ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR LASIK?

To determine if you are a candidate for LASIK, you’ll need to have the distance prescription of your glasses or contact lenses. To get help with your prescription information, click on any of the buttons below: Please enter your current glasses or contact lens prescription. (You can enter either the right eye or left eye prescription): Sphere: - + 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 .00 .25 .50 .75 Cylinder: - + 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 .00 .25 .50 .75 Where is this presciption from? Glasses Soft contact lenses Gas permeable or hard contact lenses Not sure What is your age? Less than 18 18-20 21-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 or over You can change any piece of information and click on 'OK' or you can clear all with the button below. During the LASIK procedure, the Excimer laser removes (or ablates) a small amount of corneal tissue to reshape the cornea. The ablation depth refers to how much tissue would be removed from your cornea. Ablation depth: microns Ablation depth: inches In myopic (near-sighted) and astigmatic LASIK, tissue is removed from the center of the cornea. In hyperopic (far-sighted) LASIK, tissue is removed from the periphery of the cornea. Ablation depth, percent of average corneal thickness: The laser removes a tiny amount of tissue with each pulse. The number of pulses and the actual laser time that would be needed for your cornea are shown below. Total number of pulses needed: Total ablation time: seconds Comments: All calculations are based on the use of the VISX STAR S4 Excimer laser. Please note that these calculations are preliminary and may not be correct for you. For a variety of medical reasons, for instance, you might not be a LASIK candidate even if the preliminary analysis says you are a good candidate. Conversely, you might still be a good candidate even if the analysis says you are not. Program written by Elliot M. Perlman, MD. Calculations based on Lindstrom Nomogram, courtesy of LVCI.

Refraction refers to the bending of light as it passes through the cornea and the lens to the retina. Three factors can play a part in determining how well the eye refracts (or bends) light: the shape of the cornea, the power of the lens, and the length of the eyeball.

When these three factors are in correct proportion to one another, light is properly focused on the retina resulting in clear, normal vision. However, if any of these factors are not in correct proportion, refractive problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism can occur.

The conventional treatment for these conditions is glasses or contact lenses. However, more and more people are now choosing refractive surgery, or LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis), to correct their vision. A highly successful procedure, LASIK can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses.

Examination
The Rhode Island Eye Institute offers free screening to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK. The ideal candidate is over 18 years of age and has healthy corneas. Candidates must not have had a significant increase in their prescription in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant may not be good candidates for LASIK.

Treatment
The LASIK procedure uses the Excimer laser to surgically reshape the cornea, the clear dome in the front of the eye. First the eye is completely numbed with anesthetic eye drops and an eyelid holder is placed between the eyelids to prevent blinking. The doctor uses an instrument called a microkeratome to create a protective flap in the front of the cornea. The flap is then retracted and a small amount of corneal tissue is removed with the laser.

Some patients may be candidates for a new kind of LASIK called CustomVue™ or “wavefront”. This enhanced version uses WaveScan®-based digital technology to create a precise, customized 3-D map of the eye called a WavePrint®.

The WaveScan consists of a sensor and a laser, which sends a wave of light through the eye to the retina. As the light is reflected back through the eye, the sensor measures the unique characteristics of the eye. This information is then translated into a mathematical formula that the doctor uses to program the laser and perform the procedure. 

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Our staff will explain your financial responsibilities in detail. 

Payment in Full
Payment in full is accepted via cash, check or credit card before treatment.  For your convenience, we accept major forms of credit card.

Capital One Healthcare Finance

• No initial payment
• Payment plans ranging from 18 to 60 months, which include a minimal finance charge
• Low, fixed rates starting as low as 1.99% APR
• Interest free options up to 12 months also available
• Prepayment  cans be made anytime without penalty

Fast, confidential service by phone (1-877-559-5050 or on-line at their secure website, www.capitalonehealthcare.com/vision/

Elliot M. Perlman, M.D. is our refractive surgeon and LASIK expert. To determine whether you are a candidate for CustomVue, conventional LASIK, or both, please call us at 401-272-2020 in our Providence office or 508-679-0150 in our Fall River office for a free evaluation.

Elliot M. Perlman, M.D.