Patient satisfaction after LASIK remains consistently high but no medical procedure has a satisfaction rate of 100%. Why are so many patients delighted with their results and others disappointed? Obviously there exists a group of patients who have had had unanticipated complications but this is fairly rare. One of the more common reasons may be unrealistic patient expectations.
Why should a patient seek vision correction surgery? To reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Occasionally however, patients undergo LASIK or other refractive surgery because of dissatisfaction with the quality of their vision in glasses or contact lenses. If the surgeon is not attuned to this, expectations may not be met and dissatisfaction results.
For example, around the age of forty, patients commonly develop presbyopia, or a reduction in focusing ability. In glasses, a common solution is bifocal glasses in which the top of the glasses are utilized to view distance objects and the bottom correct for near. The LASIK procedure can eliminate the need for glasses for distance (ie driving) but patients may still need reading glasses for near tasks. If the patient is not aware of this before undergoing the procedure, disappointment can result.
Another example is the patient who notices a decline in the quality of his vision who repeatedly has his glasses remade because he feels the doctor “just can’t get the prescription right”. Finally, out of frustration he seeks the counsel of a LASIK surgeon. If the surgeon fails to extract the real reason the patient is seeking vision correction, the opportunity to perform diagnostic testing to detect subtle cataracts, retinal or optic nerve disorders may be missed. The patient may be free of his glasses but still be left with quality of vision issues and dissatisfaction with the result.
LASIK is a safe and reliable procedure which has had years of refinement. It may not, however, be the best procedure for all patients and all vision problems. Because we are not a “LASIK only” center we can treat a wide variety of vision disorders and customize a treatment program specifically for you. Our goal is no surprises and total patient satisfaction. Come in today for a free, no-obligation, consultation.
Posts Tagged ‘lasik’
Patient Satisfaction with LASIK
Sunday, December 27th, 2009When LASIK is Not an Option
Sunday, December 20th, 2009As most patients know, LASIK is not an excellent option for everyone. Some patients may not be ideal candidates because their prescription is outside recommended limits, their corneas may be too thin or their may simply be a better procedure for their particular visual problem. Many Raleigh NC area patients have consulted us after finding out that they faced unexpected risks or an uncertain result with LASIK. Many were pleasantly surprised to learn the solution to their visual problem was implantable lenses, refractive lens exchange, Intacs or some other procedure that they may never have heard of. For many patients, LASIK offers the chance for spectacle and contact lens independence. Other patients may find that one of several other vision correction procedures might be a better choice. If you are contemplating LASIK, you owe it to yourself to contact a center like the Laser Eye Center of Carolina that offers more than LASIk to be assured that you are offered the best procedure for your unique vision problem.
The LASIK “Lifetime” Guarantee
Friday, November 27th, 2009If you are contemplating a vision correction procedure, you might be tempted by LASIK centers offering a “lifetime guarantee”. But before you bite, consider that such “guarantees” are not always what they seem. The lifetime guarantee often comes with strings, severe restrictions and undisclosed costs.
What’s the catch?
1. The lifetime guarantee only applies to patients within certain parameters. They typically are not available for farsightedness, or for patients with more significant amounts of nearsightedness or astigmatism.
2. The lifetime guarantee only applies if you get an excellent outcome on your initial LASIK procedure. The guarantee is void if you need an enhancement or “touch-up” procedure.
3. The guarantee only applies if your vision changes to significantly more nearsightedness (worse than 20/40). What if you drift to 20/30 or become farsighted as you age? Sorry, you’re on your own.
4. The guarantee allows only for additional LASIK procedures. Of course, there is a limit to the number of times a LASIK procedure can be performed and the guarantee does not apply to procedures such as conductive keratoplasty which may be a better option for you as you age.
5. The center determines the advisability of further LASIK. This does not allow for the participation of the patient in the decision making.
6. The “lifetime” referred to may be the lifetime of the center. With the current economic downturn, most LASIK-only centers are operating in the red. One large center in Charlotte, NC recently closed its doors. We have seen several patients who were patients of now defunct laser centers who found that their lifetime guarantees were worthless.
7. You may be required to undergo yearly exams at an affiliated doctor’s office. Miss one of these mandated exams and your guarantee becomes void. But what difference does it make how often you go in for an exam or where you go? The truth is, unless you have diabetes, glaucoma or some other eye condition, eye exams every two to three years may be sufficient according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Such restrictions are an unnecessary burden and expense making it difficult and in some cases, impossible for a patient to meet their obligation under this arrangement.
At the Laser Eye Center of Carolina, we take a much more pragmatic approach toward our commitment to you. We offer more than just LASIK and we’ll be here to offer whatever procedure is right for you. We have a results oriented approach from the start. If we can’t get you an unrestricted drivers license, you don’t pay. The decision for an enhancement is made between you and the doctor with no artificial barriers; we’ll even enhance 20/20 eyes if a patient is too farsighted. The need for an initial enhancement does not void our ability to do subsequent procedures.
With today’s technology, the overwhelming majority of patients will continue to enjoy excellent vision for the rest of their lives and will not require additional procedures. But, if your vision or your visual needs change we’ll be there to offer whatever procedure is necessary to allow you to function at your peak. And once you’re a patient, you’ll never pay more than 50% of our regular rate for an elective vision procedure. Once you read the fine print on those “lifetime guarantees” from LASIK-only centers we think you’ll agree that our simple, no-quibble commitment and our ability to offer a variety of vision correction procedures is your “guarantee” that you will be satisfied with your vision for many years to come.
Why a “LASIK-Only” Center Isn’t Always Best
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009So you’re ready to free yourself from your dependence on glasses or contacts. What’s the next step? Call a LASIK center? Think again!
A center that performs LASIK-only may not offer the procedure that is right for you. For some patients, implantable contacts, CK or refractive lens exchange may be the best option. A LASIK-only center can’t offer these options. Worse yet, they may be tempted to offer LASIK when it is ill suited for you. And even if LASIK is the best procedure initially, what if another procedure is better as an enhancement?
To insure that you are offered the procedure that is right for you, consult a surgeon who is able to offer all eligible vision correction options. Dr. Dornic of the Laser Eye Center of Carolina has been performing vision correction procedures for over eleven years and is experienced in all FDA-approved vision correction procedures. He can offer the procedure and technology with the highest success rate and lowest risk for your unique vision problem.
Trust but Verify
Saturday, October 10th, 2009There are a lot of claims out there by LASIK providers. Of course everyone claims to be the best or offer the best technology. Most of the time, claims about results or number of procedures are completely unsubstantiated making it difficult to compare. If having the highest percentage of 20/20 is your yardstick for success, then CustomVue LASIK from AMO and offered by the Laser Eye Center of Carolina boasts the highest percentage of 20/20 results (98%) ever reported to the FDA and is therefore the best laser and the best LASIK technology. Patients can arm themselves with unbiased information available from the FDA website, All About Vision.com, the Academy of Ophthalmology website and other reputable unbiased sources in helping them to decide where to get their LASIK Eye Surgery in the Raleigh Durham NC area.
A Second Chance at Better Vision
Sunday, September 27th, 2009Some patients who have had vision correction procedures such as RK or LASIK in the past may find that there vision or vision needs have changed. Even cataract patients may wish to gain more independence from glasses. A not uncommon situation is a patient who seeks us out after having cataract surgery, corneal transplant, RK or LASIK in the past with a desire to improve their vision. Thankfully, in the great majority of cases we can offer something to improve their situation. Often patients can have their LASIK or PRK procedures repeated or fine-tuned. It is also usually possible to combine vision correction procedures. We have performed LASIK and PRK many times for patients who have had past RK procedures or cataract surgery. So if you have had past eye surgery and are not totally satisfied with your vision, why not come in for a complimentary consultation and find out what we can do for you?
There is a Difference Between LASIK Technologies
Sunday, August 16th, 2009Patients are often confused about the different technologies available. Information available on the web and by LASIK providers can be tainted by commercial bias. The US military is in the unique position to evaluate the different LASIK technologies that are commercially available and their flight surgeons are completely free of monetary incentives. Military flight surgeons are salaried and in choosing LASIK platforms, price is no object. See why NASA and the military chose IntraLase LASIK with CustomVue as their preferred technology: the exact same technology employed by Laser Eye Center of Carolina. http://www.amo-ilasik.com/500-video-center.aspx
What Happens if My Eye Moves during LASIK?
Sunday, August 9th, 2009A common question asked is “what happens if my eye moves during LASIK?” Obviously, the best results can occur if the treatment is precisely centered on the eye. Iris registration and tracking is a technology in which the LASIK treatment is precisely centered using color markings on the iris to guard against the effects of eye movement and rotation. Previously, lasers followed the patient’s eye moving up, down, left or right. Therefore as long as you move your eye left or right or up or down the laser beam could track the movement of the eye. However, there are other ways in which you can move your eye. For example, you can move your eye closer to the laser or away from it.
Iris registration can track such movements and relay them to the laser so that the operation becomes more accurate. The same is true with you eye rotating. You can rotate you eye clockwise or anti-clockwise, which previous lasers wouldn’t have tracked. But Iris registration doesn’t fail here either. This is truly a remarkable progress in the field of vision correction.
Iris registration and tracking is one component of CustomVue LASIK that makes this type of LASIK superior to other LASIK procedures and is to triangle area patients at the Laser Eye Center of Carolina.
Crystalens for Cataract Surgery
Sunday, July 19th, 2009Many Raleigh NC area patients consult us for LASIK in an effort to reduce their dependence on glasses. Occassionally a patient will consult us for LASIK after discovering that their vision is worsening and we discover that they have cataracts. For them, they can still achieve their goal of eyeglass independence but instead of LASIK the answer is cataract surgery with a presbyopia correcting lens such as Crystalens.
During cataract surgery the cloudy cataractous lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens (implant). Many patients with cataracts are candidates for a flexible implant that can focus both at distance and near to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.
Patients who are good candidates for standard monofocal IOLs are typically good candidates for Crystalens. If a patient has healthy eyes, has not had previous cataract surgery, and does not suffer from any major health problems, then he or she is likely to be a good candidate.
More than twice the number of patients implanted with Crystalens could see well at all distances compared to a standard IOL.
Most Crystalens patients have reduced their dependence on glasses and are able to read the newspaper or a phone book without glasses.
Most Crystalens patients are able to see their computers, dashboards and anything else at arm’s length without glasses.
Most Crystalens patients are able to see 20/40 or better after surgery, so the clock across the room and the TV in the corner are clearly within sight.
Many of our Raleigh NC area Crystalens patients can see well enough to do away with their reading glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses. The Crystalens procedure is highly successful and most people regain very good distance vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40.
At the Laser Eye Center of Carolina we are pleased to offer more than just LASIK. The Crystalens is an important new innovation that, like LASIK, can reduce dependence on glasses.