Widely regarded as one of the safest of all medical procedures, LASIK is a modern medical miracle. For millions of people condemned to wearing contacts and glasses, LASIK spells freedom and crystal clear 20/20 vision – or better. LASIK addresses the cause of poor vision by using ultra-violet lasers to correct the irregularities of the cornea.
Recently NASA approved the use of advanced all-laser LASIK as safe and reliable enough for astronauts, and the US Navy has also recently specified advanced all-laser LASIK for its fighter pilots. These two official recognitions of the safety and reliability of all-laser LASIK are very reassuring for anyone who may have been hesitant in the past about having LASIK.
How LASIK Works
There are three main parts to the human eye: the cornea, the lens and the retina. In normal vision, the cornea refracts (bends) light so it can be directed correctly through the lens and onto the retina.
Vision problems are usually the result of disorders or irregularities of the shape of the cornea.
LASIK solves these problems by using ultra-violet lasers to reshape the curve of the cornea so you can have normal, clear vision.
What Vision Problems Can LASIK Solve?
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is the inability to focus clearly at any distance. With astigmatism the cornea is shaped more like a football than a basketball. LASIK corrects this oval shape, making the cornea more round and achieving clear vision.
Nearsightedness
Nearsighted people see close objects clearly – but not distant objects. In nearsightedness, the curve of the cornea is too steep and images are focused in front of the retina. LASIK corrects this condition by flattening the curve of the cornea.
Farsightedness
Farsighted people see distant objects clearly, but all other objects are blurred. In farsightedness, the shape of the cornea is too flat and light rays are focused behind the retina. LASIK corrects this condition by shaping the cornea so that it focuses correctly.
Presbyopia
Sometime between age 40 and 50, the typical person will begin to need reading glasses whether they have had LASIK or not. This condition is called presbyopia - the loss of the ability to see up close due to the aging process. This need for reading glasses can often be greatly reduced through a special LASIK technique known as monovision that has successfully given thousands of patients the ability to see both close up and far away.
Three Steps To 20/20 Vision
- The first step of a LASIK procedure is the creation of the corneal flap, which is a thin segment of the outer layer of the cornea. In the early days of LASIK, an instrument called a microkeratome, an oscillating razor blade, was used to cut the corneal flap. With all-laser LASIK this step is performed with a special laser called IntraLase which creates a thinner and more precise flap, so that the tissue can grow back much faster and stronger than the old fashioned microkeratome method.
- Next, the flap is lifted and an excimer laser is used to re-shape the underlying corneal tissue to correct any irregularities. This step in Custom LASIK is based on an individual 3D map taken of the eye, so the most precise corrections are possible.
- Finally, the flap is folded back into place where it bonds quickly. Healing is rapid with all-laser LASIK and most people can return to work the next day.
How Long does LASIK Take? Will it Hurt?
The actual LASIK procedure takes minutes per eye. You can expect minimal discomfort and a sensation of pressure. Inserting or removing contact lenses – or just rubbing tired eyes from wearing glasses produces more discomfort than an all-laser LASIK procedure.
There are three main types of technology used in all-laser LASIK:
- Corneal Mapping
- Flap Creation
- Corneal Correction
Corneal Mapping
LASIK changes the shape of your cornea by removing tissue, so it is essential that corneal thickness is measured with extreme accuracy.
This preparation step should be done using advanced technology such as OrbScan. A minimum of three scans are taken to gauge the precise thickness of your cornea so that you and your doctor have all the information for the best decision about your vision.
Flap Creation
The cornea is protected by a layer of tissue which has to be lifted so that the cornea can be corrected. In all-laser LASIK, this step is performed using an IntraLase laser which ensures extreme accuracy, is more comfortable, and results in faster healing time than the microkeratome.
Correcting the Corneal Imperfections
The Bausch and Lomb Zyoptix Wavefront Custom LASIK laser is an advanced excimer laser used for the corrective step once the flap has been created. The Bausch and Lomb Zyoptix laser provides ‘Wavefront Optimized’ treatments, which means that every treatment is customized to the patient’s individual refraction and corneal curvature, generally resulting in less sensitivity to glare at night. IntraLase and Zyoptix wavefront custom LASIK laser are considered by many surgeons to be the world’s most effective systems for producing 20/20 vision or better.
How is this Information Useful to You?
Some LASIK centers offer surprisingly low prices like $499 per eye which can seem like an attractive incentive for choosing that clinic. However, while the bottom line in any surgical procedure is the surgeon’s expertise, with LASIK the best results are obtained if the surgeon is using the most advanced technology. The most advanced technology means a significant financial commitment by the surgeon.
Understanding the basic differences between technologies can help you ask the right questions if a price seems suspiciously low.
LASIK is a medical procedure and the best results come about because of the surgeon’s skill. At first glance, LASIK can appear expensive and perhaps a luxury item, but LASIK can be as affordable as a few dollars a day – and without compromising on safety, comfort, or excellence of outcome.
Here are some points to consider when choosing a LASIK center:
- Does the Doctor who will Perform Your Surgery Own the Center?
There are two main types of LASIK centers – Corporate chains or independent LASIK surgeons. Corporate chains answer to accountants and investors and independent surgeons answer to their patients. Independent surgeons depend largely on referrals from happy patients. Therefore, they are focused on results. Corporate chains depend on intensive (and expensive) marketing campaigns, so they focus on profits. A doctor like Dr. Wright who owns his own center, has also invested in the most advanced technology and will care for you as an individual – not a statistic. - If it Sounds too Good to be True – it Probably is.
Offers of LASIK for $299 or $499 are a form of advertising called ‘Bait and Switch’. Bait and Switch advertising is designed to attract the price-conscious buyer by quoting incredibly low prices (bait) but then escalating the end-cost (switch) by adding necessary enhancements or additions. Two of the largest publicly-traded LASIK corporations practicing this form of advertising reported their average price per procedure at between $2,772 and $2846. What happened to $299 per eye? Factually, less than 8% of applicants qualify for these low prices, and many of those patients have come to Dr. Wright seeking correction. - ‘All LASIK is the Same and Ours is Cheaper.’
Imagine going into a shoe store where the clerk tells you, "All our shoes are the same size. But they’re cheaper." It’s the same with LASIK except that your eyes are even more unique than your feet.
Custom LASIK using the most advanced technology is more expensive than traditional LASIK because the surgeon has to be willing to invest in quality ahead of quantity – and that means better outcomes but higher overhead and less profit.
Some centers try to get around this problem by using older equipment and saying that ‘standard LASIK is just as good as custom LASIK and it’s cheaper.’ That’s not true.
“But Custom LASIK is still more expensive.” Yes it definitely is – however more expensive does not have to mean less affordable. A reputable center like Wright Vision Center will have financing options that can make Custom LASIK as affordable as a few dollars a day. - Here Today – Gone Tomorrow.
Some centers use surgeons who fly in on the day of the procedure, perform as many surgeries as possible, and then move onto the next state where they do the same production line eye surgery – and never see the patient again. This production-line approach can also include trucking the laser equipment in for the day, and then driving it onto the next destination.
A surgeon like Dr. Wright insists on meeting every patient, reviewing his patients’ test results on the day of the consultation, getting to know each patient well before the procedure, and personally overseeing the follow-up visits.
And by the way, the equipment used in all-laser LASIK is highly precise and extremely sensitive – not designed to be loaded on and off a truck. - ‘All We Do is LASIK.’
That sounds fine as a slogan, but what if LASIK is not right for your eyes? What if during the LASIK evaluation you learn of an eye condition you didn’t know you had – and it needs attention?
Dr Wright provides FULL vision care so he will tell you frankly if LASIK is – or is not – your recommended option. If LASIK is not for you, he can prescribe and offer a correction procedure that is.
Why Our Patients Choose Wright Vision Center
- Dr. Paul Wright is one of the most experienced LASIK surgeons in the region, with an established reputation for producing outstanding visual results.
- Dr. Wright is the only LASIK surgeon in South Dakota who offers a 20/20 Money Back Program. Dr. Wright guarantees qualified candidates that they will be able to read the 20/20 line, or better, on the vision chart after their surgery or receive their procedure fee back in full.
- Dr. Wright introduced Rapid City’s first IntraLase system six years ago, and he was one of the first surgeons in the world to be licensed to use the blade-free IntraLase system.
- Wright Vision Center is Rapid City’s only LASIK center that combines today’s most advanced IntraLase technology with the advanced Bausch and Lomb LASIK laser.
- Dr. Wright founded and personally funded Wright Vision Center over 6 years ago which makes Wright Vision Center Rapid City’s only surgeon-owned full service LASIK center.
- Many of our staff have had laser vision correction and this helps us understand our patients’ questions and concerns.
- Wright Vision Center provides the full range of eye care technologies including all-laser LASIK, Monovision LASIK, and Intra-Ocular lens replacement.
Candid Answers About LASIK is a 40 minute DVD that will provide answers to all of your questions about LASIK without leaving home.
- Meet Dr. Wright and his staff
- See Wright Vision Center
- Watch a LASIK Evaluation
- Learn about the technology
- Follow the steps of an actual procedure, and hear and see patients frankly discussing their experiences before, during, and after LASIK
