If you are looking for LASIK in Minneapolis, Chu Vision can help you attain crisp, clear vision. LASIK is a safe, permanent vision correction solution for those who are great candidates. Stop renting your vision with glasses and contacts. Own it.
Join the thousands of patients who have experienced visual freedom with LASIK from refractive surgeon Dr. Ralph Chu.
KELLY • LASIK PATIENT, RUNNER & MOM
With Dr. Chu, you are getting the best care possible, and the best knowledge possible. You’re getting someone who has done this many times. I feel he’s the best at it. After years and years of putting in contacts, the morning after my procedure, I woke up and had perfect vision.
Freedom from glasses and contacts
One of the safest elective surgical treatments now available
Quick, painless procedure
Comfortable recovery
Quick recovery – drive yourself to work the next day
Save money over time
One of the most-studied elective procedures, with more than 7,000 peer-reviewed studies confirming its safety and effectiveness
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most popular laser refractive surgery in the vision industry. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world have had this remarkable laser eye surgery and can hardly believe how wonderful their vision is following their procedure. LASIK is FDA-approved and can treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and even astigmatism by carefully altering the shape of the cornea. Some of the best aspects of LASIK eye surgery include that it is remarkably fast and virtually pain-free, and that it offers lasting results.
At Chu Vision Institute, we want everyone to see the world through clear eyes without glasses or contact lenses. We know that sharp vision can have a tremendous effect on daily quality of life. In fact, having the most precise vision possible can optimize everything from performing activities at work to enjoying your hobbies. Schedule an appointment at our office in the Twin Cities to receive a LASIK consultation with an extensively trained eye surgeon and find out if laser vision correction could be the most effective refractive error treatment for you and your eye health.
Due to recent advancements in LASIK technique, a rising number of adults might be great candidates for this treatment. This is great news, and while you might have been told by another eye doctor that LASIK eye surgery wasn’t a good treatment for you, it could be a good idea to look into it again. No one but a skilled ophthalmologist can accurately say whether anyone is a good candidate for laser vision correction. There are, however, a few guidelines that are true for most patients.
For one thing, patients need to be a minimum of 18 years of age. In addition, it is necessary that the patient has a certain level of corneal thickness. Also, some eye conditions, such as thin corneas or other medical concerns, might impact a person’s eligibility for LASIK; however, other refractive surgeries, such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), may still be an ideal option. You don’t have to wear contact lenses or corrective lenses forever. Contact our office today to learn more and see if refractive surgery is right for you.
At Chu Vision Institute, LASIK surgery is an incredibly quick, precise, state-of-the-art laser eye surgery to improve vision. As an added positive, a considerable majority of people don’t experience any pain during their treatment. LASIK eye surgery usually lasts under ten minutes in total.
Prior to beginning the LASIK procedure, the person’s eyes will be fully numbed with special anesthetic eye drops to ensure there is no discomfort. Then, a small, round, speculum device will be put on each eye to hold open the eyelids. People receiving LASIK surgery never feel anything but a slight tension in the eye. Once the eye is secured, Dr. Chu will utilize advanced laser technology to create a microscopically thin corneal flap. He will then carefully fold the thin flap back and use the excimer laser beam to change the shape of the underlying corneal tissue. Once this is done, your eye surgeon will bring the flap back into its proper position. The cornea’s new shape helps light rays focus clearly on the retina. Remarkably, the cornea can heal itself back together without sutures. Most people who receive LASIK eye surgery may notice clear vision within one day.
A lot of patients notice sharper vision right after their procedure; however, a great deal of patients may have hazy vision for around one day. For the most part, eyesight is noticeably sharper by the next day, and the outcomes will continue to improve and stabilize throughout the next 8 – 12 weeks. Several patients will have spells of hazy vision, night vision issues, and light sensitivity as they heal and recover; however, these issues are normal and are typically reversed in a few months.
Dr. Chu always asks his patients to come back for a few follow-up visits in order to monitor their healing process. LASIK patients will also have to use prescription and moisturizing eye drops for 2 – 4 weeks following LASIK.
Current innovations in LASIK technology are allowing countless people to benefit from laser vision correction. If you have been informed years ago that you weren’t suitable for LASIK, schedule an evaluation at Chu Vision Institute to find out if your eligibility has changed. Patients who aren’t good candidates for LASIK may be qualified for a different vision correction option, such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). We are here to give our Minneapolis laser patients their sharpest eyesight yet.
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 40’s, a condition where you 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, testing, and allow time for recovery. However, the LASIK eye surgery takes only 15 minutes or less to complete.
Chu Vision accepts cash, check, or credit. You are also able to use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) accounts 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 chances of infection) than there is 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 some 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 of 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) accounts 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 for patients to 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.
So, is LASIK financially viable? 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!
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Chu Vision Institute
9117 Lyndale Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55420
Office
952-835-1235
Fax
952-835-0534
