Frequently Asked Questions About Lasik- Laser Vision Correction
How does the procedure work? Basically, your eye is gently reshaped with the laser to match the prescription on your glasses or contacts. Is'nt this a lot of money for a 15-minute procedure? Yes, it can certainly appear that way at first. Consider what you are really paying for is not the few minutes of the actual procedure, but what it takes prior to and afterwards to ensure your safety. The total cost of your procedure includes pre-operative testing and exams to ensure you are a good candidate, 12 months of post-operative care to monitor your healing and results, all necessary medications before and during your post-operative care, a qualified, well-trained refractive surgeon with extensive experience, an experienced technical staff to assist on the day of the procedure, surgical equipment for the procedure, at least 2 years of free enhancements and the benefits you will enjoy for a lifetime. TLC also offers Lifetime commitment to qualified patients at no extra cost. Furthermore, when you consider TLC's expertise as the largest laser vision correction company in North America performing more than 215,000 procedures and treating more doctors than anyone else, you'll see that the value you receive from TLC more than justifies itself. The procedure may only take 15 minutes; however, you will benefit from it every waking moment for the rest of your life. Is this FDA approved? The FDA is responsible for approving medical equipment and medications, not procedures. Our laser is FDA approved and the surgeon chooses to use it to perform LASIK or PRK. Is it covered under insurance? Typically, laser vision correction is not covered by most insurance plans. I would recommend that you check with your insurance provider. Does your company offer flexible spending accounts? TLC offers payment options as low as $99 per month to Make this more affordable for you. But before you plan how to pay for this procedure, let's make sure you truly are a candidate. What are my chances of getting 20/20 vision? Typically, your best result is the same vision you can achieve with glasses or contacts. Are there any risks? What is the worse thing that can happen? a) Infection - which is quite rare and can be treated with topical antibiotic drops. b) Haze - superficial corneal haze, which is considered normal during the healing period and usually, dissipates within several weeks after the procedure. Persistent haze is rare and can be resolved with a re-treatment that would be evaluated by your own eye doctor. c) Glare - (from bright lights) experienced in early months following the procedure, dissipates within six months. d) Under-Correction - can be caused by unusual healing pattern. This can usually be resolved through re-treatment, which would be evaluated by your own eye doctor. e) Over-Correction - is sometimes a temporary condition and gradually your vision will return to intended level of correction. f) Visual Results - 98.5% of people reach 20/40 or better. 20/40 is what one needs to drive, swim and watch TV without glasses. Over 80% reach 20/20, Statistics are difficult to interpret because they include patients with a wide variety of prescriptions. Those patients with very high level of myopia or hyperopia are less likely to reach 20/20 and they are included in this statistical data. Yet, those with higher prescriptions are content to be less dependent upon their glasses. When will I be able to see? Most nearsighted patients have good vision in 1 to 2 days. Majority of our nearsighted patients sees well enough to drive by the next day. With farsightedness, healing takes a little longer. Most hyperopic patients get good vision in 1 week and great vision in about a month. Will I ever need to wear glasses again? That is a very good question. We can dramatically reduce your dependency on glasses and contacts. Depending upon your age and lifestyle, our doctors will help you determine what is best for you But I have "the stigmatism"? Can you fix that? Yes, we can treat astigmatism. When can I drive again? Most nearsighted patients can see well enough to drive within 1 to 2 days following their procedure. Our doctors can discuss your vision and your results when you come in. Does it hurt? The procedure itself is painless. We only use numbing/freezing drops to numb the eye. Is it permanent? The first laser vision procedure was done in 1987. That patient is still seeing 20/20. TLC is so confident in the long-term results of this procedure that we offer our patients Lifetime Commitment in writing. This provides most nearsighted patients with free enhancements for the rest of their life. Everyone claims to be the best and have done the most - who do I trust? Well, more than 3,400 doctors - including nearly 1,000 eye doctors, trusted their eyes to TLC surgeons. Also, professional athletes have had their eyes done at TLC centers. As a matter of fact, 1 in every 5 patients in North America has had their eyes done at TLC. We have performed more than 215,000 laser vision procedures. What if I get cataracts? Laser Vision Correction will not induce nor prevent cataracts. What restrictions or precautions will apply after the procedure? Basically, we want to reduce your chances of infection during the first week following the procedure. You'll be given your medications and written instructions on how to care for your eyes. Can I wear contact lenses after the procedure if I need to? Typically, patients can wear contacts as early as about 1 week following the procedure. I called another center and they said they are using the best equipment. Good equipment is an important factor in receiving good results. At TLC, we are committed to doing what is best for you in the safest way possible. That is why TLC uses the Leibert unit to control airflow and humidity in the OR. We also have access to some of the most advanced technology because we are an international company. How many procedures have your surgeons done? We have found that it isn't just the number of cases a doctor has performed that is important but also the degree of training they have received in order to handle each patient individually and carefully. All doctors in the TLC network are certified to perform the procedure and/or to administer pre-operative and post-operative care. Our certification program goes beyond those outlined by the FDA. All our surgeons are experienced ophthalmologists who must complete an extensive LVC training program with our Senior TLC Surgeons who have performed 1000's of cases and some who actually wrote the book of LVC. We also have a partnership with 12,500 eye doctors nationwide. All TLC affiliated doctors adhere to the TLC protocols. TLC performs approximately 10,000 procedures each month. We have the most experienced LVC experts in North America. I talked with another center and they said you are paying for referrals. That is why the price is so high. We cannot explain why another center might discount their services, but we at TLC believe in the highest quality. The cost of our procedure is a global fee. That means there are no hidden costs at TLC. The cost of your procedure includes everything you need in order to have it done. Pre-testing, follow-up care for the first 12 months, medicines, surgical equipment, surgeon's fee and free enhancements for at least 2 years. You may even qualify for Lifetime Commitment so enhancements are covered for the rest of your life.