LASIK is remarkably safe. Dr. Martin and his team have a thorough pre-operative evaluation protocol, a rigorous planning process, and multiple levels of safety built-in during the laser procedure itself. It is impossible for almost 30 million procedures to have been done worldwide without a proven safety profile, and highly predictable results. The primary side effect you may experience after custom LASIK is temporary dry eye. Because the corneal nerves are disrupted when making the flap, it takes a few months for these to heal and function normally again. So, it is generally necessary for you to use lubricating eye drops for a few months afterward. Occasionally, this dryness may lead you to see more glare at night, or experience a little cloudy or foggy vision while working on the computer for an extended period each day. But there is nothing wrong with the LASIK, and these side effects usually resolve after a few weeks. If you have other questions about risks or side effects, we’ll cover each specific question with you during your consultation and informed consent process.
Is LASIK safe?
How long should I be out of contacts before LASIK?
Many people who wear contact lenses have been wearing them for years, for prolonged periods, and sometimes even sleep in them. As a result, it’s difficult to determine exactly what condition your corneas are in until we see you for your consultation. Generally, with soft daily wear contacts, you’ll only need to be out of them for 5 days prior to your preoperative evaluation and 48 hours before your LASIK procedure. With hard contact lenses, the rule of thumb is 4-6 weeks, but this varies from patient to patient. We’ll tell you exactly when we see you for your consultation.
How much is LASIK and what will the fee cover?
The usual and customary fee for custom LASIK is currently $2,600 per eye or $5,200 for both eyes. Patients paying by check, credit card or cash, Ohio LASIK Centers will offer a cash discount bringing the cost to $2,450 per eye or $4,900 for both eyes.
The usual and customary fee for traditional LASIK is currently $2,450 per eye or $4,900 for both eyes. Patients paying by check, credit card or cash, Ohio LASIK Centers will offer a cash discount bringing the cost to $2,200 per eye or $4,400 for both eyes.
These fees covers the cost of the custom LASIK procedure and 90 days of postoperative care. All visits beyond the 90-day postoperative period will incur your optometrist’s customary fees. This fee also covers an automatic enrollment into our Lifetime LASIK Program.
Full payment must be made prior to your LASIK treatment. Patient’s utilizing insurance coverage or CareCredit will incur or finance a fee in the amount of $4,420.
No other offers or promotions will be applied or stacked on an existing discount.
How long will I be off work?
Most patients are off work only the day of the procedure. We ask you to go home afterward and relax, ideally taking a long nap. The next day, you are generally seeing well enough to drive yourself into the office for your post-op visit. Some work environments, if especially dusty, windy or underwater, will require a longer time off. Ask us if you have specific concerns about your profession or travel and activity restraints.
Patients who have PRK instead of LASIK will undergo a longer healing process and vision may continue to be blurry for the first few days. This will usually stabilize after the first week. With PRK, your eyes may continue to tear, have a “foreign body” sensation, or be sensitive to light during this first week. An over the counter pain reliever may be used if the patient encounters any discomfort. Normal activities may be resumed after the first week; however, you should avoid swimming or tanning beds for two weeks and refrain from swimming and water activities, in oceans or natural bodies of water, for six weeks.
Is 20/20 vision guaranteed after LASIK?
LASIK is highly accurate, however, the human cornea is living tissue and if your healing response is a little more or a little less than expected, there is a slight chance you’ll need a touch-up procedure, called an enhancement. Following your doctor’s directions and drop regimen will help to ensure you have a great visual outcome.
In most cases, we will know if you need an enhancement within a couple of months of your original procedure.
How long do LASIK results last?
LASIK is a permanent modification to the cornea’s shape that will last a lifetime.
Will I need reading glasses after the procedure?
Your eyes continue to age and the lens inside your eye will go through two significant changes. First, the lens will become less flexible and sometime around age 45 you’ll experience presbyopia (difficulty reading up close). Second, the lens will become cloudy over time, probably in your sixties or seventies, and you’ll experience vision problems due to cataracts. These conditions will occur, regardless of whether you have LASIK or not.
Will I ever need to see an optometrist after LASIK?
As part of the Lifetime LASIK Program, Ohio LASIK Centers encourages each patient to visit their optometrist on an annual basis to maintain ocular health. You will receive your Lifetime LASIK Program passport from Ohio LASIK Centers the day of your procedure. The program booklet allows you and your optometrist to easily track your follow-up care; providing you eligibility, reassurance, and a lifetime of great vision.