Vision correction eye surgery is not covered under insurance. EVO ICL, LASIK, and PRK are considered elective or cosmetic procedures. Some insurance companies offer a discount, but often determine which surgeon or facility performs your procedure.
Payment is due in full the day of the procedure, and you will receive a receipt and superbill detailing the procedure code if you wish to file with your insurance company. Eye Care Specialists offers discounts for BlueCross BlueShield, VSP (Vision Service Plan), EyeMed, and Farm Bureau insurance. We also offer a family discount if a sibling or parent has had LASIK by Dr. Parker. Another option is to take advantage of an FSA or HSA plan offered through your employer.
FSA and HSA plans allocate pre-tax dollars toward your laser eye surgery cost. We also offer financing through CareCredit. Click here for more details on payment plans.
Many prospective patients are fearful because they are awake for the procedure. Prior to surgery, you will receive a mild sedative to ensure that you remain comfortable. Numbing drops are applied to your eyes before, during, and after surgery. Although you may feel some pressure, these steps help to make the process relatively pain-free, and Dr. Parker is very calming talking you through the entire procedure.
Over two decades of advancements in laser eye surgery have helped minimize LASIK surgery side effects. Most side effects improve over time as the eye heals and stabilizes. Dry eye can be a laser eye surgery side effect. If dryness is a problem after LASIK, Dr. Parker can treat the condition with prescription drops or punctual plugs, which help your eyes retain natural tears. Sometimes patients notice glare and halos at night, which also improve as vision stabilizes. Poor nighttime vision was a more common laser eye surgery side effect with previous technologies. Through the detailed measurements of the WaveScan system used at Eye Care Specialists, night glare and halos are minimized and usually resolve over 3 to 6 months.
LASIK eye surgery is extremely safe when performed by qualified LASIK surgeons on good candidates. As with any surgery, there are risks, but complications are rare. Click here to view more about LASIK eye surgery risks and side effects.
LASIK surgery was approved by the FDA in 1998 after years of clinical trials. In fact, Dr. Parker was a sub-investigator in FDA clinical trials for LASIK! Since then, LASIK eye surgery has undergone nearly 20 years of clinical studies and technological advancements, making it one of the safest and most effective methods for vision correction (Click here to view a video on the safety of LASIK). As reported on WebMD, some studies have shown that LASIK eye surgery carries less risk of infection than wearing contacts.
Astigmatism is a refractive error due to an oblong curvature of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. LASIK eye surgery can correct astigmatism by using an excimer laser to reshape the cornea to correct your vision.
Since there are different types and degrees of astigmatism, it is best to schedule a Free Screening exam to determine if LASIK eye surgery could correct your refractive error.
EVO ICL, LASIK, and PRK eye surgery can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, which affect your distance vision. The procedure cannot correct presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related condition affecting your reading vision, typically after age 40, and requires the use of reading glasses or "cheaters" to aid near vision. EVO ICL, LASIK, and PRK eye surgery will correct distance vision, but reading glasses are still needed for up-close vision.
LASIK surgery is a permanent procedure for your current vision at the time of your laser vision correction. The procedure does not prevent vision from changing and cannot correct or prevent presbyopia, the need for reading glasses after age 40.
Should your vision naturally change after your LASIK procedure, an enhancement or LASIK "touch-up" can be performed to correct your refraction.
EVO is a reversible lens implant and is removable by a doctor, if desired.
Contacts actually change the natural shape of your cornea. In order to achieve the most accurate measurements possible, you will need to discontinue your contacts before your pre-operative exam and until surgery. This allows your cornea to relax and resume its most natural shape for the laser measurements.
You will need to stop wearing your contacts 2 weeks prior to the dilated pre-operative exam and until the procedure.
Dry eye can be a side effect of LASIK eye surgery. In most patients, it subsides shortly after surgery. If dryness continues to be bothersome, Dr. Parker or your eye doctor may use gel tears, prescription drops, or punctal plugs to help alleviate the dryness.
Some medications, such as Accutane, can inhibit healing and should be discontinued 3 months prior to surgery. Other medications, such as antihistamines, can cause dry eye. It is best to evaluate all medications prior to your surgery. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, you can meet with Dr. Parker and discuss any concerns.
Surgery is typically performed on both eyes on the same day.
Yes. The EVO ICL received approval from the FDA for a wide range of myopic (nearsightedness) correction needs, with and without astigmatism.
No. The EVO ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and other people.
Over one million EVO ICLS have been implanted in patients worldwide. Based upon clinical trials, more than 98% of patients would have the procedure again.
Our laser has an amazingly fast infrared tracker that keeps the laser perfectly centered on your eye. It follows the microscopic movements of your eye during the procedure, so if your eye moves, the laser moves with it. Larger movements of the eye cause the tracker to stop the laser until the eye is back in position.
Of course, there are risks associated with every kind of surgery, and laser vision correction is no exception. To put it in perspective, however, the risk of laser vision correction is significantly less than the risks of wearing contact lenses. The conclusion of a 2016 article from the academic journal Ophthalmology stated: "Compared with contact lens wear, current LASIK technology improved ease of night driving, did not significantly increase dry eye symptoms, and resulted in higher levels of satisfaction at 1, 2, and 3 years follow-up." Price MO et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(8):1659-1666.
Whether you start with a Free Screening exam or a Full Dilated Pre-Op exam, there are a few factors to consider when planning your surgery date:
