes please set up an examination and we will be able to address your specific needs.
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What is iLASIKTM?
LASIK stands for "Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis". It is a laser vision correction procedure that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the curvature of the cornea. The procedure involves creating a very precise, thin flap of the corneal tissue utilizing the Intralase system. The flap is folded back, and the laser's cool beam of ultraviolet light removes a small amount of tissue, usually less than the thickness of a human hair. After the precise amount of tissue is removed, the flap is replaced. The actual laser treatment takes 15 to 60 seconds, based on the degree of correction necessary.
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What is Intralase?
The Intralase system utilizes a laser to create a tiny uniform layer of bubbles just below the corneal surface. The flap, or the first part of the procedure, is created by gently separating the tissue where these bubbles have formed. This allows the iLASIKTM procedure The Eye Center offers to be completely blade-free. Patients can also view information on the Intralase at www.intralasefacts.com.
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What will happen on procedure day?
Your procedure will take place at The Eye Center of Southern Indiana in Bloomington. The outpatient procedure is performed without your having to change into surgical attire. Upon arrival you will receive an oral sedative to alleviate any anxiety. Your eye will be thoroughly cleaned. Topical eye drops will be used to numb the eye prior to your entrance into the laser suite. The procedure takes three minutes per eye. After the procedure patients stay in the post-operative room for 20 to 30 minutes. Please plan on being at The Eye Center for about 2 to 3 hours. You will need a driver to take you home.
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What is The Eye Center's experience?
The Eye Center has been performing refractive surgery since 1992. Dr. Chang has performed thousands of surgical procedures, and has been involved in all stages of the refractive surgery evolution. As laser vision correction techniques have changed, Dr. Chang has completed continuing education requirements. The Eye Center tracks all iLASIKTM results on an elaborate software system. Extensive data analysis shows that Dr. Chang's surgical results are excellent.
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What type of technology does The Eye Center use for iLASIKTM?
The Eye Center is committed to using the best ophthalmic technology for all of our patients, including our iLASIKTM patients. Our EPIC computerized refracting system has greatly improved the measurement of the refractive errors of the eye. Digital imaging systems (Orbscan corneal topography) provides our physicians with precise analysis of the shape, curvature, and thickness of the cornea. The WaveScan system also allows any imperfections in the eye to mapped out, allowing for a more customized treatment. The Eye Center is also very proud to own the VISX Star S4 excimer laser system.
VISX is the leading laser manufacturer in the world. The Star S4 is the most recent excimer laser manufactured by VISX. It has been approved to treat the largest range of prescriptions and it utilizes an "Active Tracker", which allows the laser to actively track a patient's eye, adjusting itself 60 times a second. This means that the eye position is verified and safety checked before and between every laser pulse. Many of our patients find the laser tracking increases their confidence in the procedure and lowers their anxiety on procedure day.
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What are the long-term effects of having iLASIKTM?
Many clinical studies have investigated the long-term effects of the laser treatment on the cornea. All of these studies, without exception, have failed to demonstrate any long-term negative effects on the integrity of the eye. In fact, the first person treated in the United States (1987) has 20/20 vision - more than fifteen years later. Patients who require an enhancement procedure or develop a problem will typically do so within the first few months following the procedure, not years later. Thus, long-term outcomes are very good.
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Is iLASIKTM safe?
Yes. Millions of successful refractive surgery cases have been performed worldwide. As with any surgical procedure, complications may occur, however this procedure has been found to be exceedingly safe and predictable.
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What are the risks?
It is essential for you to understand as much as possible about the potential risks that may follow your laser procedure, so that you can assess them and make the best decision possible. Laser vision correction is a surgical procedure. As with any surgical procedures there are no guarantees. The current laser vision correction techniques have been proven to be safe and effective. In general, serious complications are rare, occurring in less than 1 in 1,000 cases.
It is critical to have a proper, thorough, pre-operative evaluation before deciding to proceed with iLASIKTM. The Eye Center physicians are extremely conservative in choosing iLASIKTM candidates. Many of undesirable outcomes are avoided by proper patient selection. During the pre-operative exam, if the physician identifies a patient who may be at a higher risk of developing complications, The Eye Center will not proceed with surgery.
Some patients do experience mild side effects after the procedure. For most patients, these symptoms decrease over the healing process - between three and six months. Manageable side effects may include under/overcorrecting vision, glare, dry eyes, distortion, or loss of sharpness. Many patients are concerned about nighttime vision side effects. Now with the availability of Advanced CustomVue customized laser treatment, studies show more patients are satisfied with their nighttime vision after treatment than before.
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What is Advanced CustomVue with Iris Registration?
Advanced CustomVue utilizes an instrument called the Wavescan to capture an image of each person's individual marks on their eye and allows the treatment to be individualized and aligned perfectly with these characteristics.
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Will I need reading glasses
The need for reading glasses usually begins at age 40 to 45, and is caused by the natural hardening of the lens of the eye. This hardening process, presbyopia, results in an inability to focus on close objects, and reading glasses become necessary. Laser vision correction cannot restore youthful softness to the natural lens of the eye. iLASIKTM corrects the abnormal focus of the eyes, attempting to make the eyes normal for a given patients age. Many patients chose to wear dime store readers or elect for monovision (one eye for near work and one eye for distance work). Your physician can cover all the options available.
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Will I have perfect vision after the procedure so that I will never need glasses?
Experience has shown us that laser vision correction has been overwhelmingly successful in reducing nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While vision improves following the procedure, the degree of improvement may vary from individual to individual. The vast majority of typical patients achieve 20/40 vision or better which means they can legally drive, play sports, and join the police or fire departments, all without their glasses for distance.
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What does The Eye Center's comprehensive iLASIKTM fees include?
The fee for iLASIKTM at The Eye Center is inclusive. The fee covers the complimentary consultation with Dr. Holbrook, all pre-operative evaluations, corneal mapping, the entire iLASIKTM procedure (this includes surgeon fees, the Advanced Custom Vue treatment, Intralase, laser licensing and royalty fees, and facility fees), and all follow-up care related to the procedure for one year. Follow-up care includes all post-operative examinations and any necessary enhancement procedures within the first two years. Our patients can pay for their procedure using a variety of payment methods including cash, check, major credit cards, or payment through one of our monthly payment plans.
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May I see my family optometrist for pre and post-operative care?
Yes. We encourage you to talk to your family optometrist about iLASIKTM. If your optometrist feels you are a good candidate for the procedure, he/she will encourage you to have a complimentary consultation with Dr. Holbrook at The Eye Center. Once you decide to have iLASIKTM, your family optometrist will complete your iLASIKTM pre-operative examination and forward it to the doctors at The Eye Center. On procedure day, you will arrive at The Eye Center for your Orbscan corneal topography, Wavescan measurements, and a meeting with the doctors who will review your surgical plan with you and answer any questions you may have. Our iLASIKTM surgeons work very closely with family optometrists in "comanaging" patient care. The Eye Center is proud to have a strong network of community optometrists who choose to refer patients to The Eye Center for surgical care. This network has been in the making since The Eye Center's founding in 1980 and is integral to the high quality of care we offer patients in Southern Indiana.
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To learn more about iLASIKTM in Indiana, specialized iLASIKTM surgery procedures such as custom iLASIKTM or whether you are iLASIKTM candidate, The Eye Center of Southern Indiana is pleased to provide you a no cost iLASIKTM consultation-call us at 800.222.7576.
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