We thought this week that we’d take a closer look at the technology we use here at Image Plus Laser Eye Centre to help hundreds of Manitobans live a more fulfilling life without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Originally developed to measure optical distortions inherent in powerful telescopes, Wavefront technology has now been adapted to laser vision correction.
The WavePrint System™ by VISX® uses Fourier WaveFront sensing technology. This technology is exceptionally good at measuring subtle variations in high order distortions (e.g. spherical aberrations, coma). The system creates an incredibly detailed and accurate wavefront map of the eye. This map is as unique as your fingerprint or DNA sequence.
Diagnosis
The first step toward improving your vision through laser eye surgery is the assessment. The Advanced CustomVue Wavefront technology allows a higher level of diagnosis and treatment than traditional diagnosis methods. The VISX WavePrint map that is produced using this method shows the surgeon how light focuses in different areas of the eye, allowing the doctor to decide whether you are a good candidate for Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront laser vision correction.
It also allows the doctor to determine the accuracy of your current glasses prescription and to personalise your laser treatment plan to your eye’s unique vision distortion.
Treatment
VISX® Star S4 Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront laser vision correction is performed with The WavePrint System™. This system includes:
* The WavePrint Map
* 3D ActiveTrak™ Eyetracker;
* Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™)
* Iris Registration (IR™)
Your surgeon is then afforded the opportunity to personalize your treatment in accordance with the Wavefront map. This technology also allows the surgeon to track any minute movement your eye makes during the surgery, via the 3D ActiveTrak™ Eyetracker, across all three dimensions. The machine repositions the laser in real time to compensate for these movements, ensuring the accuracy of the application of the treatment.
The VISX® S4 Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™) allows for more accurate reshaping of the eye based on your personal Wavefront profile.
VISX® Iris Registration (IR™) is the newest component of Advanced CustomVue™ WaveFront. It allows far greater accuracy for the surgeon, and accounts for the rotation that occurs in our eyes when we move from a sitting to a lying position.
We chose our technology carefully to ensure that we are providing the best possible treatments and outcomes for our patients.
If you’re going to let someone perform surgery on the part of your body that gives you the most important of your five senses (your eyes), you want to make sure that you are comfortable with your choice of surgeon.
Your choice of surgeon will be based on your individual expectations and needs, and by asking questions which will help you to decide what you are comfortable with, you will be able to determine whether a laser eye surgery practice is right for you.
Some of the questions you might ask could include:
Is the surgeon happy to take as much time as is required to answer all my questions and allay any fears that I may have?
Will the doctor who performs the surgery be the one who performs all my follow up care?
Will I have a personal consultation with the surgeon before my surgery?
Do I feel comfortable with the staff at the surgery centre, including non-surgical staff.
Does the centre offer financing options if I require them? Are the terms reasonable?
Does my fee include all post-operative care and any medications I may require?
Will the surgeon be available to perform any emergency post-operative care should the need arise?
Do the staff seem rushed or stressed? Do they appear to have time to do their job properly?
By asking, and answering these questions to your satisfaction, you’ll be in a position to make an informed, educated decision when choosing your laser eye surgery centre.
Laser eye surgery has helped change the lives of millions of people by allowing them both the ability to see clearer and chance to finally ditch those awkward eyeglasses and pesky contacts. However, although this wonderful procedure is readily available almost everywhere in the world, it can still unfortunately be financially out of reach for some people. However, there are a few things that you can do to help defer the cost of laser eye surgery and start seeing clearer today!
1. Get Help From Your Insurance Company
Laser eye surgery, including the popular Lasik procedure, usually ranges in cost between about $1000 to $2000 per eye, the price often varying depending on what sort of vision correction needs to be accomplished. Most medical insurance companies will not cover the costs of laser eye surgery as a “necessary procedure”, but there is still some modicum of help that you can get from certain sorts of insurance carriers. Indeed, although most medical insurance companies currently do not cover Lasik, many HMO’s and PPO’s will have contracts with certain clinics in order to provide a reduced rate for you! So, looking into this fact could be one way in which you could save money on your laser eye surgery.
2. Write-Off Laser Eye Procedures on Your Taxes
It is a relatively little-known fact that the IRS will often allow people to write-off the cost of laser eye surgery on their taxes! The IRS, believe it or not, actually has the presence of mind to regard vision correction surgery (unlike procedures like breast enlargement and teeth whitening) as something that promotes the general functioning of the human body, and thus will allow you to use it as a tax deduction. And, of course, because of this, it is also possible to write off all expenses that relate to your laser eye surgery, such as medications, the cost to travel to and from the laser eye center, and any other necessities that could come into play, such as food and lodging if you have to travel far for the procedure.
So there you have it; it is possible to lower the overall cost of your laser eye surgery without having to settle for a substandard surgeon or clinic (and beware: there are many of them out there with some pretty impressive-sounding pricing), so if you are thinking of getting laser eye surgery, consider these two simple tips when figuring out your laser eye surgery budget.
Congratulations; you’ve finally decided that you’ve had enough with the burden of using contact lenses and glasses and want to look into undergoing laser eye surgery! Good for you! So, now that you know that you are interested in obtaining clear, unaided vision, the first step to take is to have an initial consultation with an eye doctor in order to determine if you are eligible for Lasik or not, and if indeed you are a candidate for laser eye surgery, which surgery might be right for you. But, what actually takes place during this first, all-important step toward laser eye surgery?
Well, if you do wear glasses or contact lenses, you have no doubt undergone an eye examination before, so much that will be done during this consultation will no doubt be somewhat familiar to you. However, the purpose of this highly comprehensive eye exam is to map out the structure of your eyes in order to see what the laser eye surgeon will have to work with should you decide to go through with the surgery. Indeed, this is a special consultation that will assess the over-all structure of your eyes in a more directed way; the mapping of the shape of the eye serving to tell the Lasik physician what sort of reshaping should be done in order to achieve the best vision-improving results.
So, on to consultation!
First off, your eyes will be dilated so that the eye doctor can determine if there are any irregularities or problems within the eye itself. Then the mapping of the overall shape of the eye will be performed, which is of the utmost importance because it will determine the thickness of your cornea, which has everything to do with the physician deciding which sort of laser eye surgery, if any, you will be eligible for. For instance, those with thicker corneas are often more suited for PRK, as opposed to Lasik, due to the fact that with PRK no flap is cut in the epithelium (the thin, outermost layer of the cornea).
Then the eye doctor will determine what your “refractive error” is, and what is causing it. “Refractive error” essentially means what your eyes are doing wrong that is causing you to have to use glasses or contacts in the first place, the purpose of laser eye surgery, of course, being to treat this cause, instead of just treating the symptoms. Then the eye doctor will determine how your eyes perform while making tears, because healthy tearing is not only important to the overall health of your eyes, it is also imperative if you are to successfully heal after any laser eye surgery procedure.
Before or after this examination the eye doctor will also asking you a few questions about your medical history. This is due to the fact that there are certain chronic conditions that can complicate the undergoing of laser eye surgery, such as some types of autoimmune disorders. If you know of having any of these or other chronic conditions, or if you expect that you might be pregnant, it will be important to discuss these with the eye surgeon if you do indeed decide to undergo Lasik, or any other laser eye surgery. The eye doctor will also discuss with you what to expect as far as the results of the surgery.
And, that’s basically it; you will then be well on your way to laser vision correction! However, while most individuals who go in for a Lasik consultation pass the eligibility requirements with flying colors, be prepared that not everyone can receive Lasik. But, if the doctor you see doesn’t recommend Lasik, or any other type of laser eye surgery, don’t fret: they may have other solutions or paths that you can take in mind. However, if you pass the test, and decide to go for it, you will probably be referred to a laser eye clinic near you to make an appointment to have the treatment done, and then they will send you a list of what to do to prepare for the surgery.
So, if that is the case, we offer you an even bigger congratulations than before, and whole-heatedly wish you the best of luck! Here’s to finally obtaining that perfect vision you’ve always wanted!
It is an unfortunate fact that people from every walk of life, from musicians to politicians, suffer from the common ailment of imperfect eyesight. And most of these people, over time, manage to get used to not having perfect vision, using the aid of either contact lenses or eyeglasses to cope with the situation. However, there is, of course, another way, and that way is to undergo laser eye surgery!
Indeed, although folks of all types can and do benefit from having Lasik or other types of corrective eye surgery all the time, unless you personally know someone who’s vision has been helped by this wonderful procedure, you usually only hear about a select group of people who have successfully been helped by laser eye surgery. One main example of this would be all the well-known stories about professional athletes, such as Tiger Woods, who have had their games improved by corrective vision surgery. While it is good that these folks are helping to spread the word about Lasik, there are also many other people who, mostly due to their lines of work, can also stand to gain quite substantially should they choose to do away with glasses or contacts and finally have their vision professionally corrected.
One group of people I can think of right off the bat that really rely on their eyesight to do their job is; artists! Indeed, professional artists of all types, especially painters and photographers, rely on the quality and the sharpness of their vision to help bring their, well, “visions” to life! After all, when it comes down to it, these sort of artists rely entirely on their eyesight in order to create their art. Just like acute, accurate hearing is absolutely crucial for any performing musician or recording artist, clear, unaided vision is indispensable for anyone employed in the visual arts.
But, it doesn’t stop there. Other sorts of artists, like food artists, for example, rely on their keen sense of sight in order to make sure that the things that they create are visually appealing to those connoisseurs that consume them. And then there are interior designers, architects; the list truly goes on and on.
Of course, far more vital to mankind than the world of the arts are the people who take on the responsibility of being in charge of driving, or otherwise transporting, large groups of people from here to there. I am speaking, of course, of people employed as bus drivers or airplane pilots. After all; not only do these folks have to rely on their acute vision to perform the important tasks that they do everyday, but so do all the people who put their trust in these amazing individuals. So, if they wear glasses or contacts and could, as would probably be the case, benefit from laser eye surgery by being able to see better in general, wouldn’t it behoove them to undergo the operation if they have the opportunity?
Anyway, dear reader, I think that by now you probably get the point; professional athletes are by far not the only sort of professionals out there that can substantially benefit from the undergoing of laser eye surgery. How many more examples can you think of? Drop us a comment below and let us know!
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth; trees that have had bare branches all winter start their perennial cycle of life over again by flowering anew, and many creatures come out of their winter hibernation to greet the sun. And for many of you who have been stuck inside all winter, are chomping at the bit to get outside and enjoy some of your favourite outdoor sports again.
However, for some people, enjoying outdoor sporting activities is not as easy as it could be, due to the need of having to wear glasses or contact lenses. If you wear glasses or contacts, you are well aware of the extra time and hassle that these bring while trying to enjoy your favourite activities.Whether it be playing golf, joining your friends in a weekly game of basketball, or lacing up your runners for a spring jog, the true enjoyment of these activities can be ruined quickly if you are unable to see where the ball went, if your glasses keep bouncing or sliding down your nose, or even if you lose a contact lens during your game.
So if freedom of glasses and contact lenses could help you enjoy your favourite sports more, whether watching or playing, perhaps it’s time to talk to your eye care professional about laser vision correction.Imagine what Image Plus could do for you!
You’ve decided to go ahead and have your laser vision correction at Image Plus Laser Eye Centre. Good for you!
But what will it be like? How long will the actual procedure take? To get the answers to these questions and more, please read on…
On the day of your procedure, be sure to dress comfortably. Avoid wearing clothing with lots of fibers, cotton and denim is ideal. Strong colognes, perfumes and sprays must be avoided, along with makeup.
When you arrive at Image Plus Laser Eye Centre you will sign your consent forms and take care of other administrative work.
You are then ready to have your eyes prepped. Your eyes lids, eye lashes and surrounding area will be cleansed. You will have an explanation of your post-operative kit along with what to expect in the laser suite. Freezing drops are administered so that all you feel is a slight pressure sensation and a mild sedative will be offered to you.
Once you are prepped and ready, you will be escorted to the laser suite at which time you will comfortably relax on a reclining chair. Much of the time in the operating suite is lining up your eye and confirming your treatment. You will be introduced to the noises of the lasers and your surgeon and his team will then walk you through the treatment.
The treatment will only last a few seconds to minutes depending on how severe your prescription is. Once the treatment is completed, you will then rest for approximately half and hour at which time your surgeon will check your healing. You are then ready to go home and rest for 6-8 hours.
When you awake after your rest you will notice a considerable change in vision. Your surgeon will check your vision the following day at which time he will tell you if you can go and have your glasses restriction taken off of your driver’s license.
After that, you are encouraged to enjoy your new vision until you are seen again at your one week post-operative visit.
iLasik™ and other types of laser vision correction procedures are becoming more and more popular throughout the world. It’s no wonder; who wouldn’t want the chance to improve their vision and possibly eliminate the hassle of glasses and contact lenses?
Did you know that some people may potentially be better candidates for PRK rather than iLASIK™? Wondering which procedure is best suited for you? To determine if you are a candidate for the transformation that laser eye surgery has offered for millions of people, book a personal assessment with us at Image Plus Laser Eye Centre. At your personal assessment we will do several tests to see if you are a good candidate, give you a tour of our centre and answer any questions you have.
There are different types of laser eye procedures; PRK and iLASIK™. The natural thickness of your corneas will help determine which procedure is best suited for you. For example, if your corneas are naturally thin, it does not mean that you are not a candidate for laser vision correction rather it may mean that PRK is a better option than iLASIK™. In some instances, the occupation you are in may also have requirements as to which procedure will be best suited for you.
General requirements are that you must be at least 18 years old and have a stable prescription. Your eyes must be healthy and have no signs of glaucoma or cataracts, and you must not be pregnant. If you have chronic eye conditions or other health issues it is important to discuss them with the eye surgeon at your consultation. Some types of autoimmune disorders may eliminate you from having laser vision correction. This too will be discussed with at your complimentary personal assessment.
You may have your own personal reasons for considering laser eye surgery to correct your poor eyesight, we at ImagePlus have over the years found that there are six common factors which bring people to our laser vision correction clinic seeking help to obtain clearer, sharper vision:
Appearance: There’s no doubt that some styles of glasses look better than others, but some people just don’t like the look of glasses. These people want to look good naturally, without glasses dominating their face.
Getting rid of contact lenses: Great strides have been made in the field of contact lenses, but they’re still a lot of work. Cleaning solutions, inserting the contacts, searching on the carpet for lenses that have fallen out, these are all drawbacks of contact lenses that can be aleviated by undertaking laser eye surgery.
Employment: Many occupations require precise, unaided vision. Occupations where glasses may become fogged, or fall off and get caught in machinery or place the wearer, or other people in close proximity in danger, may require that you have clear, unassisted eyesight. A great example of this is that we often have people desiring a career in the Police department or as a Firefighter seeking enhance their chances of acceptance by undergoing laser eye surgery.
Sport: It can be quite difficult to play some sports wearing glasses or contact lenses. Contact sports such as football or martial arts, or any sport where there may be accidental contact such as basketball, place the wearer of glasses at risk of breaking their glasses, and the potential eye injuries which may ensue. In particular, the enjoyment of Manitoba’s favourite sporting pass-times, including swimming and snow sports such as skiing and snowmobiling, are greatly enhanced without the worry of glasses or contact lenses.
Clearer everyday vision: Imagine being able to wake up in the morning and read the time on your alarm clock without fumbling to find your glasses first. Or being able to follow the trajectory of the ball on that 280 metre drive when you’re playing golf. Poor eyesight impacts every aspect of your life. Unassisted clearer, sharper vision will conversely enhance every aspect of your life.
A big life event: A wedding, engagement, or any other important life event where a person will be the centre of attention. We see many people getting ready for an event where they will be the focus of proceedings who want to look the best they possibly can without glasses. They often take this opportunity to rid themselves of their glasses or contacts.
Clearly, there are many reasons you might consider undertaking laser eye surgery to give you clearer, sharper vision. Do/did you have a different reason? Why not let us know by leaving a comment below?
