No!

Most patients feel mild pressure during the procedure and sometimes
a scratchy sensation for a few hours. This resolves after a short nap.
For those who hate any level of discomfort we offer strong analgesics.

We provide anti-anxiety medications like Valium, preoperatively,
to make the experience even easier.

We do not accept insurance for LASIK.

If your employer has a LASIK subsidy plan or a health benefit program
we will be happy to explore these options with you.
Medical savings accounts are an excellent way to help defray costs.

Usually one day.

Most patients can drive to their follow up appointment and return to work
the next day but this varies. Everyone heals at a different rate and we can’t be
sure when you can safely drive or perform your job. If you want to play it safe,
take the rest of the week off.

If you wear soft lenses ___________ one to two weeks.
If you wear gas permeable lenses________more than one month.

Sometimes, we will ask you to stay out of lenses even longer.
If you can’t, have one eye done at a time and go
without lenses in the preoperative eye only.

Almost all of our patients see 20/20 with both eyes and without glasses.
A small percentage may require a free enhancement if they don't achieve that vision.

I have performedd 8000 LASIK procedures as well as over a thousand
advanced procedures including Epi-LASIK and Intraocular Contact Lenses,

Some centers require that you see 20/40 or worse and have one diopter
of refractive error before they will include (i.e. pay for) an enhancement.
We do not refuse an enhancement unless it is medically unwise or unsafe.
Our present enhancement rate is approximately 15%.

Serious complications, like infection and/or irregular corneal astigmatism are
extremely rare. In our practice this occurs less than once every 4000 cases.

We are committed to keeping this number as low as possible.

You should stop wearing eye makeup a few days before surgery
and wait about a week before restarting.

We guarantee to do the best surgery possible and work with you
until you are happy with your vision.
Guarantees are for toasters and other household appliances, not surgery.

If you read the fine print in many of the guarantees offered elsewhere
you’ll be surprised by the hidden costs and stunned
by the multiple escape clauses. We have a reputation to protect.
We are highly motivated to keep you happy and visually healthy.

Yes!

In fact, if you are 40 or older and can take your glasses off to read,
LASIK may abruptly precipitate your need for reading glasses.
If you are in your 20’s or 30’s you’ll have some time before this happens.

For some, monovision (one eye sees near, the other sees far) is an alternative.
This approach works in some patients. A contact lens trial for monovision is
always required!

Another procedure called clear lensectomy is another way to address both
far and near vision concerns after age 40.

Discuss these options at your evaluation.

The ideal age for LASIK is between 18 and 72.
There are special considerations at both ends of this spectrum.

Yes.

Most patients between –12 and +4.00 are acceptable candidates.
This decision, however, really requires a careful ocular evaluation.
Mild to moderate regular astigmatism usually isn’t a problem.

Sometimes. This needs to be discussed at length.

This is becoming less of an issue with the improvements in ablation
transition profiles and beam centration techniques. It is always considered
in the surgical plan.

Most patients need considerable lubrication (artificial tears) for about a month
postoperatively. Those with dry eye prior to surgery can still qualify for LASIK.

A number of excellent techniques are available to help relieve dry eye.
Symptoms usually dissipate over time.

No

Yes, no interest for 18 months as well as very low monthly payments.

We anticipate long-term benefits from the surgery.
Aging of the eye will continue. This manifests in presbyopia
(reading glasses for near vision) and then years later, cataract development.

Yes. Most prefer this option.

Sometimes surgery on different days is medically indicated or
otherwise desirable. (There is no additional charge.)

No!

In fact, you can’t stop seeing your eye doctor.
LASIK doesn’t eliminate the need to protect your ocular health.

We ask everyone to sleep soon after surgery.
This helps the eye heal and allows the medication to wear off.

Drops are required for a week or two.
You must avoid even mild ocular trauma for the first few days.

Other restrictions:
Rubbing Eye ____________________________try to avoid this
Boxing, Karate, etc (with eye protection)_______one year
Scuba, Sky-driving, Mountain Climbing________two or three months.
Swimming, Hot tubs, Steam Rooms__________ two or more weeks.
Vigorous Exercise________________________one or two days.
Golf , Tennis, Commercial Airline Travel_______24 hours.
Reading, Television, Showering_____________8 hours.

The evaluation takes about an hour. The surgery only takes 15 minutes
but you will be in the office for about two hours.

We prefer to see you the day after surgery, a week or two after that,
and then at one, three, six months, and twelve months.
These visits usually take less than half an hour.
There is no charge for routine visits during the first year.

If you are being co-managed by your eye doctor, we will need to see
you less frequently.

No!

That may be the case. Dr Lewis has access to technology and techniques your
doctor may not. You are welcome to an evaluation to see if any new options exist.

James S. Lewis, MD,
a board-certified,
fellowship trained,
corneal sub-specialist
affiliated with the
Wills Eye Surgical Network
performs all surgery.

If you’d like to meet Dr. Lewis after your evaluation or on a day
before your surgery simply let us know when you schedule.
He will always see you immediately prior to and just after your LASIK.

Yes. Nevertheless, we anticipate 2 million procedures in the
US alone this year. Its time has come.

Yes. Absolutely!

Good Candidates
are sick of their glasses and contact lenses
want to see in the shower, ocean, and sporting field unaided
don’t want their glasses to fog up or slip down their nose anymore
want people to see what they really look like
are tired of dragging contacts, glasses, and solutions around
want to see their alarm clock
are just tired of the hassle and dependence on lenses

Poor Candidates
want a guarantee
insist on 20/20 vision immediately after surgery
are unwilling to tolerate fluctuation and other symptoms
demand to be spectacle or contact lens free for life
do not recognize that there is risk in having LASIK
are obsessive, intolerant, uncompromising, or impatient
don’t follow instructions or educate themselves about the surgery
expect perfection

We have multiple checks and balances. This is our responsibility.
Also, the laser won’t be fired unless you are in the right position!
We will control your eye movements and blink reflex and keep you
from jeopardizing the result. You will not be our “worst” patient!

You need excellence in both in order to get the desired outcome.
That is our plan.

Dial 1-888-700-eyes or send email to ready@jamesslewismd.com