5 Commonly Made Mistakes While Choosing a LASIK Surgeon

Getting a LASIK surgery can be an exciting prospect. After all, you won’t have to deal with spectacles or contact lenses anymore! However, as exciting as it is getting under the laser, you must avoid some commonly made mistakes since one tiny slip can cost you your vision.

In this article, we will look at some common pitfalls that you must avoid to get the perfect vision with absolutely no side-effects after the surgery.

5 Common Mistakes to Look Out For

Any reputed ophthalmologist in Fresno would suggest you to look out for the following 5 mistakes.

1. 1. Low-Cost Surgeries: Price is the first thing you would check and opting for a low-cost surgery would mean risking your vision. It is important to remember that LASIK surgery is affordable but not cheap. If the doctors are charging a low price for the surgery, it should be a warning sign. Some reasons why they offer a low price include:
      • They are inexperienced.
      • They are using older technology which can lead to complications during surgery.
      • They charge extra for medications, enhancements and post-op care.
      • They have limited diagnostic equipment to conduct LASIK surgery exam to determine if you are indeed a good candidate for the surgery or not.
   2. Non-Availability of Documented Results: Doctors claiming that they have successfully treated hundreds of thousands of patients using LASIK procedure should have solid proof to back it up. Look for a surgeon who is willing to provide you documented results and takes no offense when you ask for them. Keeping a detailed record of the results would be a great service not only to the surgeon but also his patients.
   3. Opting for a Center Based Solely on High Number of Surgeries: Quality over quantity — you must have heard this phrase many times. The same can be applied for LASIK eye surgery as well. Just because a center has performed a large number of surgeries, it doesn’t necessarily imply that the surgeons perform a good quality job. Centers making these claims generally have numerous surgeons performing a limited number of procedures each. Ask your surgeon how many procedures they have performed — either on a daily or weekly basis. Even if the number is not as high as 100,000 (as some centers claim), check their success rate with the number of surgeries they have performed.
   4. Surgeons Offering Quick Consultations: The consultation should be an easy process but definitely not a quick one. A good consultation consists of various tests to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure or not. You should undergo a minimum of 12 diagnostic eye exams and be personally examined by the surgeon performing the procedure. In case you are subjected just 2 to 3 tests and declared a suitable candidate, it should be a sign to look for another surgeon. The ophthalmologist must take out the time required to carry every single test without rushing. At the same time, they should be able to answer every single question you have regarding the procedure.
   5. Choosing Someone With Obsolete Technology: Ask the eye specialist what kind of equipment they would use for the procedure. Ensure they are offering only the advanced technology to conduct the surgery. There are numerous centers which follow the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach which could be disastrous for you. The doctors must invest in different lasers which can allow them to customize treatments based on individual patient cases and offer them the best possible result. Look for those offering a blade-free treatment using only FDA approved equipment.

We, at Insight Vision Center, understand that while getting a LASIK operation is exciting, it can also be slightly nerve-wracking. We assure that we can answer any questions you have regarding the procedure and we will make our best effort to put you at ease. If you need to contact a reputed and experienced LASIK surgeon in Fresno, call us today and make an appointment.

LASIK Vs Corrective Eyewear: Which Option is More Cost-Effective?

While you might know that about half the population of America (150 million people) wear corrective eyewear, did you know that Americans spend more than $15 billion each year simply on corrective eyewear? Yes, it’s true. While eye glasses and contact lenses might seem like a very cost-effective option, you would be surprised to know how much you actually end up shelling out while using glasses and lenses over your lifetime. Let us take a look at the different kinds of costs associated with the available methods of vision correction:

Cost of Eye Glasses

The cost of glasses includes the cost of your prescription plus the cost of frames and those wearing prescription glasses usually see a change in power every 2-3 years, which means either you’ll have to get your existing frames altered to match the new prescription or buy new glasses altogether. Either way, it means recurring costs.

On an average, a person will buy a new pair of glasses every two years if not every other year. This is because glasses aren’t as durable as perceived. You might be required to replace your glasses due to misalignment within the frame, damage or simply because you misplaced them!

While eye glasses cost about $200 on an average, the designer ones are even more highly priced. So, if you were to go by the estimate that an adult replaces his/her glasses, that cost say $200 every 2-3 years, over a lifetime this cost can range anywhere between $2000-$6000.

Cost of Contact Lenses

When estimating the cost of contact lenses, not only do you have to consider the cost of a particular type of lens, but you also have to factor in the type of lens used (single use contacts or multiple use contacts) as well as the cost of the lens solution required along with that.

While a conservative average of contacts per year can be estimated at about $240, this can largely vary on the need to wear the contact lenses as well as the material used. The daily disposable lenses cost about $20-$30 per box making the yearly average about $450-$650, whereas the long-wear silicon hydrogel contacts cost about $250 -$300 annually.

Cost of LASIK

On an average, the LASIK eye surgery cost can range anywhere between $1,000 to $4,000 per eye. This figure includes the pre-surgery consultations and post-surgery care. On average, it is estimated that you will spend $3,900 to $4,500 on LASIK in total for both of your eyes.

Now, at first glance LASIK may seem like a lot of money, but if you factor in the average cost of contacts or eye glasses, you will see that those costs may actually be higher than what you would be required to spend to undergo LASIK for your eyes. What you must remember when speaking with different LASIK providers about their fees is that the costing of the LASIK procedure may differ from one provider to another depending on the type of pre-operative tests performed as well as the equipment used to perform such tests and the surgery. So, be sure to carefully analyze the prices and check for the type of tests they will be performing to ascertain the right plan of action for the best possible outcome!

Pro Tip – Since the upfront LASIK eye surgery cost is high, many eye clinics also provide very lucrative financing options to help make the procedure more affordable. So, be sure to ask about the available financing options before making your decision!

For more information on LASIK eye surgeries in the Fresno area, contact Insight Vision Centre and book a consultation right away!

How You Can Qualify As a Good Candidate For Lasik Eye Surgery

Recent data has confirmed that the complication rate with LASIK eye surgery is less than 1% and rarely do the complications have a significant impact. Also, the risk of eye infections following a LASIK eye surgery is negligible. LASIK eye surgery has come a long way with evolving advances in medical technology and this is why the requirements for LASIK surgery have also become relatively relaxed. However, the procedure is not right for everyone and so, LASIK eye surgery candidate is required to undergo a preoperative eye evaluation to help determine if they are eligible.

While there are many eye defects LASIK can treat effectively, the candidate must meet the following eligibility criteria to experience a positive outcome:

1. Your Age
• If you are under 21 years of age, your ophthalmologist may recommend that you wait till your vision stabilizes.
• If you are in your early 40’s, it is important for you to know that you may still need reading glasses at a later stage in your life.
• If you are in your 60’s, your eyes need to be assessed for any pre-existing cataracts that can interfere with the outcome of your LASIK eye surgery.
• If you have cataracts, a corrective surgery might actually work to restore your vision apart from correcting any eye condition that you might have.
2. You Don’t Suffer From any Eye Diseases
   Potential candidates should not be suffering from any eye diseases including corneal disease, keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts, optic nerve diseases and certain retinal diseases. Also, LASIK eye surgery candidate must exhibit good general eye health and should not be suffering from specific eye conditions like herpes zoster or herpes simplex.
3. Your Eyes Have Not Suffered any Injury So Far
   Lasik surgery candidate should not have suffered any eye injuries or infections.
4. Overall Health
   A candidate for LASIK must be healthy and free from autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, or collagen vascular disease. Also, they should not be undergoing any treatment where they are prescribed any medication that can compromise the immunity of the patient.
5. You are Neither Nursing nor Pregnant
   LASIK eye surgery candidate should not be pregnant or nursing mother because the hormonal fluctuations occurring during this stage affect the stability of your prescription. This is why lactating mothers or expecting women don’t qualify for a LASIK procedure until they discontinue nursing and complete at least three menstrual cycles.
6. You Have Stable Vision
   LASIK eye surgery candidate must have stable vision for at least a year before they can undergo a minimally invasive LASIK procedure.
7. You Have Not Been Wearing Contacts Recently
   Ophthalmologists recommend that prior to undergoing a LASIK eye surgery, potential candidates must not wear contacts for a specific time frame which is typically determined by your ophthalmologist depending on your unique eye condition. This facilitates precise assessment of the patient’s prescription and also ensures corneal stability before the LASIK eye surgery can be performed.

The Medical Checklist Your Eye Doctor will look at before LASIK eye surgery

This is the medical checklist that you should work out with your doctor before opting for LASIK eye surgery:

• Corneal Examination

A corneal examination is done to determine the thickness of the corneal walls, corneal strength, and also look for corneal diseases or abnormalities before LASIK. A thin cornea can cause problems and thus make you non-eligible for LASIK.

• Check the Intraocular Pressure

This is done to rule out the chances of glaucoma, an eye condition caused by an increase of pressure in the eyes that could possibly damage your vision and optic nerve.

• Check Eye Lubrication

Determining the lubrication in the eyes is important as it will determine if you are at an increased risk of dryness post surgery. You can go ahead with LASIK eye surgery if the tear production is satisfactory.

• Determine the Pupil Size

Since a larger pupil size can increase the risk for side effects like glare or halos post surgery, your doctor will also do a few tests to determine your pupil size.

• Check the Image Quality of Eyes

Your doctor will also determine the quality of the image your eye can produce after it is fully corrected with glasses. The ‘aberrations’ will be measured and it would be assured that the eye is properly focused and capable of producing good images.

• Note Your Medical History

Your doctor needs to understand your medical history that might be a possible hindrance to your vision before you go in for your LASIK operation.

If you want to make sure that you qualify as a LASIK eye surgery candidate, schedule a consultation with the most trusted ophthalmologist in Fresno – Dr. Eric J Poulsen at InSight Vision Center.

Is it Genetic to be Near-sighted, Far-Sighted or Astigmatic?

When the cornea and lens can focus clearly onto the retina, it means that the eye has perfect near and distance vision. Even though the human body has evolved incredibly well, it has some serious design flaws. The most evident example of this is the rate at which our vision deteriorates with age. More and more people are getting affected due to an increased reliance on technology and electrically operated gadgets.

Nearly 2/3rd of the adult population wears prescribed eyewear, and 20% uses contact lenses but both glasses and lenses have their own limitation. Near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism are refractive errors that make it difficult for the eyes to focus. In some cases, these vision conditions can be present at birth or it can be the environmental conditions, eye injury or eye surgery which has been done previously.

What is Myopia?

Myopia or Near-Sightedness occurs when light cannot focus on your retina causing faraway objects to appear unclear or blurry. It happens when the eyeball is too long or when you have a cornea which is curved too much. Myopia often begins before you enter your teenage years. Heredity and environmental factors can also be the cause of short sightedness.

What is Hyperopia?

Hyperopia or Far-Sightedness is when the eyeball is too short or the cornea is curved too little. For people suffering from hyperopia, objects that are closer appear to be blurry while distant objects appear clearly. This can cause headache, eye strain and fatigue while doing meticulous work. Severe hyperopia can result in blurred distant vision. Sometimes when it’s just very benign, the eyes may focus without corrective lenses.

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is an eye condition where the cornea is oval shaped, and objects cannot focus properly on the retina causing two focal points. This not only causes blurred vision but also distorts it. People suffering from astigmatism experience eye-strain, headaches or blurred vision at a certain distance. It can be genetic but environmental factors can also add onto the problem. The problem increases very slowly over time, but it remains relatively stable. The symptoms of astigmatism include: blurry vision, headaches and horizontal direction of objects appear unclear. It may appear like a flash or blaze around the object.

Treatment Options

Glasses and contact lenses usually offer clear vision and relieve symptoms. Most people who wear glasses suffer from Myopia, Hyperopia or Astigmatism. People suffering from these vision disorders can consider LASIK eye surgery. Since it’s by far the safest and most frequently performed corrective eye surgery which reshapes the cornea enabling proper focus of light through the retina. The surgery is conducted by trained ophthalmologists who create a small notch to access the inner tissue of the cornea and gently reshape the eye’s curvature to correct the degeneration.

Inherited diseases can be cured if they’re discovered and diagnosed early on. We need to take care of our eyes which we usually take for granted for most of the time. LASIK eye surgery is a quantum leap in curing vision related issues by modern medical science. It is a quick and painless process which helps you get rid of your boring glasses and irritating contact lenses.

If you think that you may be suffering or may suffer from vision loss then come and have a comprehensive eye exam and consultation done with our experts at Insight Vision Center in Fresno! Don’t delay and book your appointment today!