20/20 Institute

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Managing Dry Eyes after LASIK Surgery

2009-08-28T08:25:00.000-06:00

It's a well-documented fact that having dry eyes is a common occurrence after LASIK. Sometimes, it can be associated with other laser vision correction procedures like PRK, Epi-LASIK or LASEK as well. Some can experience just a mild form that last as little as a week or two and some may have symptoms for up to six months or more. It just depends on the individual, the type of procedure performed and the climate. People living in dry climates like Colorado or Arizona typically have a higher risk of experiencing dry eyes post-surgery.

Solutions for Dry Eyes
The good news about this minor complication is that in most cases it is pretty easily and successfully managed.

For mild cases, increasing the number of times a day you use your artificial tears is often enough to alleviate any irritation and aggravation. Other solutions may include:

Cold compresses
Using a humidifier in your bedroom at night and work space during the day
Prescription tears (rather than over the counter ones)
Punctal plugs (inserted into your tear ducts by your doctor)
Using supplements like Flax seed oil capsules (as recommended by your doctor)

To answer any further questions you may have about the possibility of dry eyes after your LASIK procedure, please contact us today. We want to make sure all of your questions are fully satisfied before you proceed with your vision correction procedure.

LASIK Surgeon and specific procedure training

2009-08-26T08:23:00.000-06:00

At all three 20/20 Institute locations, in Denver, Portland OR and Indianapolis, all of our surgeons are board-certified ophthalmologists who have focused their medical careers on refractive surgery.

These medical doctors start with an undergraduate degree, then four years of medical school, followed by a one-year internship and then up to three years in residency training for ophthalmology. In addition, some go on to do a one to two year fellowship to study a sub-specialty like refractive surgery or corneal surgery. In most cases they will assist another surgeon or themselves perform thousands of procedures before they ever open their own practice or join an established practice as a refractive surgeon.

All of our surgeons (and other staff members too) attend continuing education seminars and classes to further their current knowledge, learn new and better techniques and keep abreast of new technologies that are on the horizon for vision correction.

To learn more about your 20/20 LASIK surgeon, please contact us today. We'll be happy to answer all of your questions and schedule a free comprehensive evaluation for you ($150 value). We'll also talk to you about affordable financing options and our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life plan.

Managing Glare & Halos after LASIK Eye Surgery

2009-08-21T08:21:00.000-06:00

All LASIK patients should expect to experience a little bit of glare or halos immediately after surgery. Post-surgical eyes can be a little swollen or irritated causing some vision anomalies.

Your surgeon and his staff will review what is normal and what is not normal for your LASIK post-operative healing. Be sure to follow their instructions to the letter when it comes to resting and administering the eye drops at prescribed times and in the right amounts.

If at any time you symptoms worsen or are outside the realm of what you've been told, please do not hesitate to call us ASAP. We'll let you know if you need to come in or if we need to change your post-operative regimen.

For most people, glare and halos are temporary and gradually resolve with time. If they persist, your surgeon will advise you of the best options for you that may involve new types of drops or maybe an enhancement, if necessary.

The doctor and other staff members of the 20/20 Institute are committed to providing a 5-star experience for you and will take care of any issues you have. Open communication is the key. Please contact us if you have any questions about post-procedure instructions or are having any problems.

When is a LASIK enhancement needed?

2009-08-18T08:20:00.000-06:00

LASIK enhancements occur when one or both eyes already treated with LASIK are re-treated to correct any lingering prescription or higher order aberration that is causing vision problems.

Even though you will be able to see clearly shortly after surgery, the full healing time and vision stabilization period may be several weeks to a few months. A certain amount of vision fluctuation is normal at first so don't assume that you will need an enhancement if you experience some fluctuation in vision.

You and your surgeon will discuss the when and if enhancements are appropriate for you. There are cases when it is necessary to have an enhancement procedure performed and those cases fall into three main categories:

Topographical abnormalities - decentrations, central islands, peninsulas
Spherical aberrations - causing night vision problems, halos, starburst, ghosting
Irregular astigmatism

If you suspect you need a LASIK enhancement or just want to learn more about LASIK, please call or email us today. We'll be happy to schedule a free evaluation for you and answer all of your vision correction questions.

Benefits of All-Laser Eye Surgery

2009-08-14T08:18:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute, we believe the best choice for the vast majority of our patients is All Laser LASIK with the Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser.

The Ziemer Femto LDV laser is used to create the flap before the correction treatment begins. In traditional LASIK procedures, this flap is created with a mechanical blade called a microkeratome. Studies show that LASIK flaps created with a laser rather than a blade are more uniform in thickness and heal faster. Another plus is that flap-related complications are greatly reduced.

The laser we use for the actual vision correction is the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser. It is currently the fastest and most accurate laser on the market in the U.S. and is the only laser built from the ground up on Wavefront technology. With its advanced technology, it creates better and more predictable results. Many of our patients achieve better than 20/20 vision with this system.

If you have more questions about all laser eye surgery and its benefits for you, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free consultation. Come enjoy our 5-star amenities like freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and free wi-fi while you're here!

Who will my Laser Eye Surgeon be?

2009-08-12T08:14:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute we want you to love your vision. Our focus is you, the patient, and getting great results for you. That's why we invest heavily in our technology and our people, including surgeons, optometrists and other staff members.

All of the laser eye surgeons at the 20/20 Institute are board-certified ophthalmologists whose careers are focused on refractive, or vision correction, surgery. They all attend continuing education classes, seminars and conventions to perfect their techniques and learn about new technologies that are on the horizon.

Which 20/20 Institute location is closest to you will dictate who your LASIK team, including your surgeon, will be. To learn more about the doctors in your area, simply go to our Home page and click on your city and then on Our Doctors link. This link will direct you to the page of doctor bios for your city.

When you're ready to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK or another vision correction procedure, simply contact us and we'll schedule a free comprehensive evaluation for you. You'll know by the end of your visit which procedure is best for you.

What is recovery from PRK like?

2009-08-07T08:13:00.000-06:00

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, was the most common laser vision correction procedure in the United States until the development of the LASIK procedure. PRK is the preferred procedure among many surgeons for patients with very large pupils or thin corneas.

Unlike LASIK, PRK is a surface ablation procedure only. It is less invasive than LASIK and produces comparable results. In PRK, the epithelium (outermost layer of the cornea) is removed and the cool laser light from the excimer laser reshapes the cornea to improve and hopefully eliminate your nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism.

Right after the procedure you will rest a few minutes, the doctor will examine you one last time before your driver takes you home to rest for a few hours more. You will have antibiotic drops, artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drops to take on a schedule. You may experience some discomfort during the first few days after the procedure but this should be handled easily with OTC pain relievers. It will take several days or even weeks for your vision to fully stabilize and patients achieve 20/20 or better vision.

If you've been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free consultation to determine if you are a candidate for PRK.

How does LASEK compare to PRK?

2009-08-04T08:11:00.000-06:00

Most of the patients we see at 20/20 Institute centers qualify for our All Laser LASIK procedure. Some, however, due to thin corneas or corneas that are steep. In cases where it may not be safe to perform All Laser LASIK, we may recommend another laser vision correction procedure like PRK or LASEK.

LASEK and PRK are both surface ablation procedures, which means that no flap is created (as with LASIK) and the treatment occurs on the surface of the cornea. With today's technologies available, both procedures can produce results comparable to LASIK.

PRK was developed first and then LASEK came as a derivative of PRK. In PRK, the outermost layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is removed and discarded. After the laser procedure the epithelial cells grow back. In LASEK, the epithelium is removed with an alcohol solution prior to the procedure but then placed back after the laser vision treatment is done. The goal of LASEK is to provide some of the benefits of LASIK, such as a shorter healing time and immediate vision correction, to people who are not good LASIK candidates. So far, though, evidence does not support the case that LASEK offers any benefits over PRK.

In addition to being good alternatives for patients who can't have LASIK due to insufficient corneal thickness, these two procedures also eliminate the chance for flap-related complications.

To find out if you are a candidate for LASIK or another vision correction procedure like PRK or LASEK, please contact us today to schedule a complimentary comprehensive evaluation. Our LASIK doctors will discuss your most viable vision correction options with you as well as our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life plan.

LASIK as an Investment

2009-07-30T15:29:00.000-06:00

When you are considering LASIK, you probably try to balance the benefits of LASIK against the cost of the procedure. After all, with an average nationwide cost of $1935/eye (in 2007, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)), it seems like a costly procedure, one that for many people is well worth the pay-off. Many people who have received LASIK consider the benefit of clear vision and freedom from glasses or contacts to be priceless. But if the cost is your main reason you haven't gotten LASIK, what if we told you that LASIK actually saves you money, and is one of the best investment opportunities around.

If you are a glasses wearer, aged 25, you may expect to pay as much as $26000 for glasses over the rest of your lifetime. If, instead, you invest in LASIK, paying $3870 to have vision corrected in both eyes, you actually save $22130. Or, to put it another way, if you consider LASIK like a certificate of deposit, where you put in $3870, and upon maturity it yields $26000 after 60 years, it's an investment with over 570% return, or an average percentage yield of over 9.5%.

The benefits are better for a contacts wearer, who might pay around $30200 for a lifetime of contacts. For this person, an investment in LASIK yields a return on investment of about 680%, with an APY of about 11%.

And if you are a glasses plus contacts wearer, LASIK is an even better investment. Saving the $37,400 you would otherwise pay for glasses and contacts is like an 866% return on investment, or an average of 14.4% annual percentage yield.

How good an investment is LASIK, then? If you go to your bank and tell them that you want to buy a CD with $3870, you will be lucky to get an APY of more than 2%. Perhaps if you have $50,000 to put down, you might be able push the APY up to 3% or so, still far less than LASIK will save you.

So if cost has kept you from getting LASIK, now is the time to reconsider LASIK as an investment, one of the best around. If you want to learn more about LASIK as an investment, please contact the 20/20 Institute in Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana, or Portland, Oregon.

Should I have PRK?

2009-07-27T08:10:00.000-06:00

If you are considering laser vision correction, you are probably thinking LASIK is your only option, but the truth is that there is another good option for laser vision correction, one we offer here at the 20/20 Institute: PRK.

PRK (Photorefractive Keratotomy) is another vision correction option that gives vision correction results as good as LASIK. It does have a couple of disadvantages, namely that it may take longer for you to achieve stable vision and your postoperative discomfort may be greater than for LASIK. But it has one advantage that outweighs these disadvantages: it is an option for many people disqualified from LASIK.

If you have been disqualified from LASIK because your corneas are too thin or your pupils are too large, you may be able to get laser vision correction with PRK. Another group of people disqualified from LASIK are those with high-impact professions or hobbies, such as contact sports or police officers. For these people, there is a risk that the flap created during LASIK will become dislodged after a blow to the head.

At the 20/20 Institute, our staff is equipped to answer all of your questions about the different procedures we offer. Please contact us today to schedule a free comprehensive evaluation and find our which procedure is best for you. Don't forgot to ask about our 20/20 Institute LASIK Commitment for Life.

Managing Expectations for LASIK Surgery

2009-07-22T08:08:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute, we understand how precious your vision is and how intimidating LASIK can be on the outset. From the person who answers your first email or phone call, to the surgeon who performs your procedure we're here to give you all the information you need, answer your questions and make sure that you are comfortable with your decision to have LASIK at the 20/20 Institute.

During each step of the process, you'll know beforehand exactly what's going to happen, how long it will take and what we expect the outcome to be. We want to help you manage your own expectations for what you'll experience, what your possible results will be and what your aftercare will entail.

Here are just a few general ideas to keep in mind:

While most people can achieve 20/20 vision, it is not possible for everyone. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis for 20/20 vision during your consultation.
Enhancements are also possible.
Everyone experiences some degree of dry eye after surgery.
There are strict follow-up care instructions to follow to ensure your best long-term vision.

To learn more about the LASIK surgery process, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule your free consultation. We'll answer all your questions about the procedures we offer and our 5-star approach to LASIK and our patients.

LASIK Surgeon vs. Optometrist

2009-07-17T08:07:00.000-06:00

Many people come into our centers and wonder what the difference is between the doctor they've always seen for eye exams and the doctor who will perform their laser vision correction procedure.

A LASIK surgeon is an ophthalmologist and while he or she can absolutely perform eye exams, the person you see for glasses and contact lens exams is most likely an optometrist. Optometrists are qualified to examine, diagnose and treat disorders that affect your vision. After obtaining a bachelor's degree, optometrists attend four more years of graduate school to obtain their degree in optometry.

Ophthalmologists go to undergraduate school, then four years of medical school, then a one-year internship and then up to three years in residency training for ophthalmology. In addition, some go on to do a one to two year fellowship. Not only do ophthalmologists perform routine exams and prescribe lenses, but they are also trained as eye surgeons.

At the 20/20 Institute we employ both optometrists and ophthalmologist and if you already have an optometrist that you like and trust, we can work with him or her during your follow-up care. To learn more about why you choose the 20/20 Institute, please contact us today to schedule a free no-obligation consultation.

Understanding Wavefront LASIK

2009-07-14T08:05:00.000-06:00

Wavefront technology is the greatest advance in laser vision correction since PRK and LASIK were introduced in the mid-1990's. Traditional LASIK is a wonderful procedure and was the perfect vision correction solution for millions of people across the world.

As great as it is though, it has some limitations. Traditional LASIK treats only lower order aberrations, conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism whereas as Wavefront LASIK treats both lower and higher order aberrations. Higher order aberrations are corneal conditions that cause blurriness, glares, starbursts and double vision. Lower order aberrations affect how far you can see and higher order aberrations affect how well you can see.

As you can imagine the difference in clarity of vision for those with higher order aberrations and those without can be great. Wavefront LASIK can correct all of those conditions. The vast majority of patients report that their night vision is better after Wavefront LASIK than it was before. Glare and halo problems are also significantly less with Wavefront treatment.

Most LASIK providers consider Wavefront technology to be an "extra" and charge extra for it, but at the 20/20 Institute, we consider it the only standard of care we are comfortable providing to our patients. Every LASIK procedure performed at the 20/20 institute utilizes Wavefront technology.

If you have ever wondered if Wavefront LASIK is a good choice for you, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a completely free comprehensive evaluation to find out if you are a medical candidate. We'll also be happy to share with you our 20/20 LASIK Commitment Plan.

Financing Your LASIK Procedure

2009-07-10T08:03:00.000-06:00

If you're considering having LASIK or another laser vision correction procedure, don't let the costs keep you from enjoying a lifetime of better vision. At the 20/20 Institute, part of our 20/20 Institute LASIK Commitment Plan is to help you find an affordable way to pay for your procedure. There are many options to explore and we're confident we can help you find a way that's comfortable for your individual budget. Consider the following options:

Third party financing - we offer plans that include Zero% down and no payments for 24 months and zero down with low payments for as long as 60 months. The application is simple and you'll know within minutes if you qualify.
Employer-sponsored flexible spending plans - flex plans allow you to use pre-tax dollars for qualified medical expenses.
Health Savings accounts - depending on your particular circumstances, you can use pre-tax or taxed dollars and put them in a savings account just for medical expenses.
Insurance coverage & discounts - some companies offer coverage or partial coverage for some laser vision correction procedures. Other companies offer a discount for these procedures.
Tax returns - Instead of using your tax return on a vacation this year, why not use it for vision correction and enjoy clearer vision on your next vacation?

Please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule your free comprehensive evaluation. We'll review all of your medical information, determine whether or not you are a candidate for LASIK and go over all of your financing options.

Benefits of the Allegretto Laser

2009-07-07T08:01:00.000-06:00

At every 20/20 Institute location, you will discover that we believe in and invest heavily in the most up-to-date technology for the benefit or our patients and their LASIK results. We currently utilize the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser for vision correction in all of centers.

FDA-approved in 2006, the Allegretto laser is the fastest and most accurate excimer laser currently approved and in use in the U.S. Other benefits include:

Treatment of larger optical zone - the optical zone is the portion of the cornea that is treated by the laser. Larger treatment zones result in better night vision.
Better night vision and glare control post-operatively.
Consistently great results
Wavefront optimized - for truly custom treatment on every eye
Eye tracker - the eye is tracked 200 times per second and if it moves out of range, the laser will pause until the eye is positioned correctly again.

The 20/20 Institute also believes that All Laser LASIK is the safest and most accurate laser vision correction procedure so in addition to the Allegretto laser for vision correction, we employ the Ziemer LDV laser for flap creation at each of our centers in Denver, Indianapolis and Portland.

If you have further questions about our amazing technology, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free comprehensive evaluation ($150 value).

How to Choose a LASIK Surgeon

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

After deciding to have laser vision correction, the most important decision you will make is choosing your LASIK surgeon. Here a few guidelines to keep in mind as you make your choice.

Ask your friends and co-workers for referrals. People who have already been through the process can tell you the pros and cons of their experiences.
Your first choice doesn't have to be your last choice. A second opinion is never a bad thing so consider scheduling consultations at 2 or 3 centers to find the best match for you.
Price should not be a deciding factor. After all, we are talking about your vision here. Be sure to ask if the center offers third party financing to make the cost of LASIK more affordable with monthly payments.
Go with your gut. All other factors being equal, such as experience, great reputation and a history of good results, you should listen to your own feelings about which surgeon is most compatible with your personality.

The 20/20 Institute prides itself on providing a 5-star LASIK experience through every step of the LASIK process. From the first time you call us to your last follow-up appointment you'll find us warm, engaging, knowledgeable and friendly. And we stand behind our results like few others can with our 20/20 Institute LASIK Commitment for Life. Please contact us today to schedule your first appointment - a complimentary comprehensive evaluation.

Advances in Vision Correction Technology

2009-06-30T07:58:00.000-06:00

Since its inception in the mid-1990s, PRK and LASIK have seen many evolutions and incredible advances in technology, from the lasers that perform the prescription correction to the devices that great the flaps.

LASIK Lasers
At the 20/20 Institute, we utilize the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser for vision correction. It is the fasted FDA-approved laser on the market today and was built on Wavefront optimized technology. No other approved laser can make this claim. All procedures performed at the 20/20 Institute are done using this wavefront technology.

Femtosecond Lasers
The newest (and some say best) way of creating the flap in LASIK procedures is with an incredibly precise cool laser called a Femtosecond laser. At 20/20, we use the Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser for flap creation. Studies proved that flaps created with these types of laser, rather than with a blade called a microkeratome, are more precise and create fewer complications.

At 20/20 Institute, you only get the best in technology for your Custom LASIK treatment. To answer any questions you may have about technology or if you are a candidate for laser vision correction, please contact one of our locations today to schedule you free comprehensive evaluation.

LASIK Surgeon Continuing Education

2009-06-29T11:33:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute, we feel it's important for you to know that we take our jobs seriously. We are a patient-focused center that concentrates on educating (and pampering) our patients and producing great results for them.

We invest in the best technology available and all the members of our staff participate in continuing education for whatever position they hold at our centers. We believe it's especially important for our surgeons to keep up with the latest advances in the field of ophthalmology, and in particular, refractive surgery. All of our surgeons are board-certified and attend annual national meetings with other refractive surgeons. There, they learn about new technology that's being studied and approved by the FDA as well as new procedures on the horizon. They also are able to investigate new tools and devices that may enhance the results we produce for patients.

We do all of these things to provide the best care for you, our patients. And we back it up and put it in writing with our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life plan. If you're not a patient yet, we hope you'll contact our offices and schedule an free consultation today. We can't wait to meet you!

Complications to Look for After LASIK Eye Surgery

2009-06-24T11:32:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute, we pamper and take care of you from the beginning to the end of the process of your LASIK procedure. We take the time to answer your questions and make sure you understand all of your pre- and post-operative instructions.

While LASIK is a relatively safe and painless procedure it is still surgery and you must adhere to all of the instructions given to your by your surgeon and the staff members at the 20/20 Institute. After your procedure it is normal to feel burning, itching or the sensation of a foreign body in your eye. It is also normal for your eyes to water or to feel dry and to have some sensitivity to light.

The morning after your procedure we will see you in our office, evaluate your progress and any symptoms you may be having. For most, the process is smooth and complications are rare.

If at any time you feel severe pain or your vision becomes worse, please call us immediately. Don't try to put anything in your eyes (other than medicines we've given you) or rub your eyes. We'll get back to you right away and let you know what to do and if we need to see you.

If you have further questions about the possible complications from LASIK surgery, please don't hesitate to contact the 20/20 Institute offices for help.

How Custom Is Custom LASIK?

2009-06-18T11:31:00.000-06:00

The short answer is pretty darn custom and the long answer is more complicated than the average person will ever understand. Let's try to find something in the middle.

Custom LASIK at the 20/20 Institute is really amazing. We start preparing for your Custom LASIK treatment during your very first visit to our offices. During your comprehensive evaluation, we test your refraction, the size of your pupils, and the thickness of your cornea and several other tests. We also take 3-D images of your eye with the Pentacam, a 3-D camera. All this information and more is sent to the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser, a laser custom-designed for performing custom LASIK.

We can use the Ziemer LDV femtosecond laser (or you can opt to use the microkeratome) to create the corneal flap and then the Wave Eye-Q laser gently reshapes the exposed layers of your cornea, precisely to the degree indicated from your individualized measurements. This laser is the fastest and most accurate laser currently FDA-approved in the U.S.

It's sounds simple but the Custom LASIK process is actually quite complicated. If you would like to learn more about Custom LASIK and what it can do for you, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule your free comprehensive evaluation.

Are you eligible for our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life?

2009-06-16T11:29:00.000-06:00

The 20/20 Institute's LASIK Commitment for Life is our promise to you that you will receive 20/20 vision after your LASIK procedure, or we'll provide retreatment...for free! We also promise that if any defect in your LASIK treatment appears at any time, we will correct it...for free!

Unfortunately, we cannot extend this commitment to everyone because we are doctors and not magicians - no matter what our patients say! In order to be eligible for our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life, a LASIK patient must be:

In good general and ocular health
Have refractive errors within a range reliably corrected by LASIK technology
Committed to taking responsibility for his or her own health by following all postoperative instructions

If you would like to learn more details about our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life, call or email us today to make an appointment at our Denver, Indianapolis, or Portland office.

PRK v. LASIK

2009-06-12T11:28:00.000-06:00

PRK is a laser vision correction option that is not as familiar as LASIK to most people. However, for most people it is an equally good option, and for some people it is the best option.

Both procedures utilize advanced laser vision correction technology to offer superior results in terms of visual accuracy and patient satisfaction.

For most people, LASIK is a slightly better procedure because patients tend to see immediate vision correction, as opposed to PRK patients who see slowly improving vision over a few days. LASIK also has a slightly lower risk of infection. People receiving PRK are more likely to report discomfort following the procedure, although it is typically transient and controllable with over-the-counter painkillers.

For some people, though, LASIK laser vision correction is not a good option. People with very thin corneas, very large pupils, or with profession or hobbies where eye injury is more likely are considered poor LASIK candidates. PRK may allow these people to free themselves from the burden of glasses or contact lenses forever.

If you would like to learn more about these laser vision correction procedures and how they can help you see the world more clearly, please schedule a consultation with the 20/20 Institute today.

Should I have LASEK or LASIK?

2009-06-09T11:27:00.000-06:00

With so many laser vision correction procedures available today, it's hard to know which one is the right one for you. Should you choose LASIK, LASEK, Epi-LASIK or PRK? Or is laser vision correction right for you at all? It's important to do your research and then get an in-depth evaluation to determine which procedure is best for you and which one will produce optimal results for your particular visual problem. At the 20/20 Institute we have a variety of procedures available to correct your vision.

If you require a speedy recovery and don't have any tolerance for postoperative discomfort, then LASIK may be the procedure for you. If, however, you have thin corneas or corneas that are too steep to make you a candidate for LASIK, then LASEK may be the best option for you.

Of course, all of this depends on the outcomes of your comprehensive evaluation. Please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule your evaluation. Be sure to ask about our affordable financing and our 20/20 Institute Commitment for Life plan.

PRK

2009-06-04T11:26:00.000-06:00

PRK is the original laser vision correction procedure, invented during the 1980s. For some people, PRK still offers advantages over other laser vision correction options.

In PRK, the WaveLight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea so that light focuses properly on the retina. For a more detailed explanation, see our How the Eye Works page. This makes PRK similar to LASIK and other forms of laser vision correction.

What makes PRK different from LASIK is this: in PRK, the laser reshapes the surface of the cornea, but in LASIK a flap is created so that the laser can be used to reshape the middle of the cornea.

For some people, PRK is a better option than LASIK. If you have been told you cannot have LASIK either because you have thin corneas or because your pupils are too large you may be an ideal candidate for PRK.

To learn if PRK or LASIK is the best procedure for ending your dependence on glasses, please contact the 20/20 Institute today for a free consultation.

LASIK Surgeon Training

2009-05-30T14:33:00.000-06:00

At the 20/20 Institute our board certified LASIK surgeons have performed more than 80,000 vision correction procedures. Our experienced and caring staff and doctors are committed to achieving 20/20 vision or better for every patient. It’s so important to us that we’ve put it in writing in our 20/20 LASIK Commitment for Life.

In order to reach our goal of 20/20 or better vision for every patient, we focus on a few key areas in our practice. We believe in using the latest FDA-approved LASIK technology and in hiring the best ophthalmology professionals in the business.

Our surgeons are all board-certified ophthalmologists and our staff members all attend educational courses to further their knowledge and experience in laser vision correction. A typical LASIK surgeon attends four years of undergraduate college, medical school, then an ophthalmology residency and many then go on to complete further training in a refractive or corneal fellowship.

We use the WaveLight Allegretto Eye Q laser, the only laser to be designed and built from the ground up to perform wavefront LASIK, the most advanced and accurate form of the procedure, and all our laser eye surgeons receive special and ongoing training on how to maximize the results they achieve with the laser.

Wavefront LASIK is so much more accurate than traditional LASIK, with such a significantly lower incidence of complications, that we have made it standard. While other LASIK providers may call Custom LASIK an option, charge more, or let some patients get non-wavefront LASIK, we believe that everyone’s vision deserves the best.

To learn more about why you should choose the 20/20 Institute for your LASIK procedure, call or email us to schedule your free comprehensive consultation and examination today. We’ll let you know if you are a candidate for LASIK or other vision correction procedures like LASEK or Epi-LASIK.

Epi-LASIK

2009-05-25T15:08:00.001-06:00

Epi-LASIK is one of the many tools in the 20/20 Institute arsenal to correct your vision. If LASIK surgery is not an option for you because your corneas are too thin, then Epi-LASIK may be a viable solution for you. Like LASIK, it can correct many ranges of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism and with similar results.

The biggest difference between traditional LASIK and Epi-LASIK is the way the eye is prepared for reshaping by the laser. With LASIK, a very thin flap is created in the top layers of the cornea. For people with very thin corneas, there is not enough corneal tissue to do this safely. For Epi-LASIK patients, the surgeon makes a flap in the epithelium, which is the outermost layer of the cornea and not in the cornea itself. This epithelial flap is folded back and then the laser-reshaping portion of the procedure commences just as it would in traditional LASIK.

After the procedure, an oxygen-permeable lens is placed in the eye to act as a bandage while the epithelium heals, approximately three to fours days. Epi-LASIK patients experience a bit more discomfort than LASIK patients but this can be controlled with over the counter medications. The end results of the two procedures are comparable.

If you're interested in learning more about the different types of LASIK surgery, please contact the 20/20 Institute to schedule a free LASIK evaluation. We'll find out if you are a candidate for Epi-LASIK or one of our other vision correction procedures.

Introducing LASEK

2009-05-25T09:33:00.001-06:00

The 20/20 Institute is proud to offer more and more laser vision correction choices to our patients across the U.S. We still offer All Laser LASIK, the most common laser vision correction option. For some of you though, traditional LASIK is not an option because of your prescription, or because of the depth of corneal tissue you have available for the procedure. In the past, you have been told that you were not a candidate for laser vision correction, but that may no longer be true. LASEK is just one of several options that we now offer and it means a wider set of criteria for patients who were not candidates before.

LASEK Overview
Like LASIK, LASEK is a laser vision correction procedure that produces excellent results. The main difference between the two procedures is that LASIK uses a mechanical device to create a very thin flap in the cornea to prepare the eye for the laser treatment and LASEK does not.

With LASEK, the surgeon uses a sterile alcohol solution to loosen the epithelium (the outermost layer of the cornea) and a hand-held tool called a trephine to create a thin flap in the epithelium. The epithelium is moved to the side and the laser treatment proceeds.

After the treatment, the epithelium is replaced over the cornea and a bandage contact lens placed in the eye until the eye heals, about three to four days.

If you aren't a candidate for traditional LASIK because of thin corneas, LASEK may be the perfect laser vision correction option for you. Please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule your free LASEK consultation.

LASIK Risks & Benefits

2009-05-20T10:06:00.001-06:00

Like any surgery, LASIK vision correction comes with its own set of risks and complications. The good news is that it is one of the safest surgeries you can have, as the complication rates are very low. And even better news is that the benefits are life-changing.

Studies indicate that the overall complication rate for LASIK is between one and five percent and serious complications fall below one percent. An important thought to keep in mind is that most complications that arise can be resolved fairly easily with medicines or with additional treatments.

Some of the risks that are possible include:

Sensitivity to light
Under- or over-correction
Post-operative glare or haloes, which can be reduced with Custom LASIK
Irregular astigmatism
Poor night vision
Flap complications, which can be reduced with bladeless LASIK
Infection
Loss of visual clarity

While the possibility of complications must be considered and weighed, the benefits of LASIK are incredible. Once you experience days and nights without glasses, contacts, solutions, cases along with the joy of seeing clearly 24/7, you, like most of our guests, may wish you would have done it sooner.

If freedom from the dependence on corrective lenses sounds interesting to you, please call or email the 20/20 Institute to schedule your free evaluation and find out if you are a candidate for LASIK today.

Understanding LASIK

2009-05-19T14:30:00.000-06:00

LASIK eye surgery, or Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, is an elective procedure used to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. If you know anyone who has had LASIK they most likely talk about how easy and fast it was or about how quickly they could see clearly again. Thesethings are all wonderful and true, however, it is just as important to understand the ins and outs of the procedure before you decide it’s right for you.

LASIK - Before the Procedure – Your 20/20 doctor and his/her staff will perform a full medical evaluation of your eyes (as well as take a history on your general health), take numerous measurements and take 3-D images with the Pentacam. The surgeon will take all of those measurements into consider when creating your custom treatment plan.

LASIK – Step 1 – The Ziemer LDV laser will create a very thin flap in the cornea, which will be folded back in preparation for the next step of treatment.

LASIK – Step 2 – The Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser, using the 3-D measurements and your surgeon’s directions, will use cool laser light to gently reshape the surface of the cornea, correcting your vision abnormalities.

LASIK – Step 3 – The thin flap is repositioned, and it self-adheres without stitches.

You’ll receive post-operative instructions and return to the center the next day for a check-up. It’s likely that by the next morning you’ll be seeing 20/20 or even better.

For more details on All Laser LASIK, please call or email the 20/20 Institute for your free comprehensive LASIK evaluation. We’ll determine whether or not you are a candidate for LASIK eye surgery and answer all of your questions.

LASIK Technology

2009-05-17T10:03:00.000-06:00

The high-tech world of laser eye surgery is a fast-paced one. While some of the basics of LASIK surgery remain the same, advances are made to techniques and lasers all the time. At The 20/20 Institute we make it our mission to research and obtain training in the latest advances so we can bring them to you – all part of our goal to provide the very best in laser eye surgery care. In fact, we refuse to give our patients substandard laser eye surgery, so everyone who receives LASIK at the 20/20 Institute receives wavefront, or custom, LASIK, the most advanced, accurate form. Any other form has too high a risk for vision defects.

We currently offer All Laser LASIK with the Ziemer LDV laser for flap creation and the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser for corneal reshaping for optimal vision results. The Ziemer LDV laser increases precision (over microkeratome-created flaps) and decreases some types of flap-related complications.

We’re proud to have the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser for the corneal reshaping portion of laser vision correction. This laser is unique in that it was built from the start on Custom LASIK technology – other lasers have been modified or “upgraded” to be able to perform this technology. It also is the fastest laser approved in the United States for laser vision correction.

The 20/20 Institute is founded on the principal belief that our guests, or patients, are the most important part of our business. We know that you expect the best in technology, superior results and personalized care – all of which we provide in our 5-star centers. If you want to learn more about laser eye surgery technology and what it can do for you, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free consultation.

What are the advantages of LASEK eye surgery?

2009-05-15T09:28:00.002-06:00

LASEK eye surgery is a laser vision correction alternative for some patients who do not qualify as candidates for LASIK vision correction because of thin corneas or corneas that are too steep (high myopia). LASEK is very similar to the more common procedure of LASIK since LASEK also uses a laser to gently reshape the cornea for better vision. The biggest difference occurs in the very first step - the creation of the flap. In LASEK, a very thin epithelial flap is created instead of the thicker corneal flap created in LASIK. The LASEK method reduces the number of flap-related complications sometimes seen in LASIK.

There are other advantages and benefits to LASEK like:

It's less invasive as there is no incision in the central part of the cornea.
There is no weakening of the cornea so it’s more appropriate for people who may be subject to corneal trauma in their jobs, i.e. athletes, pilots.
The recovery time is shorter than its predecessor, PRK
Its results are comparable to LASIK and PRK.
It can be performed more than once, if necessary.

To learn more about LASEK eye surgery and to find out if you are a candidate for this procedure, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule free LASEK consultation. You'll find our staff friendly and knowledgeable. Be sure to ask about our affordable financing options too!

The Technique of LASEK

2009-05-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

If you wanted to have laser vision correction in the past and were told you weren’t a candidate, you may be now. With the evolution of laser eye surgery comes - procedures like LASEK which are able to help people who have thin corneas or the propensity for dry eyes to be able to see clearly again without the aid of glasses or contact lenses.

LASEK is possible for people who have thin corneas because no incision is made into the deeper layers of the cornea. Your LASEK surgeon will use a trephine to define a section of the epithelium to be removed. Then a sterile alcohol solution is used to loosen the epithelium, allowing the flap to be gently folded out of the way. Just as with LASIK procedures, the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser will use cool laser energy to reshape your cornea.

After the laser treatment is complete, the epithelial section is replaced and a contact lens, acting as a bandage, is put over the eye. You’ll wear the lens for 3 to 5 days until the epithelium is healed.

While the recovery time is a bit longer than LASIK, LASEK is a viable option for our patients who are not candidates for traditional forms of LASIK. With results comparable to LASIK, our LASEK patients are very happy to have clear, natural vision again.

To learn more about LASEK and if you are good candidate, please contact the 20/20 Institute today to schedule a free LASEK evaluation.

Andrea

2009-03-10T20:08:00.003-06:00

From the moment Andrea first scheduled her LASIK surgery she cried tears of joy as she realized that she would finally be able to see more clearly and enjoy her life more being free of her glasses and contacts. The tears have continued at each of her follow-up visits as she has shared how amazing LASIK is for her. This is what she wrote:

"I can't even begin to explain how this one procedure has been without a doubt the single most positive experience in my life! After 37 years in glasses and contacts, I 'see' for the first time in my adult life - it's wonderful, amazing, incredible - just like everyone here at 20/20. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart - words simply can't explain!" - Andrea

Jim's Golf Game

2008-12-19T12:14:00.005-07:00

Jim was just in for his 1 month follow up appointment & brought us some holiday goodies! What a kind gentleman!

Jim is an avid golfer who said he shot an 80 on average throughout the summer. He played 10 days after his LASIK procedure and hit 16 greens that day. He shot a 71, 9 strokes under his average! Jim said he played better because he could see the ball better at address - said he could line up his shot better, keep his eye on the ball better, and make better contact throughout his swing.

Keep your head still when you putt, Jim! Thanks for the goodies & Happy Holidays!

20/20 LASIK and a New Job!

2008-12-11T18:46:00.012-07:00

We're so excited for Patty! She just got a new job that would not have been possible without her 20/20 LASIK. She was told before that her astigmatism was too severe for LASIK (see LASIK Myths). Patty was kind enough to write out her story:

"I had been told over and over again ever since LASIK came out that my eyesight was too bad for LASIK. Then I heard about 20/20 and called. The people here did not care that I am not rich, they just wanted me to have the best vision possible. The results far exceeded what I expected. Now I have 20/20 vision and got a great job that I would never have gotten before my surgery because it required 20/30 vision or better with out glasses! Thank you 20/20!"

One year later and still so excited!

2008-07-25T15:20:00.003-06:00

I just had my one-year follow up visit and was thrilled that I could read the 20/20 line easily! This past year has been great - I love baseball and seeing the Colorado Rockies play without the rims of my glasses getting in the way definitely made the game even better. Snowboarding, swimming, and just going to the gym is so much better without glasses or contacts. I never have to make extra room in my suitcase for contact lens solution or worry about falling asleep with contacts in! I really wanted to share this experience because it really has made my life so much more simple and lots of fun!

I LOVE my 20/20 vision!

2008-07-15T14:17:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to let you know that I had the best experience at 20/20 Institute. Everyone was so nice even though I asked a lot of questions. My vision is perfect and now I can play with my kids without worrying about losing a contact lens or breaking my glasses. This really is one of the best things I have ever done for myself!