LASIK in Minneapolis

While LASIK surgery’s effects are permanent, its advantages might decrease slightly with time. The changes made to the cornea during LASIK will last a lifetime and are permanent. Anatomical changes to the eye or eyes may require enhancement surgery in around 10–12 percent of individuals worldwide. Most people will develop presbyopia in their 40s, a condition where they have trouble seeing up close. This happens regardless of whether you’ve had LASIK or not. Your highly qualified laser eye surgeon will determine which vision correction procedure is best for you and your individual needs.

On the day of your procedure, you should plan to be at Chu Vision Institute for two hours in order to complete any paperwork and testing and allow time for recovery. However, the LASIK eye surgery takes only 15 minutes or less to complete.

Chu Vision accepts cash, checks, or credit. You can also use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for your LASIK eye surgery, as it is an eligible expense. We do have financing and payment options available for those who qualify.

During LASIK surgery, very precise lasers and equipment that can track eye movement are utilized. Our lasers will immediately respond to even the tiniest movement and stop treating until your eyes are fixated on the target once again. With that being said, shifting your eye during LASIK is not a cause for worry. Our systems will carefully monitor everything and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the operation proceeds as planned, whether you move your eye or not. To keep everything moving quickly and smoothly during the treatment, you simply keep your eyes fixated on the target. If your eye does move for any reason, our lasers will pause until your eyes are back in proper alignment. Therefore, don’t worry that you could disrupt your treatment by accidentally moving your eyes, since it’s literally impossible to do so. Our leading-edge technology will safeguard your vision.

LASIK is regarded as a safe surgery with a very low complication rate and high patient satisfaction. LASIK is considered one of the safest elective surgical treatments now available, with a complication rate of less than 1%. In fact, there is actually more of a risk when wearing contact lenses (due to the chances of infection) than there is of having LASIK surgery.

The LASIK initial recovery time typically lasts six to twelve hours; however, it varies from patient to patient and depends on a number of factors. After having vision correction surgery, most patients can see clearly within 24 hours, while others need two to five days to recover. Following LASIK, some patients may experience blurred vision and vision fluctuations for a few weeks. It is normal to experience blurry vision immediately after surgery but this usually clears up within a few hours. You should plan to have someone drive you home after your LASIK eye surgery and are advised to nap and relax for the remainder of the day. You should avoid straining your eyes by avoiding reading or watching television. Most patients are cleared to return to work and normal activities the following day.

You should plan to be off work for two to three days, but most of our patients are able to return to work the day following their LASIK surgery.

LASIK is considered an elective procedure, and most insurance plans do not cover it. However, you are able to use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to pay for your LASIK eye surgery, as it is an eligible expense.

For at least a week after LASIK, Dr. Chu and most skilled LASIK doctors advise against wearing makeup. Although there is no perfect time to start wearing makeup again, a week should be plenty to give your eyes time to heal and become less vulnerable to bacterial infections and other problems

For patients who experience both myopia and presbyopia, we may recommend a technique known as monovision LASIK. Using this method, our staff creates a blended vision that corrects one eye for nearsightedness and one for farsightedness. The brain is then able to combine these differences in vision in order for you to be able to see both near and far. Though this may sound like your vision will be a bit odd or uncomfortable, most patients are very happy with their results and become completely accustomed to their new vision within just a few weeks. In order to ensure patients will love their results, we usually recommend that patients undergo a short trial before undergoing monovision LASIK, in which they wear a pair of lenses that simulate monovision. In this way, patients can see for themselves what to expect from the procedure. Monovision LASIK is typically suitable for any patients over the age of 40 who are noticing symptoms of presbyopia and myopia.

We all prefer to save money, but many patients don’t understand how having LASER eye surgery may do that. But it’s crucial to take a step back and consider the larger picture. The cost of contact lenses and glasses each year adds up. When you compare the cost of LASIK eye surgery to how much you would normally spend on glasses or contact lenses in a year, the expense might be daunting. Now consider the annual expenditure spread across 5 and 10 years. You can clearly understand now how choosing to get LASIK surgery will save you money. Depending on where you obtain them, the average cost of a single pair of new glasses is about $187 each year; this does not account for the possible need for additional pairs or prescription sunglasses. A year’s worth of contact lenses typically costs about $325, although the price might vary greatly based on your prescription and the kind of lenses you use. The price of annual eye examinations and additional expenses like contact lens solution, carrying cases, and other items are also to be considered.

It becomes apparent that eyeglasses and contact lenses may not truly be less expensive in the long run if you start to factor in these fees. Consider the additional time and effort that these may need in addition to the financial expenditures. In certain circumstances, wearing contacts and glasses may be uncomfortable and awkward, which comes with a price. For many, having superior vision without the need for glasses or contacts seems much more practical and usually more fun. Enjoy wearing glasses as a fashion statement? You’re welcome to wear non-prescription glasses to accessorize a favorite outfit, but thankfully, now you won’t be dependent on them!