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How old do you need to be to have laser eye
surgery?
The minimum age is 19. There is no maximum age. If you are over 19,
it is best if your prescription for glasses / contact lenses is
stable (minimal change over a two-year period). Some people who are
considering a career that has vision requirements may be able to
undergo laser eye surgery before the prescription is stable, with
the understanding that the eyes may still change and more surgery or
corrective lenses maybe required again.
How long will the correction last?
Studies have shown that the effects of PRK and LASIK are permanent.
However, it cannot guarantee that there will be no change in your
vision over the years, just as nobody can guarantee that your
current glasses or contact lens prescription will last you a
lifetime.
Is it painful?
There is very little, if any, pain during surgery. It is during the
recovery that there is potential for discomfort or pain. With LASIK,
if there is any discomfort, it may last about six hours. PRK takes
longer for initial healing to occur, so any discomfort experienced
(ranging from feeling like there is something like an eyelash in the
eye to a stinging / burning sensation) can last a few days.
Can you guarantee 20/20 vision?
It is not possible to guarantee a perfect result of any surgery,
including laser eye surgery. There are variables from person to
person that are unpredictable and may result in a less-than-perfect
result. If your vision after surgery is very close to 20/20, it is
typically advised to leave it as is. Additional surgery can usually
be done for those whose vision is blurred to the point that it is
bothersome.
Is there any sort of warranty?
There is a 'lifetime warranty' that will allow for any additional
surgery required to improve distance vision. Most people will
experience difficulties focusing on near objects (e.g., reading)
beginning between the ages of 40-50 years. The warranty does not
cover any treatment for near vision.
How much time do I need to take off from work?
For LASIK, you can return to work quite quickly. Theoretically, you
could work the day after surgery. However, most people will take the
first day off and return to work the next day. Care needs to be
taken to avoid contact with the eye during the first week.
For PRK, most people will take a week off from work. While some are
able to return to work after just a few days, it is unpredictable.
If your schedule is not flexible, plan on a week.
Why do costs vary between clinics?
The fee for laser refractive surgery is determined by each clinic,
based on their cost of doing business and marketing methods. Some
clinics will advertise a fee that “starts at” a low amount, but has
many 'add-ons' that put the price at, or above, average for most
patients. Others have a higher fee and rely heavily on referrals.
Dr. Boyd carefully chose his fee to make it affordable, while still
profitable. His philosophy is to provide the best for everyone
(e.g., wavefront or customized treatment) and not to charge extra
for whatever it takes to do what's best for everyone.
What if I move my eyes during surgery?
The laser is equipped with an active tracking system, so the laser
will follow small movements of the eye. If you move your eye beyond
the range of the laser, it will pause until you are able to look at
the fixation light again. Most people are concerned about this
before surgery, but it rarely becomes an issue during the procedure.
How do I avoid blinking during surgery?
We take care of that for you – a small device is used to hold your
eyelids open on the eye that is being worked on. The other eye is
able to blink freely, but is covered so you don't confuse which eye
to fixate with. There are numbing drops used before we start, so you
won't have the urge to blink.
How long does it take to do the surgery?
It only takes a few minutes per eye to do the actual procedure. Plan
to be in the clinic about an hour, though. You'll need to do some
paperwork, possibly have some measurements repeated, take a sedative
(if desired), and have last minute questions answered. We like
people to relax for a little while after everything is done before
heading home.
Can I have surgery on both eyes the same day?
Yes, it is standard to have both eyes done on the same day.
How does wavefront, or customized treatment, compare to normal
laser eye surgery?
If we compare laser surgery to clothing, a normal treatment would be
akin to buying a garment off the rack – fits most people quite well,
but could be better. The wavefront or custom treatment would be like
having a tailor made garment – fits just right. The wavefront
treatment can adjust for subtle irregularities in how your eye
focuses and provide the best vision possible.
Why doesn't Medical Services Plan cover this surgery?
Even routine eye exams for the general public is not covered by MSP,
so having elective surgery covered would not be in keeping with
their philosophy. Some private insurance covers some or all of the
surgery fee, so it is worthwhile to check any coverage you may have.
What payment options are available?
We accept cash, money order, certified cheque, Visa and MasterCard.
We can also arrange financing for you, if desired.
When do I have to stop wearing contact lenses before surgery?
Typical soft contact lenses need to be out for one week prior to
surgery. If you wear toric soft contact lenses (the type that
correct for astigmatism), two weeks is required. If you wear rigid
gas permeable lenses, they should be out for three weeks minimum (if
you have worn them for decades, a longer period without contacts may
be required – we can give you a better guideline after you have a
consultation and topographical maps of your eye can tell us how much
warpage of your cornea has occurred).
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