Talamo Laser Eye Consultants
Reservoir Place - Waltham MA
Kendall Square - Cambridge MA
781-890-7797
LASIK - Laser Eye Surgery
If you are seeking investigating LASIK or PRK in Boston call us today to get the answers you have been seeking.
Cataract patients now have the option to have their vision corrected to allow them to see at both near and far distances after cataract surgery!
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Our DOCTORS
Dr. Jonathan H. Talamo's clinical team includes Dr. Kathryn M. Hatch, Dr. Karen L. Zar and a group of experienced, talented, caring office and operating room personnel whose principal goal is to make your visit with us as informative, pleasant and as stress-free as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Note: This document was compiled and edited by our team and by the surgeons. Its intent is to answer most frequently asked questions over several years of refractive surgical practice. If you have additional concerns, please be sure to communicate them to a member of the team or to your surgeon.
WHAT IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST?
An ophthalmologist is a physician (medical doctor) who specializes in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of the eyes. An ophthalmologist obtains a medical degree and then completes further specialty training.
WHAT IS AN OPTOMETRIST?
An optometrist is a doctor of optometry who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system.
WHAT IS MYOPIA OR NEARSIGHTEDNESS?
Nearsightedness is a condition where the cornea is curved too much and causes the light to focus short of the retina. With nearsightedness you can see objects up close but objects in the distance appear blurry.
WHAT IS HYPEROPIA OR FARSIGHTEDNESS?
Farsightedness is a condition where the cornea is too flat and causes light to focus behind the retina. With farsightedness you see objects clearly in the distance but close objects appear blurry.
WHAT IS ASTIGMATISM?
The front of the astigmatic eye has an irregular shape, more oval, like a football. Incoming light focuses on multiple points instead of one. Astigmatism can make wearing contact lenses difficult or even impossible. Astigmatism is often combined with nearsightedness or farsightedness, which results in objects at all distances appearing blurry. Since 1996, laser vision correction has been an option for people with astigmatism who want clear, comfortable vision.
WHAT IS PRESBYOPIA?
As people age, the natural lens in their eyes hardens and loses its flexibility, impairing its ability to vary its shape for different ranges and focus. This condition is known as Presbyopia and develops in most people between 40-50 years of age. The need for reading glasses is a very common problem for most people as they enter their middle years.
WHAT IS MONOVISION?
Monovision is one option for dealing with the focusing problems caused by Presbyopia, and works by correcting one eye for near and the other eye for distance Other options are using reading glasses or wearing bifocal glasses that can provide both near and far vision.
Monovision can be achieved through corrective lenses or through refractive surgery. One eye can be corrected for distance and the corrected to provide better close vision. If this option seems desirable, your surgeon may suggest a simulation test during comprehensive examination or using contact lenses, to achieve the similar effect prior to surgery to determine your ability to adapt to this situation.
IS LASER VISION CORRECTION SAFE?
Yes. Millions of patients every year have has this treatment performed on them successfully. The FDA has approved numerous lasers for correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and found the treatment safe and effective for eligible patients. Although there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, today’s laser vision correction procedures are extremely precise. The more experienced the surgeon is, the more knowledgeable he/she will be about preventing and managing any complications. In addition to having performed tens of thousands of these procedures, Dr. Talamo has trained hundreds of other eye surgeons.
WHAT IS AK?
Astigmatic Keratotomy, or AK was the earliest form of corneal refractive surgery. It treats astigmatism, as the name suggests. AK is similar to RK in that it is incisional surgery, but the calculated surgical incisions are made traverse ( across vs. radial pattern as in RK) to the cornea.
WHAT IS AN ENHANCEMENT?
Every patient and surgeon wants to achieve perfect vision with one treatment. However, sometimes patients with a higher correction may require a further treatment. It is more difficult to accurately predict the outcome results at higher corrections than it is with a lower correction. In these types of cases it is not unusual to perform a second procedure after the first is healed. The additional procedure is used to refine or improve the original visual results and is called an enhancement.
HOW LONG AFTER THE FIRST PROCEDURE WILL THE ENHANCEMENT TYPICALLY BE DONE?
That will depend on the type of refractive procedure. With LASIK and PRK, most surgeons wait 6 to 12 months. With Intacs, the waiting is significantly less. Your surgeon will advise the proper timeframe for your specific healing process.
IF I HAVE A LASIK ENHANCEMENT, WILL A NEW FLAP BE NECESSARY?
It is possible the doctor will need to create a new flap, although very unlikely. It is also possible that your doctor will lift the existing flap or place laser treatment on top of the flap.
WHAT IS PHAKIC IOL?
A lens placed inside the eye in order to treat extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness. These devices have been approved for the treatment of nearsightness by the FDA, and may be an excellent solution for patients who are not candidates for laser vision correction. Dr. Talamo has a great deal of experience with Phakic IOL’s for myopia and frequently recommends them for high degrees of myopia.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Advanced technology combined with an experienced surgeon and staff reduces risk, however, and the vast majority of our patients are extremely satisfied with the results of surgery.
Infection is the rarest but most serious risk. However, your surgeon and technicians maintain the highest standard of sterilization. The patient also has a responsibility to follow the doctor’s post-operative instructions to prevent infection.
When you come in for your evaluation the doctor will cover all possible risks and answer all of your questions.
COULD I GO BLIND?
The chance of having even a mildly a vision reducing complication has been documented in our experience in a number of clinical studies to be a tiny fraction of 1%, and in those cases the amount of visual reduction was almost always minimal. The skill and years of experience of our surgeons reduces the probability of any risks still further.
When you come in for your pre-operative evaluation, the surgeon will discuss possible risks and answer all of your questions.
WILL SURGICAL VISION CORRECTION CREATE OR PROMOTE CATARACTS, GLAUCOMA, ETC.?
Should you be genetically predisposed to cataracts, glaucoma, etc., vision correction procedures in general should neither promote nor deter when this would normally happen.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF LASER VISION CORRECTION?
o Dry eyes and increased sensitivity to light
o Halo effect from bright light at night
o Decreased visual acuity in dim light (reduced contrast)
IS LASIK PAINFUL?
Not usually. You will be given numbing drops at the time of the procedure. You may experience a slight sandy or gritty feeling after your procedure. Your surgeon will provide you with a mild pain medication if necessary. However, most patients say that they didn’t even need an aspirin. You will be awake during the procedure, but this is all right because the treatment is painless.
DO YOU CORRECT BOTH EYES AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes, we can. The recovery time for Lasik and Intacs procedures is very quick; therefore, doing both eyes at the same time is common. For phakic implants, however, Dr. Talamo treats one eye at a time. The surgeon will be able to help you determine the best way for you when you come in for your complimentary examination.
IS LASER VISION CORRECTION PERMANENT?
Laser Vision Correction has been common in many countries around the world since the late 1980’s. In addition, many clinical studies have looked at the long-term effects of the excimer laser on the cornea. While the long-term effects beyond 12 years have not been studied, every study performed so far has shown (with rare exceptions) that there are no long-term effects of the laser on the eye’s integrity or strength. The studies show that the results of the procedure will lose its effectiveness over time in most cases.
When you come in for your evaluation we’ll be happy to go over everything you will need to know and answer all of your questions.
WILL I BE 20/20 AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
While vision correction procedures have been proven overwhelmingly successful in reducing dependence on glasses and contact lenses, the degree of improvement may vary among individuals. How well and how quickly your vision improves depends on how well you heal and the severity of your prescription. During your evaluation, your doctor will help determine the range of your probable outcome based on your particular prescription, healing profile and expectations.
Today’s vision correction procedures are extremely accurate and we target your best-corrected vision. The majority of our patients are able to see well enough to function without glasses or contacts at all.
HOW LONG HAS THE EXCIMER LASER BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA?
The excimer laser had been available outside the United States for eight years before the U.S. approved it for use in this country. The first nearsighted patient’s eye ever treated with laser vision correction in the United States was in 1987.
The first excimer laser was approved for commercial use by The US Food and Drug Administration on, October 20, 1995 for the treatment of mild to moderate nearsightedness (-1.5 to 7.0 diopters with astigmatism no greater than 1.5 diopters) in persons 21 or older. The FDA approved the excimer laser to correct astigmatism in April 1997 and farsightedness in November 1998.
HOW LONG HAS LASIK BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA?
Lasik is a medical procedure and therefore not something that requires FDA approval. However, the FDA has approved the use of many excimer lasers for Lasik to treat a variety of refractive errors.
WHAT DOES OFF-LABEL USE MEAN?
Some but not to many variations of the Lasik procedure are considered an “off-label” use of the FDA approved excimer laser. The FDA does not evaluate surgical procedures that
do not require a new medical device. The best way to explain it is by using another example. The FDA approved aspirin for headaches when it was first approved for sale in the U.S. However, aspirin is widely prescribed and successfully used to treat high blood pressure. That would be an “off-label” use for aspirin. Lasik is commonly used “off-label” to treat farsightedness with or without astigmatism. Mitomycin C is used “off-label” to help intra corneal healing after PRK.
WHICH LASER IS THE BEST?
Each laser company claims their laser is the best. The best equipment in the world will not compensate for an unskilled surgeon. However, most surgeons have very definite preferences. If you choose the best surgeon and then let that surgeon choose his/her equipment, you will have the highest probability for your best visual outcome.
HOW LONG DOES THE LASIK PROCEDURE TAKE?
You will be in the laser suite for about 25 minutes, but you should plan on being there about 2 hours to complete pre and post-operative procedures and instructions.
AM I A CANDIDATE?
The surgeon can tell you if vision correction is right for you. Some general guidelines are:
o You must have healthy eyes.
o You must be at least 18 years old.
o Your vision must be stable for at least one year before the laser procedure is done (no significant change in your correction for the previous 12 months).
WHAT IF MY EYES KEEP CHANGING?
Stable vision is a qualification requirement to be a candidate for laser vision correction procedures.
WHAT WOULD ELIMINATE ME AS A CANDIDATE FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY?
You are not a good candidate if you have autoimmune diseases, or you’re pregnant or nursing.
CAN PEOPLE “ POSSIBLY” BE A CANDIDATE FOR INTACS IF THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD RK, PRK OR LASIK?
RK = Possibly, but surgeon will need to examine you to determine your specific situation.
PRK and Lasik = Probably. The surgeon will need to examine you to determine your specific situation.
I HAVE WORN CONTACTS FOR YEARS, IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Not usually. We will ask you not to wear contacts, especially hard contacts for 2 –8 weeks before being evaluated for any refractive procedure. This allows the cornea to relax back to its original condition. When you come in for a complimentary evaluation, the amount of time for you can be determined.
IF I NEED TO, CAN I WEAR CONTACT LENSES AFTER LASER VISION CORRECTION?
The great majority of patients do not require the use of contact lenses post-operatively. Generally, if a patient was able to wear contact lenses comfortably prior to surgery, they will be successful in wearing them again after surgery. It may require some time to build up to the same number of hours that a patient used to be able to wear contact lenses before surgery. (Like starting with contact lenses all over again).
CAN I SCUBA DIVE OR HIKE TO HIGH ALTITUDES AFTER REFRACTIVE PROCEDURES?
Typically, yes. However, if you intend to participate in any extreme sports, please discuss with you surgeon how vision correction procedures may affect your particular situation.
CAN I GET A PILOT’S LICENSE IF I HAVE REFRACTIVE SURGERY?
Yes, You will need to have your surgeon complete some FAA forms and meet certain FAA vision requirements. If you fly commercially, you should get clearance from your employer.
HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN RETURN TO WORK?
We recommend you take the day after surgery off, but some people return to work the very next day. Most patients have functional vision within the first 24-48 hours after LASIK, Phakic IOL and Intacs procedures. After PRK, 4 days is realistic.
CAN I DRIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER VISION CORRECTION?
On the day of your procedure, we recommend you have someone with you to drive you home. However, most people can return to driving the next day, although PRK patients may feel they need to wait 3-4 days.
DOES DRY-EYE CONDITION AFFECT A POTENTIAL PATIENT’S CANDIDACY FOR LASER VISION CORRECTION OR INTACS?
It might. A careful evaluation including a microscopic exam of the ocular surface and cornea will be needed to determine that.
DO YOU HAVE FINANCING AVAILABLE?
We do have financing available for refractive surgery. Our staff will be happy to provide you with all the details and assist you in making an application for financing should you desire to do so.
CAN I PAY FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY USING PRE-TAX DOLLARS?
Many patients pay for their refractive surgery procedure with pre-tax dollars by having the money withheld into a pre-tax flexible spending account. Consult with your human resources department or ask one of our office managers for further information.
CAN KERATOCONUS PATIENTS EVER BE CANDIDATES FOR LASER OR INTACS SURGERY?
Yes, but only under certain circumstances. You will need to be examined by an ophthalmic surgeon to determine your specific situation.
Note: This document was compiled and edited by our team and by the surgeons. Its intent is to answer most frequently asked questions over several years of refractive surgical practice. If you have additional concerns, please be sure to communicate them to a member of the team or to your surgeon.
WHAT IS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST?
An ophthalmologist is a physician (medical doctor) who specializes in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of the eyes. An ophthalmologist obtains a medical degree and then completes further specialty training.
WHAT IS AN OPTOMETRIST?
An optometrist is a doctor of optometry who specializes in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system.
WHAT IS MYOPIA OR NEARSIGHTEDNESS?
Nearsightedness is a condition where the cornea is curved too much and causes the light to focus short of the retina. With nearsightedness you can see objects up close but objects in the distance appear blurry.
WHAT IS HYPEROPIA OR FARSIGHTEDNESS?
Farsightedness is a condition where the cornea is too flat and causes light to focus behind the retina. With farsightedness you see objects clearly in the distance but close objects appear blurry.
WHAT IS ASTIGMATISM?
The front of the astigmatic eye has an irregular shape, more oval, like a football. Incoming light focuses on multiple points instead of one. Astigmatism can make wearing contact lenses difficult or even impossible. Astigmatism is often combined with nearsightedness or farsightedness, which results in objects at all distances appearing blurry. Since 1996, laser vision correction has been an option for people with astigmatism who want clear, comfortable vision.
WHAT IS PRESBYOPIA?
As people age, the natural lens in their eyes hardens and loses its flexibility, impairing its ability to vary its shape for different ranges and focus. This condition is known as Presbyopia and develops in most people between 40-50 years of age. The need for reading glasses is a very common problem for most people as they enter their middle years.
WHAT IS MONOVISION?
Monovision is one option for dealing with the focusing problems caused by Presbyopia, and works by correcting one eye for near and the other eye for distance Other options are using reading glasses or wearing bifocal glasses that can provide both near and far vision.
Monovision can be achieved through corrective lenses or through refractive surgery. One eye can be corrected for distance and the corrected to provide better close vision. If this option seems desirable, your surgeon may suggest a simulation test during comprehensive examination or using contact lenses, to achieve the similar effect prior to surgery to determine your ability to adapt to this situation.
IS LASER VISION CORRECTION SAFE?
Yes. Millions of patients every year have has this treatment performed on them successfully. The FDA has approved numerous lasers for correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and found the treatment safe and effective for eligible patients. Although there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, today’s laser vision correction procedures are extremely precise. The more experienced the surgeon is, the more knowledgeable he/she will be about preventing and managing any complications. In addition to having performed tens of thousands of these procedures, Dr. Talamo has trained hundreds of other eye surgeons.
WHAT IS AK?
Astigmatic Keratotomy, or AK was the earliest form of corneal refractive surgery. It treats astigmatism, as the name suggests. AK is similar to RK in that it is incisional surgery, but the calculated surgical incisions are made traverse ( across vs. radial pattern as in RK) to the cornea.
WHAT IS AN ENHANCEMENT?
Every patient and surgeon wants to achieve perfect vision with one treatment. However, sometimes patients with a higher correction may require a further treatment. It is more difficult to accurately predict the outcome results at higher corrections than it is with a lower correction. In these types of cases it is not unusual to perform a second procedure after the first is healed. The additional procedure is used to refine or improve the original visual results and is called an enhancement.
HOW LONG AFTER THE FIRST PROCEDURE WILL THE ENHANCEMENT TYPICALLY BE DONE?
That will depend on the type of refractive procedure. With LASIK and PRK, most surgeons wait 6 to 12 months. With Intacs, the waiting is significantly less. Your surgeon will advise the proper timeframe for your specific healing process.
IF I HAVE A LASIK ENHANCEMENT, WILL A NEW FLAP BE NECESSARY?
It is possible the doctor will need to create a new flap, although very unlikely. It is also possible that your doctor will lift the existing flap or place laser treatment on top of the flap.
WHAT IS PHAKIC IOL?
A lens placed inside the eye in order to treat extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness. These devices have been approved for the treatment of nearsightness by the FDA, and may be an excellent solution for patients who are not candidates for laser vision correction. Dr. Talamo has a great deal of experience with Phakic IOL’s for myopia and frequently recommends them for high degrees of myopia.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Advanced technology combined with an experienced surgeon and staff reduces risk, however, and the vast majority of our patients are extremely satisfied with the results of surgery.
Infection is the rarest but most serious risk. However, your surgeon and technicians maintain the highest standard of sterilization. The patient also has a responsibility to follow the doctor’s post-operative instructions to prevent infection.
When you come in for your evaluation the doctor will cover all possible risks and answer all of your questions.
COULD I GO BLIND?
The chance of having even a mildly a vision reducing complication has been documented in our experience in a number of clinical studies to be a tiny fraction of 1%, and in those cases the amount of visual reduction was almost always minimal. The skill and years of experience of our surgeons reduces the probability of any risks still further.
When you come in for your pre-operative evaluation, the surgeon will discuss possible risks and answer all of your questions.
WILL SURGICAL VISION CORRECTION CREATE OR PROMOTE CATARACTS, GLAUCOMA, ETC.?
Should you be genetically predisposed to cataracts, glaucoma, etc., vision correction procedures in general should neither promote nor deter when this would normally happen.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF LASER VISION CORRECTION?
o Dry eyes and increased sensitivity to light
o Halo effect from bright light at night
o Decreased visual acuity in dim light (reduced contrast)
IS LASIK PAINFUL?
Not usually. You will be given numbing drops at the time of the procedure. You may experience a slight sandy or gritty feeling after your procedure. Your surgeon will provide you with a mild pain medication if necessary. However, most patients say that they didn’t even need an aspirin. You will be awake during the procedure, but this is all right because the treatment is painless.
DO YOU CORRECT BOTH EYES AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes, we can. The recovery time for Lasik and Intacs procedures is very quick; therefore, doing both eyes at the same time is common. For phakic implants, however, Dr. Talamo treats one eye at a time. The surgeon will be able to help you determine the best way for you when you come in for your complimentary examination.
IS LASER VISION CORRECTION PERMANENT?
Laser Vision Correction has been common in many countries around the world since the late 1980’s. In addition, many clinical studies have looked at the long-term effects of the excimer laser on the cornea. While the long-term effects beyond 12 years have not been studied, every study performed so far has shown (with rare exceptions) that there are no long-term effects of the laser on the eye’s integrity or strength. The studies show that the results of the procedure will lose its effectiveness over time in most cases.
When you come in for your evaluation we’ll be happy to go over everything you will need to know and answer all of your questions.
WILL I BE 20/20 AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
While vision correction procedures have been proven overwhelmingly successful in reducing dependence on glasses and contact lenses, the degree of improvement may vary among individuals. How well and how quickly your vision improves depends on how well you heal and the severity of your prescription. During your evaluation, your doctor will help determine the range of your probable outcome based on your particular prescription, healing profile and expectations.
Today’s vision correction procedures are extremely accurate and we target your best-corrected vision. The majority of our patients are able to see well enough to function without glasses or contacts at all.
HOW LONG HAS THE EXCIMER LASER BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA?
The excimer laser had been available outside the United States for eight years before the U.S. approved it for use in this country. The first nearsighted patient’s eye ever treated with laser vision correction in the United States was in 1987.
The first excimer laser was approved for commercial use by The US Food and Drug Administration on, October 20, 1995 for the treatment of mild to moderate nearsightedness (-1.5 to 7.0 diopters with astigmatism no greater than 1.5 diopters) in persons 21 or older. The FDA approved the excimer laser to correct astigmatism in April 1997 and farsightedness in November 1998.
HOW LONG HAS LASIK BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA?
Lasik is a medical procedure and therefore not something that requires FDA approval. However, the FDA has approved the use of many excimer lasers for Lasik to treat a variety of refractive errors.
WHAT DOES OFF-LABEL USE MEAN?
Some but not to many variations of the Lasik procedure are considered an “off-label” use of the FDA approved excimer laser. The FDA does not evaluate surgical procedures that
do not require a new medical device. The best way to explain it is by using another example. The FDA approved aspirin for headaches when it was first approved for sale in the U.S. However, aspirin is widely prescribed and successfully used to treat high blood pressure. That would be an “off-label” use for aspirin. Lasik is commonly used “off-label” to treat farsightedness with or without astigmatism. Mitomycin C is used “off-label” to help intra corneal healing after PRK.
WHICH LASER IS THE BEST?
Each laser company claims their laser is the best. The best equipment in the world will not compensate for an unskilled surgeon. However, most surgeons have very definite preferences. If you choose the best surgeon and then let that surgeon choose his/her equipment, you will have the highest probability for your best visual outcome.
HOW LONG DOES THE LASIK PROCEDURE TAKE?
You will be in the laser suite for about 25 minutes, but you should plan on being there about 2 hours to complete pre and post-operative procedures and instructions.
AM I A CANDIDATE?
The surgeon can tell you if vision correction is right for you. Some general guidelines are:
o You must have healthy eyes.
o You must be at least 18 years old.
o Your vision must be stable for at least one year before the laser procedure is done (no significant change in your correction for the previous 12 months).
WHAT IF MY EYES KEEP CHANGING?
Stable vision is a qualification requirement to be a candidate for laser vision correction procedures.
WHAT WOULD ELIMINATE ME AS A CANDIDATE FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY?
You are not a good candidate if you have autoimmune diseases, or you’re pregnant or nursing.
CAN PEOPLE “ POSSIBLY” BE A CANDIDATE FOR INTACS IF THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD RK, PRK OR LASIK?
RK = Possibly, but surgeon will need to examine you to determine your specific situation.
PRK and Lasik = Probably. The surgeon will need to examine you to determine your specific situation.
I HAVE WORN CONTACTS FOR YEARS, IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Not usually. We will ask you not to wear contacts, especially hard contacts for 2 –8 weeks before being evaluated for any refractive procedure. This allows the cornea to relax back to its original condition. When you come in for a complimentary evaluation, the amount of time for you can be determined.
IF I NEED TO, CAN I WEAR CONTACT LENSES AFTER LASER VISION CORRECTION?
The great majority of patients do not require the use of contact lenses post-operatively. Generally, if a patient was able to wear contact lenses comfortably prior to surgery, they will be successful in wearing them again after surgery. It may require some time to build up to the same number of hours that a patient used to be able to wear contact lenses before surgery. (Like starting with contact lenses all over again).
CAN I SCUBA DIVE OR HIKE TO HIGH ALTITUDES AFTER REFRACTIVE PROCEDURES?
Typically, yes. However, if you intend to participate in any extreme sports, please discuss with you surgeon how vision correction procedures may affect your particular situation.
CAN I GET A PILOT’S LICENSE IF I HAVE REFRACTIVE SURGERY?
Yes, You will need to have your surgeon complete some FAA forms and meet certain FAA vision requirements. If you fly commercially, you should get clearance from your employer.
HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN RETURN TO WORK?
We recommend you take the day after surgery off, but some people return to work the very next day. Most patients have functional vision within the first 24-48 hours after LASIK, Phakic IOL and Intacs procedures. After PRK, 4 days is realistic.
CAN I DRIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER VISION CORRECTION?
On the day of your procedure, we recommend you have someone with you to drive you home. However, most people can return to driving the next day, although PRK patients may feel they need to wait 3-4 days.
DOES DRY-EYE CONDITION AFFECT A POTENTIAL PATIENT’S CANDIDACY FOR LASER VISION CORRECTION OR INTACS?
It might. A careful evaluation including a microscopic exam of the ocular surface and cornea will be needed to determine that.
DO YOU HAVE FINANCING AVAILABLE?
We do have financing available for refractive surgery. Our staff will be happy to provide you with all the details and assist you in making an application for financing should you desire to do so.
CAN I PAY FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY USING PRE-TAX DOLLARS?
Many patients pay for their refractive surgery procedure with pre-tax dollars by having the money withheld into a pre-tax flexible spending account. Consult with your human resources department or ask one of our office managers for further information.
CAN KERATOCONUS PATIENTS EVER BE CANDIDATES FOR LASER OR INTACS SURGERY?
Yes, but only under certain circumstances. You will need to be examined by an ophthalmic surgeon to determine your specific situation.
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