Scared of LASIK? Get the Facts!

If you’ve been living for years with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, constantly annoyed with contact lenses and glasses, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how LASIK can improve your vision. You may have even gone so far as having a LASIK consultation to find out that you are, indeed, a good candidate for the procedure. So why haven’t you taken the plunge and had LASIK eye surgery?

Maybe it’s the cost of the procedure (although there are excellent financing options available). But maybe you are apprehensive – scared, even – about having someone perform a procedure on your eyes. It is understandable to have anxiety about LASIK, but consider this: According to the Eye Surgery Education Council, “LASIK vision correction has the highest patient satisfaction rate of any elective surgery: 95.4%, according to a 10-year survey of scientific studies from around the world. And new advances in technology now deliver better outcomes than ever. The majority of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better after laser vision correction. Nearly all patients achieve 20/40 or better, which is fully functional and good enough to drive legally in most states without corrective lenses.”

Other studies have shown that there are more than 700,000 LASIK procedures performed in the United States every year. Satisfied patients express feelings of amazement because they can see with clarity, first thing in the morning; play sports, swim and travel without worrying about glasses or contacts; and have clear peripheral vision.
LASIK is not something to jump into; you should take time to fully research the LASIK surgeons in your area to determine who offers the best technologies and has the best track record of success. Notice we didn’t mention finding the best price. Advances in LASIK technology have bumped up the cost of LASIK slightly, but the overall results are superior and, according to most who’ve had it, well worth the money.

You should also be fully aware of the potential complications of LASIK, which can include:
·         Dry eye syndrome
·         Possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery
·         Potentially debilitating vision problems like glare, starbursts, halos or double vision
·         Vision loss

If you want to find out all the facts about LASIK, contact Dr. Buckley or Dr. Chang at Buckley Chang Eye Institute to schedule a free LASIK consultation at buckleychang.com or call 719-444-3000. You can also take a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation.
 

Winter Activities

Enjoy Winter Activities Without Glasses

It’s February and most U.S. states are in the full swing of winter. Whether you live in a cold climate or travel many miles to enjoy skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, just think of how much more you could enjoy these activities if you didn't have the hassles of glasses or contacts.

LASIK eye surgery can provide the freedom to wake up in the morning seeing clearly and go all day without worrying about fogged-up lenses or irritated eyes from contacts. You could enjoy après ski by a roaring fireplace and not think once about contact lens solutions or accidentally breaking your frames.

Let’s face it: Even if you don’t care for cold weather sports, LASIK can bring a whole new level of enjoyment to your everyday activities. The simple action of rolling over in the morning to see your alarm clock – without glasses – should be enough to spur you to consider LASIK. Many LASIK surgeons offer free consultations to let you know if you are a good candidate for the procedure, how much it will cost and if there are LASIK financing options available. 

Know the risks: LASIK can result in dry eye syndrome; vision loss; vision issues such as double vision, halos, glare or starbursts; and the need for glasses after surgery.

Before your next trip to the mountains or frolic in the snow, have a LASIK consultation to see if you can eliminate your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism through LASIK.

Dr. Buckley and Dr. Chang at Buckley Chang Eye Institute offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit buckleychang.com or call 719-444-3000.

Reasons for a LASIK Consultation

More than 14 million Americans have had LASIK eye surgery to correct their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Although this procedure is typically very safe and effective, it is still important to make sure you have all of the facts about LASIK, be 100% confident in the abilities of your surgeon and have the right eye conditions for LASIK. The only way to do this is through a face-to-face LASIK consultation.

Most LASIK surgeons provide free consultations to help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK. This is a two-way street; you must be completely honest with the surgeon in explaining your vision expectations and your medical history. You can also determine if you feel a good rapport with the surgeon. First impressions go a long way.

During the consultation you can also discuss:

• The surgeon’s qualifications (you can ask for patient referrals)
• Your overall health and lifestyle choices
• Your vision correction options (these may be different than what you expected)
• What to expect before, during and after LASIK
• Potential risks and complications of LASIK
• How much LASIK will cost and what type of financing options exist

Referrals from family members, coworker or friends are beneficial when researching vision correction procedures like LASIK; however, this is not a decision to make lightly. Choose the surgeon that feels right for you.

Dr. Buckley and Dr.Chang at Buckley Chang Eye Institute offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit buckleychang.com or call 719-444-3000.

Surgeon Questions

Researching LASIK Surgeons

You can spend years deciding to improve your vision though LASIK. Research on the Internet and feedback from others who have had similar experiences can aid in your process. However, regardless of how many people you ask about LASIK, without a full LASIK consultation you will never know for sure if you are a good candidate.

The LASIK consultation also allows you to “interview” the surgeon to make sure you are putting the best possible professional in your corner. Below are some questions you should ask your LASIK provider. If he/she cannot or will not give acceptable answers, it is best to continue researching other providers.

LASIK Surgeon Questions

• What professional organizations are you certified by and what organizations to you belong to?
• What specific training do you have in LASIK surgery?
• How many years of LASIK surgery experience do you have?
• How many LASIK procedures have you performed?
• Where do you perform LASIK procedures?
• What are the potential risks and complications of LASIK and how are they handled?
• Does my overall health make me a good candidate for this procedure?
• Do you think LASIK will produce the results I want?
• How much will LASIK cost? Are there any hidden charges? Are there financing options?
• Exactly how will LASIK be performed?
• What type of technologies do you use?
• What do I have to do before, during and after LASIK?
• What will the recovery entail and what kind of external help will I need? 
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with my surgical outcome?

Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision about improving your vision through LASIK.

Dr. Buckley at Buckley Chang Eye Institute offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit buckleychang.com or call 719-444-3000.