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Frequently Asked Questions: What can refractive surgery do for me? What can refractive surgery do for me? Most people who wear contact lenses or glasses wish they did not have to do so. Imagine the freedom to enjoy sports or travel without the worry of contact lenses! Does wearing glasses pose limitations or a safety risk with your job? Do you have trouble finding fashionable frames that you find appealing or that fit comfortably? Would you like to cut the expense of glasses, contact lenses and care products? Advanced laser surgery has now made it possible for you to reduce your overall dependence on corrective lenses, or possibly eliminate them altogether. What is vision correction surgery or refractive surgery? Refractive surgery is laser surgery to correct refractive errors including nearsightedness(myopia), farsightedness(hyperopia) and astigmatism. An excimer laser is a surgical instrument that produces a powerful beam of focused ultraviolet light. The laser is controlled by the surgeon and produces a series of rapid pulses that remove small and precise amounts of corneal tissue. Often, only 50 microns of tissue (about the thickness of a human hair) are removed to achieve the proper amount of correction. Excimer laser light does not penetrate into the eye and leaves other eye structures undisturbed. The Mason Eye Institute uses the VISX Star 4 laser to provide the latest, most advanced refractive technology. Hyperopia (farsightedness) occurs when light rays entering the eye are focused behind your retina instead of directly on it. Farsightedness is typically hereditary, begins in childhood and stabilizes in the late teens or early adulthood. Options for correcting hyperopia include eyeglasses, contact lenses, LASEK, PRK, LASIK and other surgical procedures including refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery. To correct hyperopia, the excimer laser beam is applied to steepen the front of the cornea by removing small amounts of tissue from a ring shaped area in the periphery of the cornea. Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects approximately 70 million people in the United States. Myopia occurs when light rays entering the eye are focused in front of your retina instead of directly on it. Options for correcting nearsightedness include eyeglasses, contact lenses, PRK, LASEK, LASIK and other surgical procedures including refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery. To correct myopia, the excimer laser beam is applied to flatten the front of the cornea by removing small amounts of tissue from the central corneal surface. Astigmatism is when the cornea is oval shaped rather than round. The light rays coming into the eye are bent unequally, thus preventing sharp focus on the retina. Slight uncorrected astigmatism may not cause symptoms but a large amount may result in significant blurring. Options for correcting astigmatism include eyeglasses, toric contact lenses and refractive surgery. What is PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)? PRK is laser surgery to correct refractive errors including nearsightedness(myopia), farsightedness(hyperopia) and astigmatism. In PRK the surface cell layer of the cornea is removed then the laser beam is applied. What is LASEK (Laser Assisted Epithelial Keratomileusis)? LASEK is very similar to PRK with the difference being the preparation of the corneal surface. For LASEK, a chemical compound is placed on the cornea to soften its uppermost layer of cells. These cells are then rolled back to provide a smooth area for the laser to be applied. After the laser procedure is completed, the surface cell layer is rolled back over the lasered area. What is LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)? LASIK utilizes an automated microkeratome and the excimer laser. The microkeratome is used to create a thin circular flap of corneal tissue. The flap is connected at one side and is lifted back out of the way. The laser beam is then applied to the exposed cornea. Once the laser is complete, the corneal flap is then manually repositioned. The WaveScan is an ophthalmic diagnostic instrument that measures the refractive error and wavefront aberrations (distortions) of the human eye. This technology was originally developed for use in high powered telescopes to reduce distortions when viewing distant objects in space. The technology has now been applied to laser vision correction, measuring imperfections in the eye never before measured using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses. WaveScan measures imperfections in your eyes 25 times more precisely than standard methods. What is custom laser or CustomVue Technology? The powerful WaveScan software translates the information into a set of CustomVue treatment instructions for the laser. These digital treatment instructions are then transferred to the laser, driving a new level of precision and accuracy. Until now, eye doctors were forced to practice one-size-fits-all vision. WaveScan technology can custom tailor a correction for the unique characteristics of your vision. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with refractive surgery. The risk of serious complications is rare at approximately 1%. Patients may temporarily experience fluctuations in vision, a feeling of dryness, light sensitivity or distortion of lights at night. These symptoms usually get better as the eye heals and are often completely resolved in 3-6 months. Reduce overall dependence on corrective lenses Recreational activities, especially water sports, hunting, skiing Increased occupational opportunities – pilots, military, actors, politicians Cosmetic results Cut expense of contacts and glasses Improved unaided vision Am I a candidate for refractive surgery? At Mason Eye Institute we treat patients, not just eyes. There are several factors the doctor will consider to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery. Age, general health, spectacle or contact lens prescription, and the health of your eyes are a few factors considered. A comprehensive eye exam and specialized testing are necessary to assess your potential. For additional information on refractive surgery at the Mason Eye Institute, please call Coy Cobb or Janis Smarr at (573) 882-6051 or email CobbC@health.missouri.edu or SmarrJR@health.missouri.edu . Remember, your eyes deserve the best! Mason Eye Institute East The following is an explanation of costs associated with the various refractive surgeries performed at Mason Eye Institute East, University of Missouri-Columbia. Costs associated with refractive surgery are:
There is no charge if an enhancement, or re-treatment, is required for the same procedure within the first six months. If an enhancement is required after six months but before two years, the fee is $250 per eye. Refractive surgery is not covered by Medicare, Medicaid nor by most third party payors. Full payment for the surgical procedure is expected prior to the surgery being performed. All major credit cards are accepted. |
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