5 Tips on Choosing a LASIK Surgeon

If you’re looking for a LASIK surgeon, Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston recommends that you take the time to consider these five factors before making a decision. 

Recommendations.  Did your friends, family or co-workers recommend him or her?  If not, see if you can find a surgeon recommended by someone you trust or check online sources for strong, authentic reviews.

Professional qualifications. Check the qualifications of your surgeon.  How many procedures has he performed?  What is the success rate?  How often is a correction needed?

Friendliness.  This goes for the staff as well as the surgeon.  If you’re not getting a good vibe from your initial consultation, or the staff seems unfriendly, unavailable or inattentive, go elsewhere.

Technology.  What kind of technology does the eye surgeon use?  Is the patient able to select the type of technology used? Be sure to ask if the surgeon offers 100 percent all-laser LASIK (also known as 

Bladeless LASIK).  Some surgeons use a microkeratome blade although many patients prefer a Bladeless LASIK procedure.

Results.  Does your procedure come with a warranty for a certain period of time?  What does it cover?

If we can help you with questions on selecting a LASIK surgeon, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or www.charlestoncornea.com to schedule a LASIK consultation.

Can I have LASIK if I have Keratoconus?

Keratoconus (ker-uh-toe-KOH-nus) occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape.

Keratoconus is a progressive disease. It can occur in one or both eyes and often begins during a person's teens or early 20s. 

LASIK is not a solution for this progressive disease due to several factors, including the thinning of the cornea and the shape of the cone.  There are, however, effective solutions available for this disease. In addition to custom toric lenses, gas permeable lenses and other lenses, Keratoconus can often be best treated with:

• KeraSoft lenses (Bausch + Lomb). These high-water silicone hydrogel lenses can correct up to 20 diopters (D) of nearsightedness or farsightedness and up to -12 D of astigmatism.
• NovaKone lenses (Alden Optical). These medium-water hydrogel lenses can correct up to 30 D of nearsightedness or farsightedness and up to -10 D of astigmatism.
• Corneal inserts received FDA approval for treating keratoconus in August 2004. The tiny plastic inserts are placed just under the eye's surface in the periphery of the cornea and help re-shape the cornea for clearer vision.
• A procedure call corneal crosslinking, which strengthens corneal tissue to halt bulging of the eye's surface.
• Corneal transplants are sometimes the best solution for people with this disease.

If you have any questions about LASIK and/or Keratoconus, please contact the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston to schedule a consultation.  

Is LASIK Surgery Safe?

If you’re wishing you could wake up in the morning and not have to reach for your glasses or throw in a pair of contacts, you’re not alone.  Thousands of LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) procedures are performed each year for people who long for vision correction.  One of the top questions asked of the staff at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston before signing up is, “Is LASIK surgery safe?”

The FDA approved this procedure and it has been performed since the 1990’s.  During LASIK, a flap is created in the cornea so that a computer-controlled excimer laser can vaporize a portion of the stroma.  The stroma is located in the middle of the cornea. Once the flap is closed again, the curvature of the cornea is corrected, which improves vision.

A study conducted in 2008 by Spanish researchers on dozens of LASIK patients showed good long-term results.  The study followed patients for ten years and indicated good long term vision on the majority of patients.

If you have any questions about the safety of LASIK surgery, please contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Charleston at 843-856-5275 or www.charlestoncornea.com to schedule a LASIK consultation.

What is The Average Cost of LASIK?

Wondering how much it costs to have LASIK surgery in Charleston?  Price is often a top concern of those considering corrective eye surgery.

Some surgeons quote a flat fee per eye, while others quote a price based on the amount of vision correction needed or the technology being used.

According to one source, the average cost overall for laser vision correction in 2013 was $2,073 per eye (up from $1,941 the previous year). The results show an average of:

• $2,223 per eye for laser vision correction procedures (LASIK, PRK, LASEK, etc.) at surgery centers where a single price is quoted regardless of technology or vision correction requirements.

• $1,543 per eye for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument and excimer lasers that are not guided by wave front analysis. 

• $2,177 per eye for wavefront-guided LASIK using a femtosecond laser-created flap.

Across the country, LASIK prices tend to stay in the range of $1500 to $3000 per eye.  Geographic regions with higher costs of living can also result in higher price tags for corrective eye surgery.

Fortunately, financing for LASIK may be an option to those who prefer it.  If you have any questions about LASIK pricing or the LASIK procedure, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or www.charlestoncornea.com.