Understanding LASIK Incisions

LASIK eye surgery has brought lens-free vision to literally millions of people over the years. Technology continues to improve this medical procedure, making the outcomes more precise than ever before.

So why hasn’t everyone jumped on the LASIK bandwagon? Fear is one factor that keeps some people away. Specifically, fear of the LASIK incision. Let’s face it: our eyes are sensitive, and the thought of having a procedure that involves cutting the cornea can be scary. When you have detailed information about the procedure, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue LASIK.

Type of LASIK Incisions

In LASIK surgery, the surgeon makes a thin flap in the cornea via one of two methods:

•  Mechanical tool called a Microkeratome. This is an oscillating, hand-held blade that is controlled by the surgeon. 
•  Femtosecond laser also referred to as “bladeless” LASIK. Pre-calculated computer software guides the laser beam to cut the flap at a precise diameter and depth.

The corneal flap is folded back to allow the surgeon to reshape the cornea and correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism issues. When the refractive error work is completed, the surgeon folds the corneal flap back down, where it heals itself. The whole process only takes minutes per eye! And most patients are already experiencing improved vision when they leave the office.

The truth of the matter is that LASIK surgery is quite safe when it is performed by an experienced LASIK surgeon. The Food and Drug Administration has approved nearly 30 lasers; lasers they have deemed to be safe and effective for LASIK surgery. There have also been advances in the microkeratome technology that have increased the effectiveness of the hand-held blade method.

If you would like to learn more about the entire LASIK procedure, contact Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center today to schedule a Free LASIK Evaluation or visit our website at lipstocklaser.com. Don’t let fear stop you from achieving great vision!

LASIK at Home?

Did you know that you can now have the benefits of LASIK without ever seeing a doctor?

Well, maybe not.

While this cartoon is meant to be a joke, having LASIK is not. LASIK is offered in many different ophthalmology practices. It has become a very common procedure for patients looking to improve their eyesight. The two most important things in choosing where to have LASIK are technology and experience.

The most advanced technology can mean the difference between excellent outcomes and something else. Newer technology can help to solve the issues of older technology, like night vision issues. Couple that with an experienced surgeon and you are assured the best outcomes possible.

To find out more about LASIK, please visit our website lipstocklaser.com.

*There are always risks to LASIK. Please speak with an experienced surgeon before making the decision to have any surgery. The above cartoon is a joke. Please do not attempt LASIK or any other surgery by yourself. NEVER give your credit card out to a company claiming to provide you with an "At Home LASIK Kit".

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a long list of lasers that are used for LASIK. While the FDA has the power to regulate the sale of medical devices in the United States, approving only those that are deemed reasonably safe and effective, the power stops there. The FDA does not have the power to regulate how doctors manage or market their LASIK practices, including how much doctors charge for LASIK eye surgery.

The average cost of LASIK surgery ranges from approximately $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. These are just average costs; variables that can affect the bottom line may include:

•  Pre-operative testing
• Equipment for eye tracking, corneal measurement and topography, pupil size and tear film analysis
• Surgery equipment, such as traditional blade LASIK or laser
•  Whether the office owns or leases the laser technology

You may have heard some LASIK centers offering incredibly low prices on LASIK, such as $499 per eye. While this sounds great, these low prices are usually a ploy to get you into the center where, upon further examination, you discover the fine print:

•  You may not be a candidate for the super low pricing because your eye prescription is too strong (meaning you need a correction greater than 1.25 diopters)
• The center may also be using much older, and not as precise or effective, technology
• You may be “nickel and dimed” for small costs that are typically included in the overall LASIK fee

When you are researching LASIK centers, make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. You want to ensure that the surgeon you choose has the proper training, plenty of experience, offers the latest state-of-the-art technologies and is up-front with all of the costs for your procedure. Quality surgeons will also openly discuss the advantages and potential risks of LASIK and will only approve patients for LASIK after a full evaluation.

Your eyesight is not something you want to gamble on; saving money is good, but don’t let price be the only determining factor in your LASIK surgeon choice.

Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center offers FREE LASIK Evaluations in our Richmond, VA office. Contact us today at 804-288-1543 or visit our website lipstocklaser.com to take our online LASIK Self Evaluation to see if you might be a candidate for LASIK.

LASIK and Your Retina

There is a misconception when it comes to LASIK and your retina. Some patients think that because they are having LASIK, the issues with their retina will also be corrected.

This is not true.

Your retina is found at the back of your eye. It is responsible for sending messages to your brain. These messages tell your brain what you are looking at.

You have LASIK to correct a refractive error. Refractive errors occur when the cornea in your eye is misshapen. The cornea, which is found in the front of your eye, should be round and bowl-shaped. If the cornea is not perfectly shaped, then you will experience a refractive error: nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Light is reflected off of objects and is filtered by the cornea of your eye. When the cornea is perfectly shaped, this light will refract directly onto your retina. If the cornea is misshaped, then the light will not shine directly onto your retina, and this causes double vision, blurry vision, or fuzzy objects.

LASIK works to reshape the cornea into a bowl-shape so that the light will reflect directly onto your retina. It does this through the use of a laser, guided by a surgeon. The laser only affects the cornea and not the retina; therefore it does not correct any issues you may be experiencing with your retina.

A board-certified surgeon should carefully analyze your eyes prior to approving you for LASIK surgery. Most of the risks associated with LASIK occur because the person may not be an excellent candidate for LASIK. Some of these risks include double vision, a fixed or rotating glare, rings of light (“halos”) or starbursts of light. There is also a risk of dry eye, however most patients will experience dry eye for a short time after surgery.

To learn more about LASIK and how to find out if you’re a good candidate for laser vision correction, please visit our website.

Putting Contacts in With Your Toes

We don't often write about other laser vision correction practices, but this story highlights one practice doing what it knows to help others in the community, specifically Jessica Cox of Overland Park, KS.

Jessica Cox does not have any arms and currently does everything with her feet. This includes putting in her contacts every morning!

Now, through the gift of laser vision correction, Jessica will be able to take that routine out of her life. We applaud Dr. Daniel Durrie for helping this young lady and giving her one less challenge in her life.

For more on this story, click here.

For more on Jessica Cox, you can view her website here.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center!

Too Old for LASIK?

The short answer to the question, “Can you be too old for LASIK?” is: No.

A person cannot be too old to have a LASIK procedure – there is no maximum age at which LASIK is no longer effective. However, the condition of your eyes may prohibit you from being a good LASIK candidate, regardless of your age.

The hard truth is that your eyes are continually changing as you grow older. There are a couple of eyesight conditions that begin to occur for most people that cannot be corrected by LASIK surgery:

• Presbyopia, when you lose the ability to see up-close without reading glasses. This typically starts in your 40s.
• Cataracts, when the eye lenses become more opaque. This starts slowly and can gradually become quite difficult to live with in our 60s and beyond. Cataract surgery replaces the impaired lenses with artificial ones, and refractive errors can also be corrected at the same time.

There is a small segment of society that does not experience significant changes in their vision over time. In those cases, it is possible for a person of advanced age, who has good overall health and generally healthy eyes with stable vision, to have a LASIK procedure to correct a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Why not find out if you can enjoy the rest of your life with 20/20 vision? You’ve got nothing to lose and clear sight to gain. 

The only way to truly determine if you are a candidate for LASIK is to schedule a LASIK Evaluation with a respected practice like Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center. Visit our website at lipstocklaser.com or call 804-288-1543 to schedule your Free Evaluation today.