How Long Does LASIK Take?

One minute may not seem like a long time, but here are just a few things you can do in this short timeframe:  

•   Get dressed
• Microwave a bag of popcorn
• Take a stretch break at your desk
• Heat a cup of tea
• Clean your computer monitor

Correct your vision with LASIK!

It may seem unbelievable, but it’s true that the actual laser vision correction aspect of LASIK only takes approximately one minute for most patients. That’s one minute to reshape your cornea to correct for imperfections that cause nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. That’s one minute toward the possibility of a lens-free life after LASIK.

The entire LASIK process (the amount of time patients are in the LASIK suite) typically takes about 15 minutes per eye. The surgeon uses this time to prepare the eyes for surgery, create the corneal flap, perform the vision correction and replace the flap back into position. Additional pre- and post-surgery time at the office is also suggested to help you relax before and after the surgery and allow the doctor to perform last minute tests, so you should schedule approximately 90 minutes for the entire process.   

Learn more about LASIK by contacting Buckley Chang Eye Institute at buckleychang.com or 719-444-3000. We’re ready to schedule your free LASIK Consultation in Colorado Springs so you can get all of the details about how LASIK might work for you.

National Eye Exam Month Has Arrived

August is National Eye Exam Month. This observance is a good reminder about the importance of having regular eye exams. Often people take their vision for granted, especially if they don’t need to wear corrective lenses. Even those who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism might become complacent about exams if their vision is stable.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following guidelines for a healthy eye exam schedule:

·         Children: before entering first grade, then every two years

·         Healthy adults up to age 40: every 5-10 years

·         Adults age 40-65: every 2-4 years

·         Adults over age 65: every 1-2 years

Of course, if you have any family history of eye disease or vision problems, you should schedule eye exams more frequently.

Why Eye Exams are Important

Eye exams can detect vision problems that you may be completely unaware of (like glaucoma or cataracts), and allow for the earliest treatment possible. Some vision conditions can lead to blindness if left untreated, so early detection gives you the opportunity to consider a wider range of treatment options.

You may also learn that you are a good candidate for a vision correction surgery, like LASIK, which could reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.

Be honest: when was the last time you had an eye exam? Don’t put it off another year. Schedule your eye exam or a free LASIK Consultation at Buckley Chang Eye Institute. You can schedule it online at buckleychang.com or by calling 719-444-3000.

How LASIK Works

You’ve undoubtedly heard the term LASIK eye surgery, and you may even know someone who has had the procedure done. But do you really know what steps are involved in a LASIK procedure?

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, commonly referred to as LASIK, is a procedure to treat farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. In these vision conditions, the cornea is shaped so light does not focus properly onto the retina so clear vision is not achieved. LASIK uses a laser to actually reshape the cornea so light does focus properly.

LASIK is not performed on a “whim.” An experienced LASIK surgeon will perform a detailed eye exam to determine your exact vision characteristics and determine if LASIK could help or hinder your vision. This procedure isn’t right for everyone; some people have corneas that are too thin to support the procedure…others have pre-existing eye health or medical conditions that will interfere with healing.

LASIK Steps

1. Numbing drops are placed into your eye and a lid speculum keeps the eyelids open
2. A corneal flap is created using either a hand-held microkeratome surgical tool or a femtosecond laser. Once the flap is created it is gently folded back to give the surgeon access to the underlying corneal tissue
3. Corneal tissue is removed/reshaped using a computer-controlled excmier laser
4. The corneal flap is put back into place where it begins to heal without stitches.

The entire process only takes a few minutes per eye and most people report that it is virtually painless.

There is a whole lot more to know about LASIK! If you are curious, contact Buckley Chang Eye Insitute today at 719-444-3000 or buckleychang.com to schedule your free LASIK Consultation to get all of the facts about LASIK.

Give Dad the Chance at Better Vision

Father’s Day is June 16 this year. Your good ‘ole dad probably has dozens of neckties, fishing lures and golf pants in his closet, so why not give him a gift that may help him view his work and play in a whole new light?

LASIK eye surgery has given millions of Americans the freedom from wearing contacts and glasses to correct their nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. And while LASIK doesn’t always produce the exact same results for every patient, advanced LASIK technology has made this procedure a possibility for more people than ever. No LASIK center can absolutely guarantee 20/20 vision after LASIK, but many patients do experience these types of results.

Of course, you can’t just go out and buy LASIK for dad, or even yourself for that matter, without first having a LASIK Consultation. An eye surgeon must evaluate a patient’s health first to make sure he or she is a good candidate for the procedure. The surgeon will look at the thickness of the cornea, perform corneal mapping, tear film and pupil size evaluation and assess the patient’s overall medical health.

What you can do is schedule a LASIK Consultation for dad with us at Buckley Chang Eye Institute in Colorado Springs. Dad may need a bit of a push to pursue vision correction, and Father’s Day could be the perfect opportunity. We’ll take good care of him – we promise!

If you think your dad might benefit from LASIK eye surgery, contact us today at 719-444-3000 or buckleychang.com to schedule his LASIK Consultation. If he’s approved for the procedure, we have LASIK financing options to help make LASIK affordable for virtually any budget.

LASIK vs. Contact Lenses

Many people are unaware that wearing contacts every day may be a bigger risk than having their vision corrected with LASIK.

The fact is, if you have to wear contact lenses, hard contact lenses will give you the best vision, but they are a real nuisance, uncomfortable, prone to slipping, and easily broken. Soft contacts on the other hand are more comfortable, but due to their composition and design it can be more difficult to correct astigmatism.

Possible Complications of Contact Lenses

     With prolonged usage, especially in adverse environmental conditions, contact lenses can lead to:

• Cornea redness or inflammation 
• Corneal infections 
• Corneal abrasions 
• Corneal ulcers 
• Corneal swelling 
• Dry eye

    LASIK eye surgery may eliminate or reduce the need for corrective lenses. As with any type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks of LASIK surgery, including:

• Dry eye syndrome 
• Visual symptoms, such as halos, glare, starbursts or double vision 
• Vision loss

Cost of LASIK

      The average one-time cost of LASIK ranges from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. When these costs are compared to the ongoing expenses of contacts and glasses, LASIK often makes sense financially. Over any 10 year period the average vision impaired person will spend around $12,000 on:

• New eyeglass prescriptions 
• New frames and lenses 
• Replacement lenses or an endless stream of replacement contacts 
• Cleaning and sterilizing solutions

Not every person has the right eye conditions to support a LASIK procedure. If you are tired of wearing contacts or glasses and want to explore the LASIK option, the only way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK is by scheduling a LASIK Consultation. Contact Buckley Chang Eye Institute in Colorado Springs today at 719-444-3000 or buckleychang.com to start on the path!

Cool Facts About Dolphin Eyes-Part 3

“A dolphin’s pupil has a type of built-in shade. When our eyes are exposed to light, our pupils get smaller to let less light in. Dolphins have a kind of lid, called an operculum, that slides down to cover most of the pupil when it is bright. It almost looks like two pupils when this ‘lid’ comes down.”

-          Joy Clausen Soto, Senior Dolphin Trainer at SeaWorld

Humans don’t have instant shades on our eyes. We have to wear sunglasses to protect our eyes from the harsh sun. When you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, it’s often necessary for you to purchase expensive prescription sunglasses to be able to see in sunlight.

LASIK has allowed millions of Americans to expand their sunglasses collections with a multitude of cheap sunglasses by correcting their refractive errors.

In a LASIK procedure, a surgeon creates a thin flap on the cornea that is peeled back to allow access to the underlying corneal tissue. This can be done using a microkeratome or femtosecond laser. Once the flap has been created, an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea (correct the refractive error) so it can properly focus light on the retina (the back of the eye). This is the actual vision correction step in the procedure. Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back into place so it can heal. The entire procedure only takes minutes per eye.

Like any surgical procedure, LASIK does carry risks. You should always have an open discussion about all of the risks of LASIK with your surgeon before you make any decisions to move forward with the procedure. You should also remember that even if you have 20/20 vision, it’s still important to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. You’re not a dolphin, after all!

Find out if cheap sunglasses might be in your future. Contact Buckley Chang Eye Institute in Colorado Springs to schedule a LASIK Consultation and see if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Call 719-444-3000 or visit  buckleychang.com today.