St Louis LasiK
Kansas City, St. Louis (Creve Coeur), Missouri

Frequently asked questions

Q: I have seen other doctors advertise LASIK at discount prices. Why should I choose Lasik-1?
A: At some centers, a lower price for LASIK comes at the expense of patient care or surgical experience. In other words, you get what you pay for. According to a Market Scope study (March, 2003), surgeons who claim to charge less than $1000 per eye account for less than 3% of all LASIK procedures nationwide. Your procedure will change your vision for the rest of your life, so price shouldn’t be your major determining factor when choosing a surgeon. The least expensive surgeon is not always the best choice – you want to find a surgeon who provides you with the best overall value. Ideally, you want a surgeon who not only has the finest technology, but also a wealth of experience, a dedicated staff, all at a great price. At Lasik-1, our patients are cared for by experienced surgeons, who use some of the most advanced laser technologies in the industry, and ensures that all patients receive a fair, affordable price for their procedures.


Q: What is the difference between Custom LASIK and standard laser vision correction?
A: Custom LASIK technology can treat a wider range of visual problems than conventional LASIK methods. With Custom technology, we can create an incredibly accurate and detailed map, or “fingerprint” of your eyes, which allows us to address tiny imperfections that can significantly hamper not only your visual acuity, but your overall visual quality as well. This means Custom LASIK provides you with the potential to experience even better vision than you could have by wearing glasses or contacts.

Q: Are there any risks involved with LASIK surgery?
A: As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK, but in the hands of a highly skilled and experienced surgeon, LASIK is a particularly safe and reliable procedure. Nevertheless, you should talk with your surgeon about any risks associated with the procedure, as well as all the benefits. Keep in mind that at Lasik-1 your care will be entrusted to an industry leading surgeon who uses some of the most advanced LASIK technology available today.

Q: Is LASIK painful?
A: You will receive anesthetic eye drops prior to your LASIK treatment which should prevent you from feeling any discomfort, though some patients do experience a slight sensation of pressure on their eyes during the procedure. Once you return home after LASIK, it is normal for some patients to experience mild discomfort, watery eyes, light sensitivity or blurry vision. These symptoms are usually temporary and treatable with over the counter medication, such as Tylenol.

Q: How soon after LASIK can I return to my regular activities like driving, going to work or exercising?
A: In most cases, people who have had LASIK can return to work and resume normal activities the very next day following their surgery. However, be sure to consult your doctor before engaging in swimming or any other physical activities that could disrupt the healing process.

Q: What happens at the comprehensive free VIP LASIK exam?
A: During this thorough eye examination, which is entirely free of charge (a $250 value), you will learn more about LASIK as an alternative to glasses and contact lenses. Our staff will perform an extremely detailed visual analysis of your eyes to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK. You will then individually meet with a patient counselor to discuss recovery time, your expectations and financing options. You will also meet with a Lasik-1 doctor, who will answer any and all questions that you may have.

Q: Will my improved vision be permanent?
A: LASIK is designed to serve as a permanent correction of your vision. Recent studies have shown that eyes treated by LASIK procedures exhibit excellent visual stability for more than 10 years following their treatment. In fact, the very first person who ever had LASIK is still seeing extremely well to this day.

Q: How long will my LASIK procedure take?
A: LASIK procedures are relatively quick and painless. A typical LASIK treatment will take between five and fifteen minutes, though patients may need to report to our office a short time before their procedure so that our staff can properly prepare them for their procedure.

Q: How safe is LASIK, really?
After ten years of clinical trials the FDA approved LASIK surgery technology in 1995.  Complications affecting vision after laser eye surgery are now reported at a rate of less than one percent. In fact, LASIK carries less risk of infection than wearing contacts.

Corrective eye surgery is extremely safe when performed by qualified doctors. Like any surgical procedure, there can be complications, but the complication rate is extremely low.  Results of clinical studies indicate the chances of having a vision-reducing complication are less than 1%, and, there have been no reported cases of blindness resulting from laser eye treatment in the United States.

Q: What about nighttime side-effects?
A: You have probably seen news stories about people having difficulty driving at night after refractive surgery. Nighttime side-effects of LASIK may include seeing halos, starbursts, blurry vision, and glare around lights. Some of these effects can be caused by overcorrection, under correction, or residual astigmatism. These effects usually diminish as the eye heals in the first three to six months following treatment. Sometimes additional touch-up (enhancement) procedures may be recommended. As part of our continuing commitment to your ideal vision, Lasik-1 offersour patients with lifetime touch-ups should they become necessary.

Another possible cause of nighttime side effects is pupil size. At night, the pupil expands to let in more light. Light coming through the peripheral cornea may be out of focus if the pupil opens beyond the laser treatment area. This is why some patients with very large pupils are not good candidates for LASIK. However, our advanced laser technology has expanded treatment zones and many patients that were one time not candidates because of their pupils can now be treated.

Q: Does LASIK cause dry eye?
A: Following a LASIK procedure, every patient has temporary dry eye which can usually be treated with artificial tears. This dry eye sensation usually clears up in eight to twelve weeks except in rare cases.

Q: What keeps the corneal flap in position?
A: Following your procedure, the flap stays in position without the need for stitches. Initially, there is a vacuum effect created by the cells lining the inner surface of the cornea. During the first few days following vision correction, when the eye heals over, the epithelium (the outer surface of the cornea) seals the edges of the flap.

Q: Will I need to wear glasses once my eyes have healed after LASIK?
A: Most patients who have LASIK no longer need glasses for their daily activities. However, if you’re over the age of 40, you still may need to wear reading glasses because of the normal aging process of the eye. This condition, known as presbyopia, occurs naturally as you get older. If you’re over 40 and require reading glasses, you may want to consider MonoVision.

Q: If I choose to have MonoVision LASIK, does that mean I’ll never need reading glasses?
A: Not necessarily. The effects of presbyopia continue to escalate as you age, regardless of whether you’ve had MonoVision. At some point in time, reading glasses or another vision correction procedure may become necessary. The benefit of having MonoVision is that you won’t always need glasses. Many who have MonoVision are able to see well enough both at distance and near to do things at any age without corrective lenses.