Is LASIK the best choice for me?

L A S I K A N D L A S I K - L I K E P R O C E D U R E S

At Northwest Eye, our team includes some of the top surgeons in the state who take a consultative, personal approach to refractive surgery. Each eye condition is unique, and when it comes to surgically correcting your vision, there is no single “best option” that is right for everyone. After a thorough exam, your surgeon, and his/her Northwest Eye team, will discuss your options and provide a recommendation based on your personality and vision goals, as well as the physical and medical condition of your eyes.

Since we are a comprehensive eye clinic, we focus on our patient’s total eye health and only offer the best technology. While other places will bring in patients with unrealistically low prices offering older, blade lasik - we are dedicated to offering only the best, bladeless all laser refractive solutions.

Northwest Eye LASIK CenterGolden Valley

Why Northwest Eye?No gimmicks. Only the best technology and the best outcomes.

The best choice is to learn first.

What is LASIK (and is it my only choice)?LASIK is the most commonly known procedure for returning eyesight to 20/20 clarity. For many, it’s the best health transformation they will ever make. Being “free” from glasses and contact lenses is an amazing and life-changing feeling. While LASIK is the most common procedure to accomplish this, it could be that another form of refractive surgery will provide you with a better visual outcome. So what is LASIK, why are there options and what are the differences? Read on. Be Eye Wise and see.

In a LASIK procedure, your Northwest Eye surgeon uses advanced laser technology to create a corneal flap. This very thin flap is folded back to expose the inner cornea. Using state-of-the-art laser technology the surgeon then reshapes the curvature of the cornea to yield the best possible vision results. Once reshaped the corneal flap is put back into place and typically heals quickly. Most patients return to work the following day.

PROCEDURE TIME: 10 minutes per eyeRETURN TO WORK: Usually the next day

LASIK

Why Northwest Eye?No gimmicks. Only the best technology and the best outcomes.

Procedure time does not include the total amount in the surgery center on the day of the procedure. For any of these procedures the patient can expect to be in the LASIK/surgery center for approximately 90 minutes. Healing time can vary from patient to patient.

In a PRK procedure, your Northwest Eye surgeon removes a small portion of the corneal surface cells to reveal the underlying corneal tissue. Once this is revealed the surgeon uses advanced laser technology to reshape the corneal tissue and produce the best possible vision results. After the procedure the corneal surface tissue grows back and functional vision returns within a week.

PROCEDURE TIME: 10 minutes per eyeRETURN TO WORK: 3-5 days

Sometimes reshaping the cornea is not possible. For these situations, Northwest Eye offers a clear lens exchange procedure. As the name suggests, your natural lens is replaced by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) that will correct your vision to near 20/20 results.

PROCEDURE TIME: 20 minutesRETURN TO WORK: Usually within 1-2 days

Instead of replacing your eye’s natural lens, the Phakic Intraocular Lens procedure adds a second lens that is implanted in front of your natural lens. This new, additional lens allows light to properly focus on the retina and bring your vision to near 20/20 clarity.

PROCEDURE TIME: 20 minutesRETURN TO WORK: Usually within 1-2 days

Phakic Intraocular Lens

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Clear Lens Exchange

Freedom from ‘Cheaters’Yes, there is finally a way to get out of reading glasses!

LASIK and PRK are limited to correcting a single distance vision refractive error caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. They do not reduce a patient’s need for reading glasses. Patients who need reading glasses have a condition called presbyopia.

Presbyopia: the normal loss of near focusing ability that occurs with age. As the lens naturally hardens (loses its elasticity) in the aging process, it loses its ability to change its shape - which is necessary to see objects both close-up and far-away. This lack of accommodation, that starts to progressively get worse around the age of 40, makes it harder to read or do other close-up tasks.

Luckily, there is now a FDA approved INLAY, that can be implanted to overcome presbyopia and allow patients freedom from reading glasses. This new technology is called the Laser Raindrop INLAY.

The Laser Raindrop INLAY procedure places a tiny, clear disc just beneth the surface of your eye using a flap, very similar to that of LASIK. This disc reshapes the cornea in the center of your non-dominant eye - allowing the up-close images to clearly focus on your retina. When combined with clear distance vision, this procedure will give you a full range of vision - glasses free!

PROCEDURE TIME: 10 minutesRETURN TO WORK: Usually the next day

Laser Raindrop INLAY

Will I need glasses after LASIK?Ideally, no. In fact, the vast majority of patients between the ages of 18-40 will be able to see again without any corrective lenses. As you age, however, most people will need reading glasses due to the reduced flexibility of the eye’s lens. This condition is called presbyopia and as the page prior explains - we have a solution for that too!

Will it hurt?In a word, no. Not even if you have a very low pain threshold. All patients are provided with prescriptions such as Valium and topical drops to numb any pain during and after the procedure. Some patients do feel “something” during the procedure, and others note a “scratchiness” during recovery, but neither is painful and both pass quickly.

What if I blink or move?Blinking is inevitable, so all procedures are developed with that distinct possibility in mind. The lasers used by Northwest Eye are targeted by a high speed eye tracking system with a response time of milliseconds – which is significantly faster than your eye can move. If you have any uncontrollable twitches or eye jumps, the eye tracker will compensate automatically to ensure absolute safety.

Why is the initial consultation important?No two eyes are the same. Numerous factors play a part in determining whether your eyes are well suited for LASIK, PRK or any of the available refractive vision correction procedures. A free, no-obligation, initial consultation is the only way for our surgeons to ensure you are a good candidate for refractive surgery.

How much do corrective procedures cost?Once a specialty service for the wealthy, vision correction procedures are now enjoyed by everyone. Northwest Eye refractive surgery costs are on par with most competition, and we offer attractive financing packages with interest rates as low as 0% to spread your costs out over time. Regardless of the procedure you require, when the price is compared to the cost of replacement contacts, cleaning solutions and new glasses, corrective surgery is almost always a better investment over time.

Wondering...

Many clinics offer LASIK and other similar corrective procedures. So why entrust your vision to Northwest Eye? Yes, we’re good – in fact, our doctors are exceptionally good. But other providers offer great care as well. So what sets Northwest Eye apart? The amount of one-on-one time you’ll spend with your surgeon. At most clinics, you only meet the surgeon moments before the procedure. At Northwest Eye, you’ll meet your surgeon during your initial consultation and they will work with you through the decision-making process, surgery and after-care. A refractive procedure only takes minutes, but the doctor-patient relationship lasts forever. So if you want a doctor you can know and not just meet, Be Eye Wise and visit Northwest Eye.

will see you right away.

Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: LASIK, PRK, ICL, clear lens exchange, Raindrop INLAY

John S. Berestka, M.D.Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: LASIK, PRK, ICL, clear lens exchange, Raindrop INLAY

Matthew Ramsey, M.D.

Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: LASIK, PRK, ICL, clear lens exchange, Raindrop INLAY

Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: PRK

Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: LASIK, PRK

Timothy J. Ehlen, M.D.

Gerald P. Loushin, M.D.

Janice M. Sinclair, M.D.

Board certified ophthalmologistSpecialties: LASIK, PRK, ICL, clear lens exchange

Stan Walker, M.D.

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