The LASIK Vision Institute, autor en The LASIK Vision Institute

In recent months, there has been an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a drug-resistant bacterium linked to certain eye drops, that has caused concern and confusion among the public. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak has infected at least 68 people in 16 states. In response, several eye drop products have been recalled, including EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, which have been associated with the bacterial infection.

LASIK Vision Institutes has NEVER offered these eye drop brands

It is important to note that The Lasik Vision Institute Centers have never offered or sold the recalled eye drop brands. Patients who have received LASIK surgery at our centers can rest assured that their post-operative care and recommended eye care products have not been affected by the recall.

Which Eye Drops Have Been Recalled?

At least four eye drop products have been recalled in recent months. The two products that have been associated with the bacterial infection are EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears. The other two products, Pharmedica USA’s Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops, and Apotex’s Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%, were recalled for other reasons not related to the bacterial infection.

Pharmedica USA’s Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops were recalled in March due to concerns that the product is not sterile, which could increase the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness. Similarly, Apotex Corp. recalled Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15% “out of an abundance of caution” due to cracks in some of the bottles’ caps, which could affect the product’s sterility.

What Are the Symptoms of Eye Infection to Watch Out For?

If you have used EzriCare and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, you should look out for symptoms such as yellow, green, or clear discharge from the eye, eye pain or discomfort, redness of the eye or eyelid, a sensation that there is something in your eye, increased sensitivity to light, and blurry vision, according to the CDC. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you seek medical care immediately.

What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of aggressive bacterium that can be found all over the environment, including in water, soil, and human waste. It can enter eye drops through contamination with environmental agents during handling. The bacterium is resistant to most antibiotics and is particularly dangerous in healthcare settings and for people with weakened immune systems.

Infections can present in ways such as keratitis, sepsis, and respiratory and urinary tract infections. It is essential to exercise general caution when using artificial tears, such as avoiding contaminating them with fingers and disposing of them within the advised time frame, according to Dr.Robert Dinga of LASIK Vision Institute.

Conclusion

The recent outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa linked to certain eye drops has resulted in several recalls of eye drop products. Lasik Vision Institute Centers have never offered or sold these recalled products, and patients who have received LASIK surgery at our centers can rest assured that their post-operative care and recommended eye care products have not been affected. It is crucial to be aware of the symptoms of an eye infection and seek medical care immediately if you have used the recalled eye drops and experience any of these symptoms

LASIK fear is among the most common reasons that people shy away from the procedure. And among the most common LASIK fears, three show up more than any others among those considering the procedure.

LASIK Fear #1 – Fear of being awake during surgery

Perhaps the most common LASIK fear is the fear of being awake during surgery. But LASIK surgery begins with numbing eye drops, and sometimes a mild sedative, to help you relax. Still, some patients notice mild discomfort, such as pressure, vibration or dimmed vision, during the procedure. You don’t have to worry about blinking, though, because a specially designed instrument holds your eye open. And a computer in the laser tracks your eye movement more than 4,000 times per second, ensuring precision. In 15 minutes or less, both eyes can be done with little discomfort. If you can stare straight ahead for 45 seconds—about as long as it takes to watch a traffic light—you can do this.

LASIK Fear #2 – Fear of LASIK cost

A second common LASIK fear is the cost of LASIK. A LASIK price typically covers the initial consultation with eye exam, laser technology, highly trained eye surgeons, personalized aftercare and a lifetime commitment. The cost of LASIK can seem costly at first, but a lot is rolled into that final price. Ask your LASIK specialist to explain the variety of payment options and discounts that are available. Some patients estimate that their cost of LASIK pays for itself within a few years because of their saved costs in eye glasses, contact lenses and contact lens solution. With proper planning, LASIK can fit into even a tight budget.

LASIK Fear #3 – Fear of complications

A third popular LASIK fear is fear of complications. Like with any surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications. Choosing the most advanced laser technology and a highly experienced, reputable surgeon can reduce the risk of complications.

In addition, individual qualities, such as cornea thickness and ocular health, can reduce risks even further. At your LASIK consultation, your eye doctor will discuss any risks and complications with you. Elect for the procedure only if you feel comfortable with the risks of LASIK.

Among patients who overcome their LASIK fears, many wish they hadn’t been so afraid.

Having laser eye surgery shouldn’t haunt you. With a professional behind the laser and an understanding of the procedure, it’s easy to overcome common LASIK fears and opt for a surgery that can change the way you see the world.

Get educated, do your research, and learn what to expect. Make a consultation appointment to speak with a LASIK specialist to help overcome your fear.

Age marks plenty of milestones: driving, voting, working and retiring. But there’s no set age for LASIK. Most providers won’t perform LASIK on those under 18 because eyes tend to keep changing into early adulthood. But laser eye surgery has been performed on children (with severe vision problems) and octogenarians alike.

These are outliers to most cases. The most common age for LASIK, in fact, falls between the ages of 20 and 40.

What Age Do You Need To Be for LASIK?

LASIK is FDA-approved for those 18 and older. Most providers encourage young adults to wait until their mid-20s because, until this time, a person’s prescription may be still changing. Having a stable prescription for at least two years is often required as proof before anyone, young or old, is deemed a good LASIK candidate.

From the point of stable prescription on, most adults concurrently grow their savings, begin traveling for work and pleasure, and perhaps develop an irritation or exhaustion with contacts and eye glasses. This creates the popular period during which most people have LASIK.

Around the age of 40, a person’s eyes start to change again. Soon thereafter, many people start to need reading glasses due to a condition known as presbyopia. LASIK does not correct presbyopia, but some people with the condition decide to have monovision. Monovision is a laser eye surgery that leaves one eye corrected for near vision and the other eye corrected for distance vision.

At age 60, the eyes start to change once more. This is when risk of cataracts increases. Some adults get to age 70 or 80 with no cataracts and have otherwise healthy eyes. Despite being outside the common LASIK age spectrum, these people can be good candidates for laser eye surgery. It’s possible that a 70-year-old without cataracts or other eye illnesses is actually a better candidate than a 30-year-old with very dry eyes and diabetes.

Age certainly influences one’s LASIK candidacy, but it by no means draws an absolute boundary. If you are in good health, have a stable prescription and are considering LASIK, schedule a free consultation to assess your candidacy.

LASIK eye surgery is a common procedure used to correct eye problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. All three are conditions that affect the eye’s ability to focus on objects near and far away. Part of the LASIK procedure requires an eye surgeon to create a hinged flap of tissue, which can be done with either a blade or a laser. The importance of this step in the LASIK procedure cannot be overstated.

So what’s the difference between Bladeless LASIK and traditional?

The first and most obvious difference is that traditional LASIK eye surgery uses a thin blade called a microkeratome to make an incision in the cornea, which creates the hinged flap. This thin protective flap of tissue allows the cornea to heal quickly and naturally once the procedure is finished, with little to no discomfort.

The Bladeless LASIK option utilizes a precise, high-energy femtosecond laser instead of a microkeratome blade to create the flap of corneal tissue. Since being invented in the 1990s, the femtosecond laser has been incredibly successful. This laser continues to provide LASIK patients and their eye doctors with a bladeless alternative to traditional laser eye surgery.

Is Bladeless LASIK safe?

Both Bladed LASIK and Bladeless LASIK are proven safe and effective, but the bladeless femtosecond procedure has a number of important advantages. Bladeless LASIK, for example, has a lower risk of corneal flap complications.

Some LASIK patients need a second procedure, which laser eye surgeons call a “touch up” or an “enhancement.” Bladeless LASIK allows for a safer enhancement should it be needed. A study found that creating flaps of corneal tissue with a bladeless femtosecond laser resulted in faster visual recovery and better uncorrected visual acuity than did creating the corneal flap with a blade.

Is Bladeless LASIK better for me?

Laser eye surgeons, optometrists and their patients have come to find that both Bladed LASIK and Bladeless LASIK procedures are among the safest medical procedures in modern medicine.

Every patient is different. Although Bladeless LASIK has many advantages for many patients, it isn’t always the best option. Schedule a free consultation to find out which method is right for you.

The cost of LASIK eye surgery depends on a variety of factors, including the type of LASIK surgery being performed. While LASIK is not typically covered by insurance, there are quite a few options for financing your laser eye surgery. Ahead, we’ll cover some of the popular options for LASIK financing, along with one lesser-known option that can be very handy if you’re financing your surgery around tax time.

How to Afford LASIK: Simple Tips for Covering the Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery

Health Savings Account / Flexible Spending Account – A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account that may be offered through your employer which can be used to pay for any qualified medical expense, including LASIK. Similarly, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-advantaged savings account that may be offered by your employer that allows you to put money into an account to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs, including LASIK. If you have questions about these offerings, speak with your benefits provider, so when you are ready for LASIK surgery, HSA or FSA funds may be a viable savings option.
CareCredit – A unique financing option, CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that can be used to cover medical expenses, including LASIK eye surgery. Choosing CareCredit for LASIK financing allows you to pay in monthly increments, rather than one lump sum. The card is designed specifically with medical costs in mind, and the application process is similar to what you will find with most major credit cards.
Tax Refund – Who doesn’t enjoy getting a refund check in the mail around tax time? All the better when you can put those funds toward paying for your LASIK surgery. It’s especially handy during the spring months but you can always set your refund aside in savings if you are planning your procedure during a different time of the year.
Personal Financing – This is the catch-all category for financing that comes from your own pocket, and there are many options available. Using funds from your checking or savings accounts is the simplest choice, and you can also use credit/debit cards, funds that come from gifts, an inheritance, side-work, or even that big jug of coins you’ve been saving for a rainy day. If you’re planning to have LASIK in the future, setting those extra infusions of cash aside in savings can go a long way toward covering the procedure when the time is right.
Insurance/Group Discounts – Some LASIK companies work with insurance providers and certain large employers to provide LASIK discounts to their employees. Ask your benefits manager if a LASIK discount is available through your insurance or company benefits plan.

While you’re busy finding the right financing mix for your LASIK eye surgery, remember that there are many helpful resources available. When researching, calculate an estimated monthly payment for LASIK financing based on the cost of your laser eye surgery procedure and your preferred financing options. There are many ways to cover the cost of LASIK surgery, and your vision health is more than worth the effort.

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

We’re located nationwide – it’s easy to find a LASIK Vision Center 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.

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.

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