FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

• Isn't all laser vision correction the same?
  
• Will I have 20/20 vision following laser vision correction?
  
• Is laser vision correction safe?
  
• What about nighttime side-effects?
  
• Does LASIK cause dry eye?
  
• Will it hurt?
  
• Will both eyes be corrected on the same day?
  
• How long does the procedure take?
  
• Do I need to take time off work?
  
• Do I have to go without my contacts before having laser vision correction?
  
• How old do I have to be for laser vision correction?
  
• Can I have laser vision correction while I am pregnant or trying to conceive?
  
• How long will the results of the surgery last?
  
• If I choose to have monovision, does that mean I'll never need reading glasses?
  
• How much should I pay for laser vision correction?
  
• Will my insurance cover my procedure?
  

Isn't all laser vision correction the same?

No. At Fox Eye, we believe that surgeon experience, technology, and follow-up care are the most important factors to determining who you trust for eye surgery. Laser vision correction will affect the way you see for the rest of your life. We encourage you to do your research. We often host free educational seminar and encourage you to be our guest at one of the upcoming events as listed on our calendar. You are welcome to call our office to schedule a complementary educational screening.

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. Although we cannot guarantee you will have 20/20 vision, the vast majority of our patients are extremely happy with their results and are able to eliminate or reduce their dependency on glasses or contacts. In fact, most of our patients are so pleased with their results that they refer family and friends to Fox Eye!

LADARWave™ Animation

Higher Order Aberration Animation

Lower Order Aberration Animation

Is laser vision correction safe?

There are possible risks with any surgical procedure. Serious complications with LASIK or Epi-LASIK are extremely rare. Epi-LASIK greatly improves safety and reduces the chance of severe dry eye. The chance of having a vision-reducing complication from these procedures 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. There is a slight chance that some of these side effects won't go away completely, such as feelings of dryness, glare and halos. Custom Wavefront laser treatment reduces the chance of nighttime glare and halos.

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. Custom Wavefront laser treatment reduces the chance of nighttime glare and halos. These effects usually diminish as the eye heals in the first three to six months. Sometimes additional touch-up (enhancement) procedures can 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 who were at one time not candidates for LASIK because of large pupil size can now be treated. Epi-LASIK may be a better procedure 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 resolves in 9 months except in rare cases, where it may take longer. Patients with pre-existing dry eye may have slower recovery from LASIK and are better candidates for Epi-LASIK. 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.

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 after LASIK, 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. Epi-LASIK patients experience more post-operative discomfort for up to five days while the epithelium heals, although they enjoy a safer procedure and better quality of vision in 6 months.

Will both eyes be corrected on the same day?

For most procedures, both eyes can be corrected on the same day. In some cases either the surgeon or patient may decide to delay surgery on the second eye. Also, some patients with small corrections may only need surgery on one eye. This will be discussed at your comprehensive examination.

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. The surgery itself usually only takes five minutes or so per eye. You will have tests performed both before and after surgery so the total time at the surgery center will be 2 to 3 hours.

Do I need to take time off work?

Following LASIK, most patients return to work the day after their procedure. With Epi-LASIK, the recovery time is a few days 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 3 weeks prior to your comprehensive examination, and soft lenses should be out for at least 2 weeks. Your doctor will advise you how long you need to be out of your contacts during your complimentary screening 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 be relatively stable over time. If your eye is still changing from year to year, we recommend that surgery not be scheduled until the eye stops growing, which is typical after age 22.

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. We recommend you 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. After age 40, you will require reading glasses due to presbyopia. As we age we can develop cataracts, which can affect the need for glasses. If your eye continues to grow, some nearsightedness may manifest, which can be corrected with additional surgery.

If I choose to have monovision, does that mean I'll never need reading glasses?

Not necessarily. The effects of presbyopia continues to advance as you get older. Eventually, 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. At Fox Eye, we have invested heavily in advanced laser technology. We encourage you to visit other laser centers and compare.

We understand your wish to get the best price, but remember, quality, service, and results are extremely important when it comes to medical care. Shopping price is appropriate for buying a commodity, not for eye surgery. At the complimentary screening, we will determine which procedure is best for you. Our charge for LASIK and Epi-LASIK starts at $1,775 per eye. Custom Wavefront upgrades are additional. This includes all follow-up care for one year.

Will my insurance cover my procedure?

A few insurance companies do pay for all or part of vision correction procedures. You should 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 realize savings 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 accountant). We do offer affordable payment plans starting as low as $85 per month for both eyes. It is easy to apply online and receive credit approval before you schedule an appointment. We also accept most major credit cards.