Laser Eye Surgery Richmond Virginia

Vision Correction Procedures Frequently Asked Questions

Isn't all laser vision correction the same?
No. Many of the discount LASIK centers want you to believe that LASIK should be purchased like a commodity and that surgeon experience, lasers, diagnostic technology and follow-up care don't matter. Laser eye surgery will affect the way you see for the rest of your life. You should make your decision to have laser vision carefully, not quickly. We encourage you to visit other laser centers and we will tell you what to look for in our "How to choose a laser vision provider" form, found in Patient Forms. Our Web site has a lot of information about our surgeon Dr. Kenneth Lipstock, our laser technology, our advanced diagnostic technology and what you should expect for the money you spend. We provide you with all of this information because we feel the more you know about us, the more confident you will feel about choosing us as your laser vision correction provider. We also encourage you to schedule a comprehensive LASIK evaluation to find out if you are a candidate or click the next link to learn more about our practice and why you should choose us.

Will I have 20/20 vision following laser vision correction?
The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. We cannot guarantee you will have 20/20 vision as a result, however over 99% of patients undergoing laser vision correction at Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center have crystal clear vision. Our commitment to you is that we will not perform laser vision correction on you or anyone we feel does not have a good possibility of achieving complete independence from glasses and/or contacts. Our goal is to eliminate your need for corrective lenses, not to just decrease your dependence on them.

Is laser vision correction safe?
There are possible risks with any surgical procedure. Serious complications with LASIK or PRK are extremely rare. The chance of having a vision-reducing complication from LASIK has been documented in clinical studies to be less than one percent. At Lipstock LASIK & Cataract Center the incidence of complications has become less than one tenth of a percent. Many of the risks and complications associated with this procedure can be reduced or eliminated through careful patient selection, thorough pre-operative testing using the latest diagnostic technology and the evaluation and availability provided by our expereinced surgeon.

After laser vision correction, you may experience some visual side effects. These are usually mild and most often diminish over a few days to a few weeks. But there is a slight chance that some of these side effects won't go away completely, such as feelings of dryness, glare and halos. If after a thorough examination we decide you are a good candidate for laser vision correction, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction. If you would like additional information about risks and complications now, you may download our 'consent for surgery' form by going to Patient Forms.

Has anyone ever gone blind because of LASIK? Although this has never happened to one of our patients, serious vision loss due to laser vision correction has been reported to rarely occur in the medical literature. Such problems are usually treated with gas permeable contact lenses, a corneal transplant or some other form of eye surgery. Rarely has the medical or surgical treatment failed to successfully correct the problem.

What about nighttime side-effects?
You have probably seen news stories about people having difficulty driving at night after refractive surgery. Nighttime side-effects may include halos, starbursts, and glare around lights and blurry vision. Some of these can be caused by overcorrection,undercorrection, or residual astigmatism. These effects usually diminish as the eye heals in the first three to six months. Sometimes additional touch-up (enhancement) procedures will be recommended.

The advanced VISX Custom Vue technology used at Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center has made such occurences rare.

Does LASIK cause dry eye?
Following a LASIK procedure, every patient has temporary dry eye, which can be treated most often with artificial tears. This dry eye sensation usually clears up in 3 to 6 months except in rare cases, where it may take longer.

Patients with pre-existing dry eye may need specific dry eye treatment prior to their LASIK procedure. If you have dry eye, you should discuss it with Dr. Lipstock at your evaluation. Regardless, Dr. Lipstock will do a thorough eye exam and look closely for symptoms of dry eye. A thorough evaluation of your current medications, medical history and work environment will all be taken into account. It has been reported that fewer cases of dry eye occur after LASIK has been initiated using the IntraLase femtosecond laser for creating the corneal flap than when LASIK is initiated using the traditional microkeratome. At Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center we have chosen to use the IntraLase femtosecond laser whenever appropriate.

What keeps the flap in position?
Following your procedure, the flap stays in position without the need for stitches. Initially, there is a vacuum effect created by the cells lining the inner surface of the cornea. As the eye heals over the first few days, the epithelium (the outer surface of the cornea) seals the edges of the flap. This bond strengthens during the first year after LASIK. It has been reported that the flap seals faster following LASIK that is initiated with the IntraLase femtosecond laser as opposed to the traditional microkeratome.

Will it hurt?
There is no pain during any of the laser vision procedures since anesthetic eye drops numb your eyes, although patients should expect to experience mild discomfort or a pressure sensation during their procedure. During PRK nothing is felt except a cold sensation when the eye is rinsed with cold sterile water at the end of the procedure. You might experience mild irritation for a few days after your procedure. An over-the-counter pain reliever or use of artificial tears will generally take care of this discomfort. PRK patients experience more post-operative discomfort for three to five days while the epithelium heals. This is usually managed quite well with our post operative regimen at Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center.

Will both eyes be corrected on the same day?
For most procedures, both eyes will be corrected on the same day.

How long does the procedure take?
Since both eyes are usually treated during the same appointment, you will be in the surgery room for approximately 30 minutes. Once in the laser room your eyes will be cleaned and prepared for surgery. The surgery itself usually only takes five minutes or so per eye.

Do I need to take time off work?
Following LASIK, most patients return to work the day after their procedure. With PRK the recovery time will be longer, but most patients are able to return to work the 4th or 5th day following their PRK procedure.

Do I have to go without my contacts before having laser vision correction?
Dr. Lipstock requires his patients to be out of their contacts for a minimum of two weeks if you wear soft daily or extended lenses, three weeks if you wear toric lenses and four weeks if you wear gas pearmeable lenses. Studies have shown that if your contacts are out for a shorter period of time the accuracy of the pre-operative measurements will be less than optimal.

How old do I have to be for laser vision correction?
You need to be over 18 years of age, and your glasses or contact lens prescription should not have changed in the last year. If your eye is still changing from year to year, you should not have the procedure until the cornea is stable.

Can I have laser vision correction while I am pregnant or trying to conceive?
Pregnancy can affect your vision, therefore if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you should not have laser vision correction. You should wait several months after your pregnancy or after you finish nursing before having laser vision correction.

How long will the results of the surgery last?
Laser vision correction is considered to be permanent. However, your eyes can still change as you age which may cause a need for glasses or contacts or additional vision correction procedures in the future. As people reach their early forties, they develop presbyopia and begin to need reading glasses. If you are approaching the age of 40, you may want to consider monovision.

If I choose to have monovision, does that mean I'll never need reading glasses?
Not necessarily. The effects of presbyopia continue to worsen as you get older, whether or not you have monovision. At some point in time, reading glasses or another vision correction procedure may become necessary. The benefit to having monovision is that there won't be a complete dependence on glasses for close vision. Many who have monovision are able to see well enough both at distance and near to do things at any age without corrective lenses.

How much should I pay for laser vision correction?
The cost of vision correction varies among practices, based on surgeon experience and what the center includes in the fee. We are not the least expensive providers because we never sacrifice safety to save you money. We have invested heavily in advanced laser technology and our diagnostic technology is second to none. This investment is extremely important to surgical results and our patients tell us they can see the difference. We encourage you to visit other laser centers and compare. Please download our "How to chose a laser vision provider" form, found in Patient Forms.

It's only natural to want to get the best price, but remember, quality and service are extremely important when it comes to medical care. After all, laser vision correction is a procedure you'll have only once in your lifetime and your vision is one of your most important assets. The best way to find out exactly what your price will be is to come in for an exam. After a comprehensive evaluation to determine what procedures you're a candidate for and what degree of correction you need, we'll be able to give you a specific price.

Medical Conditions Identified During LASIK Examination

Will my insurance cover my procedure?
In our experience most medical insurance does not provide coverage for laser vision correction however some insurance companies do offer reimbursements or discounts. Unfortunately at this time Dr. Lipstock does not participate with insurance plans offering these promotions. You can check with your plan administrator to see if you can file a claim yourself for a reimbursement after your procedure. Many people have medical flex plans they use to save up to 50 percent on their procedure by using pre-tax dollars. Your employer's human resources department can tell you whether you have this benefit. Vision correction also may be tax deductible as a medical expense (check with your financial advisor).

We do offer affordable payment plans. It is easy to apply online and receive credit approval before you schedule an appointment. We also accept cash, personal checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.