Common Questions About Lasik

Q. Is there pain involved with blade-free LASIK?
A. All LASIK and PRK procedures are considered to be painless for most patients. There is little to no discomfort because these surgeries are performed under a topical anesthesia, or numbing eye drops. During the healing period of 2 to 3 days, some patients experience a slight discomfort similar to feeling as if there is an eyelash in the eye. This discomfort is a little greater and may last longer after PRK than after LASIK procedures.

Q. How long does blade-free LASIK surgery take?
A. The procedure takes about 15 minutes per eye. However, plan to be in the office for a couple of hours. During this time we will finalize testing to determine the individualized correction needed for your vision and program this information into the laser. The procedure will be explained ahead of time. 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 all laser blade-free LASIK surgery?
A. This is a state-of-the-art procedure that requires minimal downtime. The great majority of people who have LASIK are able to return to work the following day or the day after. We do require same day, 1 week and 1 month post-op visits and other visits as indicated to monitor your healing progress.

Q. How soon will I notice an improvement in my vision after all laser blade-free LASIK?
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 vision usually improves quickly.

Q. What is an appropriate vision outcome?
A. One year after surgery, 100% of LASIK patients were able to pass a driving test, over 90% had 20/20 vision or better and 70% could see 20/15 or better.* At Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C., our goal is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. However, not everyone will achieve 20/20 uncorrected vision.
*Source: International Society of Refractive Surgery

Q. Why do some facilities charge significantly less for LASIK?
A. Ask questions to make sure you are comparing prices for the same procedure. The primary question to ask is whether a microkeratome blade (conventional LASIK) or a femtosecond laser (blade-free LASIK) will be used to make the flap. Blade-free LASIK using the femtosecond laser is the most advanced laser vision correction technology and is used exclusively at Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. Our surgical teams are highly-skilled and use only FDA-approved, state-of-the-art femtosecond and excimer laser equipment. In addition, Wavefront optimized technology provides better outcomes than conventional LASIK. At Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C., we use Wavefront optimized LASIK and PRK exclusively.

Q. Does insurance pay for LASIK Surgery?
A. Unfortunately, most insurance providers consider LASIK to be an elective procedure and do not cover it under medical policies. However, we will be happy to contact your insurance provider to determine if there is any coverage or discount offered. Also, some vision policies offer a special add-on for LASIK surgery.  If you have vision insurance and a discount is offered for LASIK, Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. will honor this discount for most vision policies.

We invite you to click on the LASIK Self-Evaluation Test to find out if you may be a candidate for this life-changing procedure.