This global pandemic has not only impacted millions of lives worldwide, but it has also impacted our daily lives in our own communities – work environment, family life, churches, retailers, and much more.
We’ve followed the guidance of state officials and worked hard to ensure the very best practices have been implemented throughout our offices.
We’re welcoming our patients back for consultation and surgery now, with a few changes:
❖ We’re asking our patients to maintain 6-foot social distancing protocols within all the offices.
❖ Patients are being asked to come into the office without a guest to minimize interactions and maximize sitting space.
❖ Office chairs and sitting areas will be readjusted to accommodate this order to the best of available office space.
❖ Patients will be given the option to wait in their vehicles and be called once they are ready to be seen by the technician or provider.
❖ Floor stickers will encourage and remind patients of the importance of social distancing.
❖ All Patients and their guests will be required to have their temperatures checked upon their arrival in the clinics.
❖ All Employees are required to have their temperatures checked upon the start of their shift.
❖ Due to the local county orders, wearing a mask or face covering may be required. Contingent on the county orders, patients will be required to wear a mask or face covering while within the clinics.
❖ In addition to our regular hand-washing practice, we’ve added sanitizing stations for our staff.
❖ We will regularly clean and sanitize seating areas, computer work areas, counters, light switches, chairs, and other touchpoints multiple times a day.
We’ll ask you some new questions which may require that your appointment be rescheduled depending on the answers:
❖ Have you tested positive previously for COVID-19? Or have you been in contact with anyone that has had tested positive for COVID-19?
❖ Are you experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms? Fever, shortness of breath, cough, body aches, etc.,?
❖ Have you been in contact with anyone that has traveled outside of the United States in the last 14 days?
You’ll notice a few changes in our lobby and waiting areas:
❖ Magazines and pamphlets have been removed
❖ Contingent on available space, chairs are separated to maximize social distancing
❖ Red spacing stickers have been placed to maximize social distancing
❖ Hand sanitizers are logistically placed in areas where patients can access the pumps
We are committed to the health and safety of all our patients. That remains our primary goal. Please let us know if you have any questions about our new policies and procedures. We’re happy to welcome you back!
Experts agree that limiting the habit of touching your face – especially your eyes – is good practice at any time. But it’s especially important during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Touching your face may transmit the virus from your hands to a place where it may be absorbed into the body.
If you wear contact lenses, you may be touching your face and rubbing your eyes a lot, especially during allergy season. We recommend that you discontinue or limit the use of contact lenses and wear glasses instead. Glasses will also help protect your eyes.
We can help.
Of course, if you’re interested in procedures that will eliminate the need for contacts, Dr. Lipsky and Advanced Laser Vision can help. We are now taking requests for appointments once the all-clear has sounded.
In the meantime, Advanced Laser Vision, like all reputable ophthalmic surgery offices, is not scheduling any elective procedures or routine office visits. We will, however, help you determine if your situation is an emergency and recommend the best way to address it.
Call us if you experience any of the following situations:
You have macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy and get regular eye injections;
You notice changes in your vision (like blurry, wavy or blank spots in your field of vision);
You notice a lot of new floaters or flashes in your vision;
· You suddenly lose some vision;
You have eye pain, headache, or red eyes, coupled with nausea, or vomiting.
This virus will be contained, and once that happens, consider getting rid of your contacts altogether with LASIK.
Until then, be safe please remember we will be here when this is all over if you need us.
Many patients have misconceptions about iLASIK and what the surgery entails, It’s important to set the record straight about the natural fears associated with iLASIK surgery. Finances, pain, recovery and more are all something to be discussed! Here’s a few of the most common myths about iLASIK Eye Surgery.
1. LASIK can’t fix astigmatism
Actually, it can. Well probably. If you have an astigmatism, you likely already know what it is and have used the football analogy to describe it to people who have no idea what you’re talking about. But, can LASIK turn your football-shaped cornea into a basketball? (Okay, we promise no more sports talk.)
LASIK works by using a highly focused laser to reshape the cornea, and people with mild to moderate astigmatism can be candidates for the procedure. However, you first must be a candidate for LASIK, which an ophthalmologist can determine if you are.
2. It hurts!
Many people avoid LASIK out of fear of the pain involved. Well, we have good news. Thanks to modern medicine, you may experience a lot less discomfort than you might expect. Prior to the procedure, you’ll receive eye drops to numb your eyes. And while the discomfort varies from person to person — some experience none at all — you’ll likely feel a pressure that usually lasts no longer than a minute.
But what if you’re still anxious? We’d recommend talking to your doctor. He or she can give you a medication prior to the procedure to calm your nerves. We also encourage you to ask all your questions up front. You’ll find the more you know, the less there is to be afraid of!
3. It’s dangerous
It’s not. While there are known potential side effects, which you can read more about at the bottom of this story, complications from the procedure can usually be managed with follow-up care. The frequency and severity of complications vary, depending on how much nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism you have prior to the procedure and other factors.
4. Everyone is a candidate for LASIK
LASIK can yield excellent results when performed on the right patient, but it is not for everyone. If you have collagen vascular, an autoimmune disease, or an immunodeficiency disease, you should avoid LASIK, as they affect the body’s healing ability. Additionally, if you are pregnant or nursing, experiencing corneal thinning, or taking medications with eye-related side effects, you should not get LASIK. When in doubt, check with your doctor. Some more information on what makes someone a good candidate for LASIK here.
5. There is one kind of LASIK
Did you know that there is actually more than one kind of LASIK, one being blade-free LASIK? Hold on a minute… LASIK involves blades? Well it can, but it doesn’t have to. When preparing your eye for the procedure, a doctor can use either a microkeratome blade or a femtosecond laser (blade-free). Advanced Laser Vision proudly performs the blade-free option, making us a premier iLASIK surgery provider.
6. LASIK involves one laser
LASIK typically involves two lasers — the aforementioned femtosecond laser, which is used to prep your eye for the vision correction part, followed by an excimer laser, which is used to correct the corneal tissue to fix your vision.
7. I have to pay for LASIK up front in full
On average, iLASIK costs start at $4,900 for both eyes. And, while we are talking about your eyesight here, we realize that’s not exactly pocket change. Fortunately, we work with CareCredit and HSA accounts to help finance your trip to the 20/20 club!
8. I have to put my life on-hold to recover from LASIK
Well this one is sort of a myth because it depends what you do with your life. For example, if you’re a swimmer or someone that does high-impact sports, you’ll want to talk to your surgeon about when it’s okay to resume these activities. If this doesn’t sound like your typical day, then it’s safe to assume that you’ll be able to go back to your daily routine within a few short days. As with any surgery, side effects and recovery time can vary from person to person, so it’s best to keep in close contact with your doctor to ensure your eyes heal properly.
9. I have to keep my eyes open for a long time
Scientists have shown that the average person blinks between 15 and 20 times per minute. Knowing this, your eyes are likely already starting to water thinking about how long you’ll need to keep them open for LASIK. But, there’s no need to shed tears over this. Remember those numbing eye drops we mentioned earlier? Those will also help reduce your impulse to blink. And your LASIK procedure won’t take that long — in fact, less than one minute is spent on each eye!
10. If I move my eye, I can mess up the procedure
Another concern that you can cross of your list. The laser used in the procedure has built-in technology that tracks and accounts for the eye’s movements, including the tiniest of involuntary movements. This keeps the laser on track to correct exactly the right spot. By exposing the myths behind LASIK, we hope you feel more comfortable and knowledgeable about the procedure. You likely still have questions, which we encourage you to ask here, as, the best resource to consult is always a qualified LASIK surgeon.
Now there are also side effects associated with LASIK. While they are rare, they can include eye dryness, which may be severe, loss of visual acuity or the need for glasses or contacts after surgery, and visual disturbances like halos (hazy rings around lights), glare, starbursts, double images and other visual irregularities that may be debilitating.
You can also refer to our helpful ebook (download here) to answer many of your FAQs and concerns. This is a good subject to bring up with your doctor about what you can expect to experience and anything you can do to manage side effects.
We understand that iLASIK is often a daunting, expensive consideration. This is why Doc Lipsky and the team here at Advanced Laser Vision have written an e-book to help walk you through and explain exactly what you can expect.
We’ve covered details such as:
– How iLASIK Works (And iLASIK vs regular LASIK)
– Choosing a surgeon & the questions to ask
– What’s involved in preparing for iLASIK
– What to expect the day of and following your procedure
The eyes are the windows to your soul and possibly the key to your heart. Your eye color has as much to say about who you are and how you love as your personality. Do you love the person you love because they have blue eyes, brown eyes or green eyes? Is there more passion amongst people with blue eyes than brown? Do people with green eyes have a hard time finding their soul mate, their one true love?
There is a lot of myth and mystery surrounding eye color and love. Some people think brown-eyed women for example make better and more loving partners. Sounds crazy, but what if it is true? What if your eye color really made a difference in your love life?
There is no doubt about it. Some people prefer blue eyes to brown. Still others associate green eyes or unusual colors like violet eyes with mystery. This has more to do with personal preference however, than it does with an individual’s ability to attract a soul mate. If you are one to believe in tales of mystery, find out whether the color of your eyes may affect the quality of your love life!
Financial benefits- Initially, LASIK can appear quite costly but, when all costs are factored in, LASIK actually is more of an economical solution to correcting vision issues long term. When the cost of contact lenses is figured over a period of time, it is easy to see how fast the price tag can build. In fact, continuing with contacts as an alternative to undergoing a permanent vision-correcting solution such as LASIK has been precisely compared to renting instead of purchasing a house. Effectively, you are throwing money into something every month without reaping the benefits of a long-term investment. Investing in LASIK, like a house, pays off in the long run. The typical contact lens patient pays out between $75-100 a month. This means that in 10 years, you could easily run through an upwards of $10,000 in contact lenses, optometrist appointments, glasses and cleaning & sterilization supplies. Once the cost has been calculated, it is simple to see how reasonable LASIK eye surgery truly is.
Happier eyes- Contact lenses can worsen or be the source of many eye problems such as red, itchy, sore, dry eyes or allergies. Eyes can, eventually, become intolerant to contact lenses which results in the inability to wear them. Also, losing or tearing contacts are always a fear for those who frequently wear them. Extended contact lens usage is also associated with a number of risks
Night Vision- Most LASIK patients say that their main motivation for undergoing LASIK was to gain the ability to see adequately in the middle of the night. The capability to see your surroundings in the dark is a luxury to many eyeglass or contact lens wearers who are tired of stumbling blindly through the dark to the bathroom at 3 a.m.
Sports- Sports, especially water sports are constantly a threat for contact lens wearers. Eye protection such as goggles are frequently needed in order to avoid losing contacts but they can be cumbersome, awkward and impractical for certain activities. After having LASIK, you will be able to take part in any sport without worry.
Worry-free- There is the constant threat of losing a contact lens and experiencing a sudden decrease in vision. This can be troublesome when watching television or exercising but can be extremely hazardous when driving a car.
Easier traveling- Traveling with contact lenses and all accessories that go along with them is, without a doubt, an added burden. Packing an adequate amount of cleaning fluid, rewetting eye drops, spare contact lenses and cases can consume a considerable amount of space in your luggage. Also, there is always the chance of losing or tearing your contact which will leave you unable to see clearly.
Better vision- Many patients are delighted to discover that their vision is actually better after LASIK than it was with their best pair of glasses or contact lenses. This is due to the inability for contacts to correct vision in the same way that LASIK does.
Before undergoing any surgical procedure it is a wise idea to discuss all of the potential benefits, side effects, and risks with your doctor or surgery facility. This is just as true with LASIK eye surgery as it is with any other procedure as visual acuity can have a great impact on a person’s perceived quality of life. Each candidate must be individually assessed based on their unique general and optical health as well as their expectations and understanding of the risks involved.
There are many questions you should ask your surgeon when considering a LASIK treatment in order to make sure you are making an informed decision:
Is my prescription within the approved range?
LASIK treatments are specifically approved by the FDA for treatment of near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism within specific ranges. Severe refractive error increases the likelihood that a secondary treatment will be required.
Is my eyesight sufficiently stable for LASIK treatment?
This is crucial for accurate measurements and thus accurate treatment. Stability is determined by checking the prescription in order to identify any fluctuations in refractive error.
Are my lifestyle choices compatible with LASIK treatments?
This can cover concerns related to work, family life, and sports and recreation activities. It is important to consider your plans and desires for the future as well. LASIK procedures carry a small but lifelong risk of flap dislocation if significant trauma occurs to the eye area. For this reason, those involved in contact sports such as boxing, martial arts, and wrestling might not be good candidates for LASIK and may benefit from a different type of refractive eye surgery such as PRK.
What results should I expect? What are the best and worst case scenarios? What are the most common side effects?
In order to make an informed decision, the prospective patient must have a full understanding of what to expect from their procedure from long-term results to side effects to recovery time and potential complications.
How long is the recovery period?
You may need to plan ahead and make adjustments to your work and home life in order to accommodate the requirements of the healing period. You may be required to avoid certain activities or environments during the healing process.
How should I prepare for surgery?
If you wear contact lenses you will be instructed to stop wearing them for a specific period of time leading up to the preoperative visit and surgery. This is because contact lenses can change the shape of the cornea resulting in inaccurate measurements prior to surgery. The length of time for which you will need to stop wearing contacts before your procedure will be determined by your surgeon based on the type of contacts.
