Archive for the ‘Laser vision correction’ Category

Laser Eyesight Surgery Contains Dangers

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

If you’ve ever had unclear vision, then you can relate when I say how frustrating not being able to see clearly can be. What’s also frustrating is figuring out what works for real with all the options given regarding laser eye surgery.

The majority of people who get their eyes fixed end up with better vision than when they started. Sometimes work out well and some times they don’t. So let us discuss a bit more about LASIK.

There are a few things you need to know before you actually end up going through with the procedure. And sometimes the results you experience are different from what you were thinking they would be. But there is no need to worry because 80% of the people who under go the surgery turn out just fine.

The biggest worry is that you will undergo the procedure and end up with a set of eyes can no longer see the hands in front of them. This can happen of course but it is very rare and shouldn’t be as big of a concern as you make it out to be. But this leads me to remind you that you need to do as much research as you can about the doctor doing the operation on your eyes.

Another concern is that when you look at light, you end up seeing spots or star burst vision. laser eye surgery can be used to fix this. All you have to do is go back to your doctor and have the procedure performed. Initial eye surgery costs normally take this into account already.

The bottom line here is that as long as your doctor has proper credentials and a good track record, you really have nothing to worry about. The procedure should prove to be something you can be happy about because it will most likely just contribute to you seeing the world much clearer than before.

One of the benefits that I haven’t said is about how I’m able to shave much better than before. Yet there is another problem. I can see all of the razor brands on the shelf and can’t figure out which one to pick.

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Lasik Surgery

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

lasikLaser Vision Correction is now in its second decade of helping patients reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. As testimony to its life changing benefits, thousands of ophthalmologists and optometrists around the world have become so impressed with the results of laser vision correction that over one million procedures are now performed each year. At Black Hills LASIK Center our patients continuously tell us they appreciate our commitment to being on the cutting edge of this exciting technology.

Heavy patient demand for laser vision correction has inspired surgeons and laser manufacturers to make tremendous advancements in both Excimer laser technology and surgical technique. When laser vision correction was first performed in 1988, only low to moderately nearsighted patients without astigmatism could be treated. Today, with the second and third generation Excimer lasers, very low to moderately high degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be effectively treated. And for many patients that had large pupils, thin corneas or other contraindications for laser vision correction, newer surgical techniques now allow them to enjoy the benefits of clear vision without dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Only a few years ago these patients would not have been good candidates for laser vision treatment.

Laser Vision Correction at Black Hills LASIK Center

All laser vision correction procedures are not the same. Because of our dedication to excellence, Black Hills LASIK Center is recognized as one of the premium eye care providers in the area. Our surgeon is highly trained in a number of laser vision correction procedures. And we’ve invested in the laser vision technology needed to provide you with the best possible care.  Dr. Kowal has successfully performed thousands of vision correction procedures and is ready to help you choose the option that’s best for your individual vision problem, whether you’re nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism.

Pricing

The cost of vision correction varies among practices, based on surgeon experience and what the center includes in the fee. We are not the least expensive providers because we never sacrifice safety to save you money. We have invested heavily in advanced laser technology and our diagnostic technology is second to none. This investment is extremely important to surgical results and our patients tell us they can see the difference. We encourage you to attend a seminar at our clinic, and visit other laser centers to compare. Please download our “How to chose a laser vision provider” form, found in Patient Forms.

It’s only natural to want to get the best price, but remember, quality and service are extremely important when it comes to medical care. After all, laser vision correction is a procedure you’ll have only once in your lifetime and your vision is one of your most important assets. The best way to find out exactly what your price will be is to schedule an exam. After a comprehensive evaluation to determine what procedures you’re a candidate for and what degree of correction you need, we’ll be able to give you a specific price.

A few insurance companies do pay for all or part of vision correction procedures. You can check with your plan administrator, or we will be happy to make a copy of your insurance card and check coverage for you. Many people have medical flex plans they use to save up to 50 percent on their procedure by using pre-tax dollars. Your employer’s human resources department can tell you whether you have this benefit. Vision correction may be tax deductible as a medical expense (check with your financial advisor).

If you do not have insurance coverage, we do offer affordable payment plans starting as low as $84 per month for both eyes. It is easy to apply online and receive credit approval before you schedule an appointment. We also accept cash, personal checks, Visa and MasterCard.

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Posted in Beverly Hills Lasik Surgeon, Beverly Hills Lasik Surgery, Boulder laser eye surgery, Colorado Laser Eye Surgery, Colorado Lasik, Conductive Keratoplasty, Denver Lasik, Denver lasik vision correction, LADARvision CUSTOMCORNEA, LASIK, Laser Epithelial keratomileusis, Laser vision correction, Lasik surgery, Los Angeles laser eye surgery, Nj custom lasik, North Carolina Lasik doctor, Oakland lasik md, Photo-Refractive Keratectomy, San Jose Lasik md, Texas Lasik, Texas Lasik Surgery, Texas Lasik doctor, dallas texas lasik, high definition Lasik Dallas, laser eye surgery, san franciso lasik md, santa clara lasik md, vision correction | No Comments »

Advanced Laser Technology

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

Vision Correction Procedures Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t all laser vision correction the same?
No. Many of the discount LASIK centers want you to believe that LASIK should be purchased like a commodity and that surgeon experience, lasers, diagnostic technology and follow-up care don’t matter. Laser vision correction will affect the way you see for the rest of your life. You should make your decision to have laser vision correction carefully, not quickly. We encourage you to visit other laser centers and we will tell you what to look for in our “How to choose a laser vision provider” form, found in Patient Forms. Our Web site has a lot of information about our surgeon, our laser technology, our advanced diagnostic technology and what you should expect for the money you spend. We provide you with all of this information because we feel the more you know about us, the more confident you will feel about choosing us as your laser vision correction provider. We also encourage you to attend one of our free educational seminars to learn more about our practice and why you should choose us.

Will I have 20/20 vision following laser vision correction?
The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. However, we cannot guarantee you will have 20/20 vision as a result. Our commitment to you is that we will not perform laser vision correction on you or anyone we feel does not have a good possibility of achieving independence from glasses and contacts. The vast majority of our patients are extremely happy with their results and can do most activities without dependence on corrective lenses after laser vision correction.

Is laser vision correction safe?
There are possible risks with any surgical procedure. Serious complications with LASIK or PRK are extremely rare. The chance of having a vision-reducing complication from LASIK has been documented in clinical studies to be less than one percent. Many of the risks and complications associated with this procedure can be reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection and thorough pre-operative testing using the latest diagnostic technology.

After laser vision correction, you may experience some visual side effects. These are usually mild and most often diminish over a few days to a few weeks. But there is a slight chance that some of these side effects won’t go away completely, such as feelings of dryness, glare and halos. If after a thorough examination we decide you are a good candidate for laser vision correction, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction. If you would like additional information about risks and complications now, you may download our ‘consent for surgery’ form by going to Patient Forms.

Has anyone ever gone blind because of LASIK?
In the millions of LASIK cases performed worldwide, we know of no recorded incidence of anyone losing their eyesight due to this procedure.

What about nighttime side-effects?
You have probably seen news stories about people having difficulty driving at night after refractive surgery. Nighttime side-effects may include halos, starbursts, and glare around lights and blurry vision. Some of these can be caused by overcorrection, undercorrection, or residual astigmatism. These effects usually diminish as the eye heals in the first three to six months. Sometimes additional touch-up (enhancement) procedures will be recommended.

Another possible cause of nighttime side-effects is pupil size. At night, the pupil expands to let in more light. Light coming through the peripheral cornea may be out of focus if the pupil opens beyond the laser treatment area. This is why some patients are not good candidates for LASIK if they have very large pupils. However, our advanced laser technology has expanded treatment zones and patients that were at one time not candidates for LASIK because they had large pupils, can now be treated. PRK and LASEK may also be better procedures for patients with wide pupils.

Does LASIK cause dry eye?
Following a LASIK procedure, every patient has temporary dry eye, which can be treated most often with artificial tears. This dry eye sensation usually clears up in eight to 12 weeks except in rare cases, where it may take longer.

Patients with pre-existing dry eye may not be good candidates for LASIK, but may be candidates for PRK or LASEK. If you have dry eye, you should discuss it with your doctor at your pre-op examination. Tests can often diagnose dry eye but it is still somewhat difficult to predict who will experience significant dry eye following LASIK. A thorough evaluation of your current medications, medical history and work environment should all be taken into account.

What keeps the flap in position?
Following your procedure, the flap stays in position without the need for stitches. Initially, there is a vacuum effect created by the cells lining the inner surface of the cornea. As the eye heals over the first few days, the epithelium (the outer surface of the cornea) seals the edges of the flap.

Will it hurt?
There is no pain during any of the laser vision procedures since anesthetic eye drops numb your eyes, although some patients may experience mild discomfort or a pressure sensation during their procedure. You might experience mild irritation for a few days after your procedure. An over-the-counter pain reliever or use of artificial tears will generally take care of this discomfort. PRK and LASEK patients experience more post-operative discomfort for three to five days while the epithelium heals.

Will both eyes be corrected on the same day?
For most procedures, both eyes will be corrected on the same day.

How long does the procedure take?
Since both eyes are usually treated during the same appointment, you will be in the surgery room for approximately 30 minutes. Once in the laser room your eyes will be cleaned and prepared for surgery. The surgery itself usually only takes five minutes or so per eye.

Do I need to take time off work?
Following LASIK, most patients return to work the day after their procedure. With PRK or LASEK, the recovery time may be a little longer.

Do I have to go without my contacts before having laser vision correction?
If you are wearing hard or gas permeable contacts, it’s important that you remove them at least three weeks prior to your exam. Soft lenses should be out for at least one week before your exam. Soft toric lenses may need to be out longer. Your doctor will advise you how long you need to be out of your contacts prior to your exam and prior to your surgery.

How old do I have to be for laser vision correction?
You need to be over 18 years of age, and your glasses or contact lens prescription should not have changed in the last year. If your eye is still changing from year to year, you should not have the procedure until the cornea is stable.

Can I have laser vision correction while I am pregnant or trying to conceive?
Pregnancy can affect your vision, therefore if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you should not have laser vision correction. You should wait several months after your pregnancy or after you finish nursing before having laser vision correction.

How long will the results of the surgery last?
Laser vision correction is considered to be permanent. However, your eyes can still change as you age which may cause a need for glasses or contacts or additional vision correction procedures in the future. As people reach their early forties, they develop presbyopia and begin to need reading glasses. If you’re over 35, you may want to consider monovision.

If I choose to have monovision, does that mean I’ll never need reading glasses?
Not necessarily. The effects of presbyopia continue to worsen as you get older, whether or not you have monovision. At some point in time, reading glasses or another vision correction procedure may become necessary. The benefit to having monovision is that there won’t be a complete dependence on glasses for close vision. Many who have monovision are able to see well enough both at distance and near to do things at any age without corrective lenses.

How much should I pay for laser vision correction?
The cost of vision correction varies among practices, based on surgeon experience and what the center includes in the fee. We are not the least expensive providers because we never sacrifice safety to save you money. We have invested heavily in advanced laser technology and our diagnostic technology is second to none. This investment is extremely important to surgical results and our patients tell us they can see the difference. We encourage you to visit other laser centers and compare. Please download our “How to chose a laser vision provider” form, found in Patient Forms.

It’s only natural to want to get the best price, but remember, quality and service are extremely important when it comes to medical care. After all, your vision is one of your most important assets. The best way to find out exactly what your price will be is to come in for an exam. After a comprehensive evaluation to determine what procedures you’re a candidate for and what degree of correction you need, we’ll be able to give you a specific price.

Will my insurance cover my procedure?
A few insurance companies do pay for all or part of vision correction procedures. You can check with you plan administrator, or we will be happy to make a copy of your insurance card and check coverage for you. Many people have medical flex plans they use to save up to 50 percent on their procedure by using pre-tax dollars. Your employer’s human resources department can tell you whether you have this benefit. Vision correction also may be tax deductible as a medical expense (check with your financial advisor).

If you do not have insurance coverage, we do offer affordable payment plans. It is easy to apply online and receive credit approval before you schedule an appointment. We also accept cash, personal checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

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Laser Vision Correction

Sunday, January 1st, 2006

Surgeon experience combined with the latest advances in laser vision technology are the two most important elements that determine how you will see after laser vision correction. At Black Hills LASIK Center, we invest heavily in training and leading edge technology. Our commitment to you is that we will not take short cuts to save you a few dollars. If you are shopping around for laser vision correction, use this section of our Web site to compare our technology to others. You can also view our  handy, “Checklist of things to ask your LVC provider” page.

Click on any of the links below to learn more about our laser vision correction technology.

Diagnostic Technology:

State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment is important because it’s used to determine whether you are a candidate for laser vision correction, and if so, which procedure is most appropriate for you. It’s also used to calculate the customized settings for the laser for your particular treatment.

Lasers:

Now in its second decade of use, the technologically advanced Excimer laser has added a tremendous amount of precision, control and safety to treating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

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Posted in Advanced Laser Technology, Beverly Hills Lasik Surgery, Colorado Lasik, LASIK, Laser vision correction, Lasik surgery, Surgical vision correction, Texas Lasik, dallas texas lasik, laser eye surgery, vision correction | No Comments »

Conductive KeratoplastySM (CK)SM

Friday, September 19th, 2003

Conductive Keratoplasty is a relatively new procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to shrink collagen tissue within the cornea to treat low to moderate farsightedness and presbyopia.

Using a controlled release of radiofrequency energy into the stroma (the third layer of cornea), the temperature of the corneal tissue is increased, which makes the cornea steeper and increases its focusing power.

CK is for those who:

  • want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses, reading glasses or contacts
  • have difficulty with close vision
  • are at least 40 years of age
  • have not had a significant change in their vision for one year
  • have no health issues affecting their eyes
  • have not had previous vision correction surgery
  • are not pregnant or nursing

What to expect on surgery day:

First, your eye will be numbed with anesthetic eye drops. When your eye is completely numb, an eyelid holder will be placed between your eyelids to keep you from blinking during the procedure.

Then you’ll be asked to look at the microscope light and your eye will be marked with a series of dots. Your surgeon will touch the dots with the probe making a full circle around the outer margins of the cornea. There will be eight to 32 treatment points, depending on the amount of correction needed. As the dots are touched, heat from the radio waves shrinks the tissue, producing a clenching effect that creates a more curved cornea. Some patients elect to have only one eye treated to give them monovision.

Soon after the procedure, your eyes will be examined and you will go home and relax for the rest of the day. For the first couple of days, you may experience some scratchiness in your eyes, or excessive watering. This rapidly improves and medications can be taken to relieve any discomfort. Normal activities are generally resumed within a day or two. While many patients see improvement in their near vision immediately after the procedure, it usually takes a few weeks to several months for the results to be fully realized. As with other vision correction procedures, you may experience some discomfort and light sensitivity (glare or halos) for a few days following CK.

Realistic expectations:

The decision to have CK is an important one that only you can make. The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. However, we cannot guarantee you will have the results you desire.

CK has been approved to treat farsightedness between +.75 and +3.00 Diopters. When CK is used to correct presbyopia, it is considered an off-label use of an approved medical device.

Serious complications with CK are extremely rare. CK is a safe and effective procedure, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. After a thorough eye exam you and your doctor will determine if CK is an option for you. If you are a good candidate, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction.

Alternatives to CK

CK is not the only surgical procedure designed to treat presbyopia and farsightedness. To learn about other vision correction procedures go to the surgical and laser vision correction procedures section of our Web Site. If you would like to learn more about vision correction procedures from sources other than our practice, we encourage you to link to a number of Web sites we feel provide factual and up-to-date information. You may also choose to make an appointment, attend a seminar or request additional information to learn more about this exciting procedure.

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Posted in Conductive Keratoplasty, LASIK, Laser vision correction, Lasik surgery, Texas Lasik, Texas Lasik Surgery, Texas Lasik doctor, vision correction | No Comments »