Lasik Co-Management

Our office is proud to co-manage with Dr. Mark Whitten's practices that does LASIK consultations and surgery. When a patient is interested in having the procedure, we bring them in consultation. At that time we will check your prescription to make sure it's been stable. We also check your overall eye health before determining if you are a good candidate.

Once determined, we will set up a consultation with a LASIK doctor. They will double check your eligibility for surgery and go over all the risks.

What is LASIK?

LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a refractive (vision correcting) surgery that treats near-sightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by removing tissue within the cornea (clear front part of the eye.)

LASIK benefits:
With reshaping the cornea, light traveling through more accurately focuses on the retina, creating clear vision.
Reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Patients notice improvement in their vision soon after surgery. 90%+ of people achieve between 20/20 and 20/40 vision without other corrective methods.

Criteria for Patients interested in LASIK

LASIK is an elective surgery and may not be the best treatment for all patients.
Generally, LASIK is an option for patient who meet the following criteria:
  • 18+ years of age (ideally 21+)
  • Must have a refractive error that can be treated with LASIK
  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Are in good general health
  • Have good eye health (no eye diseases)
  • Must have thick enough and healthy enough corneas.
  • Have a stable prescription for at least a year
Some conditions that would cause the doctor to not recommend the surgery, include, but are not limited to:
  • Unstable (changing) refractive error (prescription)
  • Severe Dry Eye
  • Thin, scarred or damaged corneas
  • Keratoconus (cone-shaped cornea)
  • Advanced glaucoma
  • Cataracts affecting your vision
  • history of chronic eye infections
  • Uncontrolled health conditions (like diabetes)
Just a reminder, LASIK is an elective surgery and most insurances will not cover the surgery or follow up visits. Most offices will offer payment options and some even offer discounts.

With LASIK you need to have realistic expectations about what LASIK can and cannot do. Not all patients will come out perfect after their surgery. Some patients will still need some corrective lenses post surgery.