Is laser vision correction covered by insurance?

Most medical insurance companies consider laser vision correction elective and do not cover the procedure. Some vision insurances have laser vision correction benefits and we would be happy to help you check with your individual insurance company. Considering the repeated costs of purchasing new eyeglass frames and lenses and disposable contacts year after year, laser vision correction will be a break even in cost of products after just 6 years! Moyes Eye Center offers financing to help make LASIK more affordable. Learn about our surgery financing options here.

Am I eligible for laser vision correction?

This depends on your prescription, the general health of your eyes and measurements that will be taken during your refractive surgery evaluation. Your prescription needs to be stable for at least the past 12 month and you must be 18 years of age or older. Although most laser vision correction patients are under 60, even seniors may be eligible. Some highly nearsighted patients whose prescriptions are too strong to be eligible for LASIK or PRK, may benefit from Phakic Intraocular Lenses. Your doctor may also discuss Refractive Lens Exchange as an option to correct your vision.

Do I need an examination first?

Prior to treatment, you need to have a refractive surgery evaluation. A refractive surgery evaluation encompasses everything your normal dilated eye examination does plus additional measurements of your prescription and the cornea (the front windshield of the eye where the surgery is performed). Please allow 2 hours to complete a refractive surgery evaluation and be prepared to have your eyes dilated for 2-3 hours following the exam.

What is a refractive surgery evaluation?

A Refractive Surgery Evaluation is a full examination with dilation, Pentacam corneal topography and a discussion with the doctor. At the end of this exam we will be able to determine if a patient is or isn’t a candidate for laser vision correction, or is there a different option to correct their vision that may be a better choice for their eyes. At Moyes Eye Center we perform several different procedures to correct vision and your doctor may recommend non-laser vision procedures as an option for your eyes. The initial refractive evaluation is free of charge, subsequent examinations and testing may incur charges.

What are the side effects of LASIK? As with any treatment or surgery there are risks, even though they are rare. Pain is uncommon. You may experience halos, glare, light sensitivity, blurred vision, double vision, difficulty with night vision and/or a foreign body sensation. Other risks include infection, over responding, under responding, irregular astigmatism, epithelial ingrowth, corneal abrasion, reduction of best corrected vision, dry eyes or induced astigmatism.

What is a retreatment or enhancement procedure? A retreatment/enhancement is a repeat of the surgical procedure, which is occasionally done when the eye has under- or over-responded. The need for a retreatment is determined when the patient’s post-operative vision has stabilized. The length of time necessary for vision to stabilize depends upon the procedure and the patient’s individual healing time. This is usually at least three months and in some cases 6 months after the initial procedure.

Does laser vision correction really work?

Yes. Laser vision correction is being done all around the world. Over 98% of people who have had one of these procedures function without correction.

Are there any restrictions after the procedure?

For the first four hours after surgery we encourage you to concentrate on getting your eye drops in and resting. It is normal to experience burning, watering, irritation and light sensitivity for a few hours after surgery. A short nap can be a good way to get through the first few hours. Swimming, hot tubs, sauna or jacuzzis are prohibited for two weeks. Do not wear eye makeup for 24 hours. When your vision clears, you may drive and return to work (typically one or two days).

Will laser vision correction prohibit me from having future eye surgery?

Refractive surgery will not prohibit you from having any future eye surgery you may need, such as cataract or glaucoma surgery. It is a good idea to keep a copy of your preoperative exam in your medical records in case those numbers are needed years later as a reference or prior to having cataract surgery.

Does the surgery hurt?

Most patients find the actual surgery fairly easy to go through without any real pain. Anesthetic eye drops are administered before the surgery begins. An oral sedative is available 30 minutes prior to the procedure to help you relax. Your doctor will walk you through the key steps of the procedure so you are aware of what is going on.
For LASIK, patients experience discomfort during the first 3-6 hours after the procedure. Patients describe the feeling as a lash in the eye or like having shampoo in their eye. Most patients find it helpful to rest and take a nap after the procedure. The day after surgery, most LASIK patients wake up feeling pretty good and are able to proceed with work and most activities.

For PRK, patients experience pain and discomfort for the first 48 hours. Light sensitivity, watering, pain around the eye, headache around the eye and burning sensation is normal after PRK. As the skin of the eye heals pain will improve, usually around 48 hours after surgery. Most patients find it helpful to rest and nap in a dark room. PRK requires more time to heal. It is recommended to plan nothing important for the first 3-4 days after surgery and keeping the first week after surgery open will allow the time necessary to properly heal.

How soon will it take for my vision to be good?

Every person and every eye can certainly heal differently and at a different pace.

For LASIK, most patients will experience blurred, "steamy" vision the first 24-48 hours after the procedure. It is normal for the vision to fluctuate blink to blink for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. It's important to use your medications AND keep the eyes lubricated with non-preserved tears early on in the healing process. Most patients after LASIK are able to go back to work the day after surgery for light duty office work if it is in a clean environment. For those who work in dirty work places, it is best to take the first 2-3 days off of work to allow the eye to heal properly. For more specific questions, discuss with your doctor for recommendations.

For PRK, most patients experience blurred vision the first 1-4 days after the procedure. Its important to understand that PRK healing involves the epithelium or "skin" of the eye to recoat the surface of the cornea. This "skin" heals for the peripheral cornea towards the central cornea. With that being said, the central cornea will heal last. Most patients after PRK will notice as they start to "feel" better the vision may actually get more blurry due to the central cornea skin being slightly irregular as it begins to heal. For most patients the skin will continue to get more regular each day and by 4-5 days after your procedure your vision is usually adequate to return to work. It is highly recommended that you schedule flexibility for the first week after PRK surgery and do not plan anything critical as your vision may still be blurry. It's important to use your medications AND keep the eyes lubricated with non-preserved tears early on in the healing process. For more specific questions, discuss with your doctor for recommendations.

What do I do next?

Your next step is to learn whether you are a laser vision correction candidate. Call 816.746.9800 today to schedule your free Laser Vision Consultation. We are committed to helping you make an informed decision and look forward to serving you.