FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What is IntraLase Blade-Free Method?
With the IntraLase method, pulses of laser light create your corneal flap, which is then lifted so the next step of LASIK -- the reshaping of your cornea -- can be performed. Unlike mechanical instruments, IntraLase technology is uniquely able to program the dimensions of your flap based on what's best for your eye. Then the IntraLase laser creates your flap from below the surface of the cornea, without ever cutting it. How?

1. Ultra-fast pulses of laser light position microscopic bubbles at a precise depth determined by your doctor.

2. The laser light passes harmlessly through your cornea to create rows of these bubbles just beneath the surface as it moves back and forth across your eye in a uniform pattern.

3. Next, the IntraLase laser stacks bubbles around your corneal diameter to create the edges of your flap. These bubbles are stacked at an angle that is determined by your doctor and is individualized to the way your eye is shaped.

4. The process takes only about 30 seconds from start to finish. It's quiet, and it's comfortable.

5. Your doctor then gently lifts the flap to allow for the second step of your LASIK treatment. When treatment is complete, the flap easily "locks" back into position and rapidly begins to heal.

The IntraLase method has been used successfully on over one million eyes, and we trust this advanced technology to deliver exceptional results. Our commitment is to provide you with the ultimate in comfort, safety, and outstanding vision. LASIK with IntraLase helps you achieve all of this while it delivers the added assurance of knowing you're being treated with the most advanced technology there is.


How is LASIK performed?
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the clear front portion of the eye) to redirect light entering the eye and correctly focus it on the back of the eye. After administration of anesthetic eye drops, the procedure is performed by folding back a thin layer of corneal tissue and then reshaping the underlying layer of cornea with the light from the excimer laser. After the laser treatment, the corneal flap is replaced where it will bond back to the underlying cornea without the need for stitches.

The result of correcting the thin layers of tissue causes the center of the cornea to flatten in the case of myopia (nearsightedness), steepen in the case of hyperopia (farsightedness), or become more rounded in the case of astigmatism, thus changing the focusing power of the cornea without the need of glasses or contact lenses.

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Is the procedure painful?
LASIK is essentially painless. Before the procedure, your eyes will be numbed with an anesthetic eye drop. Some patients may experience a feeling of light pressure from the lid speculum (the instrument used to hold your eyelids open) or from the instrument used to create the corneal flap. Frequent use of artificial tears following LASIK will help prevent the feeling of dry, scratchy eyes and will also greatly aid in the eye’s healing process.

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Will my vision be 20/20 after the procedure?
You will likely notice a significant improvement in vision immediately following the procedure, but your vision is likely to fluctuate for a few days as the eyes heal. Your vision will continue to clear during the first week following LASIK. Although the goal of LASIK is to improve vision to the point of not being dependent on glasses or contacts, we cannot guarantee that your vision will be 20/20. You can rest assured that we will take extreme care during the measurement process and will take every precaution to ensure that your results are to your satisfaction.




What are the risks and side effects of LASIK surgery?
Every surgery has risks as well as benefits. LASIK has a 1% complication rate, and the vast majority of these complications are treatable or correctable with an additional LASIK procedure. Some risks and side effects of LASIK include over- or under-correction, increased sensitivity to light, glare or halos around lights at night, or dry eyes. You should be aware that there is a risk of infection, which can result in irregular scarring or loss of vision if not treated correctly. Studies have shown that you have a greater chance of being injured or killed in a car accident than you have for losing vision due to an infection after LASIK surgery. These and other complications will be fully discussed with you prior to your LASIK procedure.

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Will both eyes be done on the same day?
In most cases, both eyes are treated on the same day. This will allow you to take the proper medications for each eye at the same time, since eye drops may be used for several weeks before and after the procedure, and will reduce the amount of office visits for your pre- and post-op care.

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How long is the procedure?
Although the procedure itself generally lasts under 15 minutes for both eyes, you should plan to be at our office for at least one hour on the day of surgery to account for pre-op preparations and post-op evaluations.

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Will I ever need glasses again?
Although the goal of LASIK is to improve vision to the point of not being dependent on glasses or contacts, we cannot guarantee that your vision will be 20/20 following the procedure. You should understand that your eyes will continue to change as you age, possibly causing you to develop myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) over a length of time, though it is rare. Most people will eventually develop presbyopia (the loss of reading vision) sometime after the age of 40 and will require the use of reading glasses. LASIK cannot treat presbyopia. Additional treatments or other procedures (such as CK for presbyopia) are available to correct the above refractive errors.

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Will my insurance cover LASIK surgery?
The majority of insurance carriers has deemed LASIK as an elective surgery and will not cover the cost of the procedure, although more insurance companies have recently begun to cover LASIK as a medical procedure. You will need to check with your insurance carrier by calling their customer service phone number to determine if they will provide you full or partial reimbursement. Southern Eye Associates also offers financing through ChaseHealthAdvance. You can learn more about this financing option by visiting www.chasehealthadvance.com, or by calling their toll-free number at (888) 519-6111. We also offer financing through CareCredit. Visit them at www.carecredit.com or call them at (800) 365-8295.

How long has LASIK been available?
LASIK has been available since the early 1990’s, but was not FDA approved to treat myopia (nearsightedness) until 1995. Dr. Cathy Schanzer, our medical director and chief surgeon, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and has been performing LASIK surgery since 1996. Dr. Schanzer receives patient referrals from over 300 mid-south optometrists and has treated many of the area’s doctors and their family members as well.

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Are there certain restrictions following the procedure?
Most patients are able to return to work two to three days following their procedure. You should be prepared to use eye drops for several weeks before and after LASIK to prevent infection and help the healing process. Frequent use of artificial tears will greatly improve your vision results. Your eyes may be more susceptible to traumatic eye injury after LASIK, so protective eyewear is recommended for all sports where a direct blow to the eye may occur. You will also be asked to wear a clear protective shield over each eye when sleeping to help prevent unconscious rubbing of the eyes which can lead to a misplaced flap and other complications.

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Can I still wear contacts after LASIK?
Most patients will not require contact lenses after the procedure. If the eyes have been under- or over- corrected, they can usually be enhanced, or fine-tuned, with another procedure. The nationwide enhancement rate is about 5% whereas Southern Eye’s rate is approximately 2%. If you still wish to wear contact lenses following surgery, you should be able to without any difficulty (if you could before having the procedure).

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What equipment do you use for LASIK?
We are proud to offer one of the only IntraLase 100% blade-free LASIK methods in the Mid-south, allowing a more precise, customized corneal flap for each patient. Southern Eye Associates was the first in the tri-state area to offer LASIK using the scanning slit beam technology provided by the NIDEK EC-5000 Excimer laser. We utilize the NIDEK wavefront technology for every patient, allowing us to deliver accurate, individualized correction using a “fingerprint” of your vision. We also utilize the Wavelight Allegretto Excimer laser for rare cases of irregular astigmatism.

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How much does it cost?
LASIK at Southern Eye Associates is $1,299 per eye. This includes your pre-operative and post-operative care for six full months. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express credit cards. Because LASIK is considered elective surgery (cosmetic), most health insurance plans do not cover it. However, Southern Eye Associates also offers financing through ChaseHealthAdvance. You can learn more about this financing option by visiting www.chasehealthadvance.com, or by calling their toll-free number at (888) 519-6111. We also offer financing through CareCredit. Visit them at www.carecredit.com or call them at (800) 365-8295.

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