Laser Vision Correction FAQs

Below is a list of some frequently asked questions, but please feel free to call our office if you need additional information. We are always pleased to assist you.
• Does it hurt?
• Does it require stitches or shots?
• Is it an outpatient procedure?
• How do I keep my eye open? What if I can’t see the blinking light?
• How does laser vision correction affect the eye long term?
• Can I wear contacts again?
• How well will I see after the surgery?
• What are the risks?
• Can I do both eyes at once?
• How do I compensate for the other eye’s correction in between surgeries?
• Do I have to do anything special before or after the procedure?
• How much time off of work will it require?
• How does it affect my eyes long term? Does it lead to future unrelated procedures?
• How much does it cost?
• Is laser vision correction covered by insurance?

Does it hurt?
PRK, Standard and CustomVue/Wavefront-guided Lasik are generally considered to be “painless procedures”.  Your eye is numbed with eye drops and you are awake during the entire procedure.  Some patients may experience what they describe as a slight discomfort, similar to feeling as if there is something in your eye, during the initial healing period of 2-3 days after the procedure is performed.
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Does it require stitches or shots?
No.  At the time of the procedure, drops are used to numb the eye and then you will be asked to stare at a light during the laser procedure.  With PRK, a protective contact lens, or medicated ointment is then placed on your eye until it completes its healing process.  With Standard and CustomVue/Wavefront-guided Lasik, the “flap” reseals itself, so a bandage contact lens is usually not required. 
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Is it an outpatient procedure?
Yes.  You will spend about an hour at the Mid-Atlantic Surgery Pavilion, located at 1111 Beards Hill Road, Suite 700, Aberdeen, Md.  The actual laser procedure times are 5 minutes for PRK and 10-15 minutes for Standard and CustomVue/ Wavefront-guided Lasik.
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How do I keep my eye open? What if I can’t see the blinking light?
Many people are worried about blinking or not being able to focus on the light during the procedure.  An eyelid holder is used to hold the eye open during the procedure and the doctor can stop the procedure at any time during the laser treatment if you were to look away from the light.  The computer will remember exactly where the doctor stopped the treatment and it will not have an impact on your outcome.  Again, since the laser is a cool laser, there is no damage to the tissue and even if you somehow blinked, nothing would happen to your eyelid.
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How does laser vision correction affect the eye long term?
In numerous clinical studies throughout the world since the late 1980’s, excimer laser procedures have not produced any long-term negative effects on the eye’s integrity.  Experts are confident that they will not discover any long-term problems, but significant data is not yet available for over 10 years.  Since the excimer evaporates only a very small amount of the tissue of the cornea, the integrity of the eye remains intact and no stability problems for the future are expected.  The procedure is considered permanent, although in some cases, the procedure must be retreated to enhance the final outcome.
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Can I wear contacts again?
One of the advantages of PRK, Standard and CustomVue/Wavefront-guided Lasik is that they do not alter the integrity of the eye and, therefore, do not generally result in scarring which would eliminate your ability to wear contacts again.
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How well will I see after the surgery?
Most patients achieve correction comparable to what you are able to achieve with glasses and contacts before surgery.  Ninety-eight percent of all people can see well enough to pass a driver’s license test without any correction after laser vision correction.  We cannot, however, promise you that you will never have to wear glasses again.  While almost everyone has significant improvement in best-uncorrected vision (what you can see without any glasses or contacts), some people may still need to wear a much milder prescription for reading or driving after the surgery.
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What are the risks?
As with any surgical procedure, you may have some risks and/or potential complications.  Early and temporary complications for refractive surgery are considered to be:

• Discomfort – Very few people experience discomfort, which is normally described as a slight stinging feeling or the feeling that you have something in your eye.  You may take Tylenol or another over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Light sensitivity – We provide you with a pair of sunglasses to wear upon leaving the center to assist you with light sensitivity that will affect you for the first few days after the procedure.
• Under/Over correction – Unless severe, these situations do not usually affect the overall vision results.  High amounts of under correction are generally retreated with an enhancement procedure.  Low amounts are corrected by wearing glasses for activities such as driving or reading.  Over corrected eyes are rare and most tend to regress back toward the original shape as the eye heals.
• Infection Rate – The risk for infections is around 0.2%.  This risk is greatest in the first 48 hours following the procedure and is usually treated with antibiotic drops.  It is important that you carefully follow all of your post-operative instructions and see the doctor for all of your post-operative visits.
• Halos/Glare – If you experience problems driving at night or have halos and glare prior to the procedure, it is often related to the size of the pupil.  Having the procedure may decrease or increase these symptoms.  Most surgery related halos and glare diminish with healing, but some patients continue to have symptoms. 
• The risk of serious vision threatening complication is less than 1%.

Can I do both eyes at once?
The decision to have one eye done or both eyes done consecutively is a decision for the doctor and the patient.  The standard of care in the United States has evolved to be either both eyes done on the same day or one eye at a time – whatever the doctor and patient decide.
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How do I compensate for the other eye’s correction in between surgeries?
This is only a problem if you have your eyes done on separate days.  If you wear contacts, you can continue wearing the contact in the uncorrected eye until your doctor instructs you to discontinue its use to prepare for surgery on the second eye.  If you wear glasses, you can have one lens without any correction put into your glasses until you can have the second eye corrected.
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Do I have to do anything special before or after the procedure?
A comprehensive eye evaluation is required prior to the procedure.  Your doctor will explain all of the instructions to you for before and after the procedure.  If you wear contacts, you will have to remove them prior to your pre-operative evaluation.  After the procedure, you will need to have someone drive you home.  It is very important to see your doctor for all scheduled follow-up visits.
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How much time off of work will it require?
This answer is closely related to the option above regarding having both eyes performed at once.  Most people can return to work within 2 days.  Although your vision may continue to improve over time, average initial healing times for the procedure are as follows:

• PRK – initial healing 2-3 days with continued vision improvement over 2-4 weeks
• Standard and CustomVue/Wavefront-guided Lasik – 24-48 hours for visual recovery

How does it affect my eyes long term? Does it lead to future unrelated procedures?
To date laser vision correction has not been found to affect or cause any unrelated eye problems.  Certain conditions of the eye related to aging, such as presbyopia (the loss of flexibility in the lens of the eye), will not be corrected by the procedures and will be experienced by everyone sooner or later.  Many patients are candidates for monovision, however, which is a technique to counteract presbyopia.  Monovision relies on correction of one eye for clear distance vision and under correction or no correction of the other eye for clear reading vision.
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How much does it cost?
The global fee for laser vision correction is $2,300 per eye.  The fee includes all office visits pertaining to your surgery for one year. Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates offers the following methods of payment: Cash, Cashier's Check, Bank Certified Check, Money Order, American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Capital One Healthcare Finance.  No personal checks will be accepted. Payment is expected at Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates at least 2 business days prior to your procedure.
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Is laser vision correction covered by insurance?
Refractive surgery is generally considered to be an elective procedure and therefore, is not usually covered under most insurance programs.  There are a few companies that may provide coverage.  The doctor will be happy to provide you with a letter for your insurance company and will also provide you with a receipt so you may submit the expense for reimbursement.  Many companies offer a Flexible Spending Account, and laser vision correction is often eligible under that type of plan.
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