Carolinas Centers For Sight
Wavefront Technology | LASIK | PRK | Are You A Candidate? | Frequently Asked Questions | Financing Options | Testimonials | Refractive Errors
LASIK Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is LASIK covered by insurance?
A: Contact your Benefit Manager to confirm if there are any discounts offered for LASIK surgery. If you have a medical flex spending plan through your employer, you may be able to use it to cover the cost of the LASIK procedure. Vision correction may be tax deductible as a medical expense, so check with your financial advisor.
Q: Is financing available?
A: Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. We offer financing through Wells Fargo with a 12 month/no interest loan. We also provide Care Credit Extended Payment Plans for 24, 36, 48 and 60 months.
Q: Is there pain involved with LASIK?
A: LASIK and PRK are generally considered to be painless procedures. There is little to no discomfort because these surgeries are performed under a topical anesthesia, or numbing drops. During the initial healing period of two to three days, some patients experience a slight discomfort similar to feeling as if there is an eyelash in your eye.
Q: How long does the surgery take?
A: The procedure takes less than five minutes per eye. However, you will be in the office for a couple of hours. During this time, we will perform a WaveScan to determine the individualized correction needed for your vision and program this information into the laser. Every step of the procedure will be explained. You will be prepped for surgery and a post-op kit with instructions will be given to you.
Q: How much time off from work is required for LASIK surgery?
A: This is a state-of-the-art procedure which requires minimal downtime for the patient. The great majority of people who have LASIK are able to return to work and perform normal activities the following day or the day after. We do require one day and one week post-op visits.
Q: How soon will I notice an improvement in my vision?
A: Most patients notice an immediate improvement in their vision. For some, their vision may remain blurry or hazy for the first several hours after surgery, but usually improves quickly.
Q: What is an appropriate vision outcome? (Statistics provided by the International Society of Refractive Surgery)
A: One year after surgery, 100% of LASIK patients were able to pass a driving test, 98% had 20/20 vision or better and 70% could see 20/15 or better. Our goal is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses; however, 20/20 uncorrected vision may not be achieved for everyone.
Q: Is LASIK correction safe?
A: Although there are possible risks with any surgical procedure, serious complications with LASIK are extremely rare. Many of the risks or complications associated with this procedure are reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection and thorough pre-operative testing using the latest diagnostic technology. The chance of having a vision-reducing complication from LASIK has been documented in clinical studies to be less than one percent.
Q: Why do some companies charge significantly less for the procedure?
A: While there are many different practices that provide laser vision correction in the United States and Canada, levels of service and quality can vary greatly. It is important for you to be informed of all of your options and to seek out the safest and most reputable provider. At Carolinas Centers for Sight, our surgical teams are highly skilled and use only FDA-approved, state-of-the-art equipment.
