Frequently Asked Questions
The eye is one of the most complex and remarkable organs of the human body, and the part of the brain that deals with sight is, by far, larger than the parts that deal with any of the other senses. Because sight is the most treasured of the five main senses, your decision to have an elective procedure on your eyes is an important one. For this reason, it is important to be well informed about refractive surgery. The most common questions about refractive surgery are answered below, but if you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.
How much does refractive surgery cost?
Refractive surgeries at Green Bay Eye Clinic are dependent on what option is best for you. Therefore, the fees range in price, depending on the procedure. These fees are global, though, and include all expenses associated with the surgery (i.e. doctor’s and facility fees, laser royalty fees, etc., medication and eye drops needed before and after surgery, all follow-up visits for one year, and free enhancements for two years). Our lifetime commitment also backs future enhancements on many of the procedures, though these retreatments are seldom needed after the first year or two.
Flexible spending accounts/cafeteria plans or medical itemizing on year-end taxes can show savings up to 35%. We also offer a variety of payment plans available, including interest-free or payment-free options.
Are refractive surgeries covered by insurance?
Because there are other, non-surgical means of correcting vision (namely glasses and contacts), refractive surgeries are considered elective and are typically not covered by insurance companies. However, there are some policies that do offer coverages or discounts, so it may be helpful to check with your particular provider.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate and which procedure is best for me?
A patient’s age and level of refractive error are used to determine which procedure is best. Through a free screening, Green Bay Eye Clinic staff can help with this determination as well as give specific information about the procedures.
A good candidate is also someone who is in good, general health (or whose conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorder, AIDS, etc. are under control). The overall healthiness of the eye can be determined prior to surgery with a thorough, dilated eye exam.
The vast majority of individuals with refractive errors (95%) fall within the range of eligibility for refractive surgery of some kind. The remaining 5% of the nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic population have refractive errors or other contraindications that would give poor results. However, Green Bay Eye Clinic is well-known for taking on complex visual cases, and with today’s advancing technology, there may someday be hope for everyone.
What risks are involved with refractive surgery?
There are always risks associated with surgical procedures; refractive surgery is no different. Severe complications are rare with corrective eye surgery, but they still can occur.
Major improvements in refractive surgery have taken place in the instrumentation and knowledge, while experienced refractive surgeons have refined the procedure to the point where the risks are minimized. A thorough explanation of risks is discussed during the consultation and exam.
Is there an age limit?
A candidate must be at least 18 years old (21 for some procedures), but there is no upper end limit. The decision to have refractive surgery depends greatly on the overall healthiness of the eye and the lifestyle of the patient. The patient’s vision must also be stable, which is usually achieved by the time a patient is in his early twenties.
How long will the surgery take?
Generally, a patient can expect to be in the office for 1 to 2 hours - depending on the type of procedure being performed. During most of this time, patients will fill out paperwork, have photos and scans taken, and be prepped for surgery. Surgery time can take anywhere from 3-20 minutes per eye, depending on the procedure. Nevertheless, the actual laser time of a LASIK and PRK treatment is usually a matter of seconds, and the radio-frequency energy pulses with CK are each about 1/16th of a second.
Are refractive surgeries painful?
There is generally very little discomfort associated with the procedure itself. Topical anesthetic eye drops are used to numb the eye for the surgery, and a mild sedative can be given to help relax the patient. Afterwards, thre can be a few hours of mild scratchiness, irritation, and light sensitivity; however, medications are given to relieve discomfort and to promote healing.
Can both eyes be done at one time?
Most LASIK and CK patients may choose to have one or both eyes done at a time. When deciding to have both eyes done the same day, patients need to understand that the risk of a complication increases slightly.
In the case of PRK, RLE and ICL's, only one eye can be done at a time. The time between surgeries may range from a few days to weeks to months, depending on how quickly the first eye heals and responds to treatment. The doctor will help make this decision.
Can I drive home after my procedure?
No. Arrangements need to be made to have someone drive you home after surgery. Though there is an immediate change in your vision following surgery, you will have hazy vision, tearing, and light sensitivity.
How long is recovery time?
Recovery varies from one individual to the next and from one procedure to the next. The average person is able to go back to work in one to two days following surgery. With all procedures, vision continues to improve as the eye heals.
LASIK patients generally have dramatically improved vision within a few days. Likewise, visual recovery is quite rapid with CK, ICL's and RLE, and patients will generally notice a significant difference in their vision within one to two days. With all these procedures, though, full vision recovery can take several months.
Visual recovery with PRK is slower, and a temporary surgical contact “band-aid” is placed on the eye to help speed the healing process. The first eye that is surgically corrected with PRK may have hazy vision for some time, taking anywhere from a few weeks to months before it is in a vision range where the second eye can be operated on.
Recovery will be longer for a patient who needs an enhancement, or retreatment, to fine tune vision if it is not fully corrected. If a LASIK or CK enhancement is needed, the doctor and patient will determine when that enhancement should be done. Generally, this is about three months after the initial surgery. Due to the longer visual recovery and stabilization period of PRK patients, a six-month wait is needed for an enhancement.
Are any scars or marks noticeable after surgery?
LASIK patients may have a very faint outline of the flap visible under a microscope. As time goes by, these edges become less apparent. In most PRK cases, little evidence remains once the eye has healed completely, even when looking at the cornea under a microscope. With CK, micro-punctures and straie on the cornea are not noticeable to the naked eye but are visible under a strong microscope and become less apparent over time. RLE and ICL's small entry incisions will only be noticeable under a microscope.
What side effects may occur?
Immediately following surgery, patients can expect watering of the eye and a burning and/or scratchy feeling. These symptoms typically last a few hours to a few days. It is also common for eyes to be dry for several weeks after surgery.
Some patients heal very quickly with little or no side effects, while others heal more slowly and have lingering after effects. Usually, resulting symptoms are minor and go away with time; however, there are recorded cases in which side effects have become permanent. Some of these side effects include light sensitivity, halos and/or starburst patterns around lit objects at night, fluctuating vision, a decrease in night vision, and a loss of visual sharpness.
What visual outcome can I expect?
Studies show that nearly all good refractive surgery candidates obtain 20/40 vision or better without glasses or contacts. (A visual acuity of 20/40 is the legal vision needed to pass a driver’s test.) Regardless of which procedure they choose, these candidates have very few post-operative complications, as long as the procedure is appropriate for their refractive error.
This is why Green Bay Eye Clinic offers both surgical and non-surgical corrective options. The clinic is not strictly a LASIK facility. Instead, it can offer patients treatments that are best for them.
If I do not achieve full correction after surgery, can I wear contact lenses?
Most, but not all, patients who wore contacts before refractive surgery can wear them after. However, in many cases, a retreatment is possible so lenses are needed.
What kind of guarantee can be made that I will have good results?
The odds are that if you are a good candidate and elect to have refractive surgery, you will become less dependent on your glasses or contacts. However, even with excellent surgery results, there may be times when you occasionally will want to “fine tune” your vision with glasses. There is also a small percentage of individuals who need to continue to wear correction full time after surgery in spite of the fact that they were good candidates for surgery.
In addition to the risk of being left slightly undercorrected at the final outcome, a very small risk of being overcorrected might necessitate the use of glasses or contacts for that problem. Also, regardless of whether or not you have a successful surgery, when you develop the age-related condition called presbyopia, you will still need reading glasses. Be wary of anyone that makes extravagant promises – no one should ever GUARANTEE that you will never need glasses again.
Do you have a question for us? Feel free to ask it by emailing us or filling out the online form.
