Frequently Asked Questions
About Rush LASIK

Rush LASIK is for those who: • Are at least 18 years of age • Have had a stable eye prescription • Have had no health issues affecting their eyes • Want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts

Make Life Easier Now you will be able to see the alarm clock first thing in the morning. Your active lifestyle has just been simplified. ​ Save Time How long do you spend placing, removing, and cleaning contact lenses? This is a morning and evening habit that you can learn to live without! ​ Save Money The cost of contact lenses and glasses adds up over time. Do the math for yourself; you will discover the value of this long-term investment. ​ Safety LASIK is safer than wearing contact lenses. Our experience shows that you are more likely to become legally blind as a complication of infection from contact lens wear than a complication related to a LASIK procedure

One of the greatest breakthroughs in LASIK in the past few years has been the introduction of Contoura Vision LASIK. Unlike other LASIK procedures, Contoura Vision is a topography-guided laser treatment that improves upon traditional LASIK by using a specialized imaging device for the cornea. Being the first FDA-approved topography-guided LASIK, Contoura is the newest and most advanced method of laser vision correction. The main difference between Contoura Vision and other LASIK procedures is in the pre-operative diagnostics and planning. The shape of your cornea is perfectly unique to you, much like your own DNA or your fingerprints. The Topolyzer maps the unique curvature of the cornea sampling approximately 22,000 points. This information is then programmed into the software to create a fully customized treatment profile specific for each of your eyes to smooth out any detectable aberrations on the cornea. Since its many clinical trials, Contoura Vision has redefined the standard practice terminology of "quality of vision". In one US-based clinical trial, 92.6% of eyes that received Contoura topography-guided LASIK treatment achieved 20/20 vision or better. It was also shown that Contoura Vision could not only provide vision equivalent to glasses and contact lenses, but that it even outperformed glasses and contact lenses in 31% of eyes that received treatment. The procedure also showed statistically significant reductions in some of the visual symptoms associated with LASIK, such as glare, light sensitivity, difficulty driving at night, and trouble while reading.

The WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser is known for being the world's fastest femtosecond laser, using an exclusive scanning algorithm and optimized repetition rate to produce a precise corneal flap in about 6 seconds. The treatment parameters are programmed into the laser for the appropriate size diameter and depth of the flap for your eyes. A suction device then secures the eye while the laser docks into position. The femtosecond laser “etches” the flap incision onto the cornea to prepare for the second stage with the excimer laser. This portion of the treatment lasts approximately 10 seconds with the laser actually firing. The flap previously created by the femtosecond laser is retracted by the surgeon. The treatment profile is determined by entering data previously obtained during your evaluation into software that uses formulas specific for our surgeons to make the appropriate calculations. This customized data is pre-programmed into the laser in preparation for your procedure. ​ To treat nearsightedness, the steep shape of the eye is made flatter by removing tissue from the center of the cornea. This moves the point of focus from in front of the retina to directly on the retina. ​ To treat farsightedness, the flat shape of the eye is made steeper by removing tissue outside of the central optical zone of the cornea. This moves the point of focus from behind the retina to directly on the retina. ​ To treat astigmatism, the cornea is sculpted to be more spherical – like the round shape of a basketball rather than an oblong shape of a football. This reduces blur by eliminating multiple focusing points within the eye and creates one point of focus on the retina. Astigmatism is treated at the same time as nearsightedness and farsightedness. The breakthrough topography-guided Contoura technology allows for any small nooks and crannies naturally present on your cornea to be smoothed out into a perfectly round shape. ​ The excimer laser sculpts your cornea according to refractive error that we are correcting. This portion of the treatment usually takes 10-20 seconds with the laser actually firing, but it will depend upon how large your treatment is.

Curious about what to expect during your Rush LASIK procedure? We've created a quick and informative video showing what to expect beginning the moment you walk into the laser room. Simply click below to watch. Click here to learn more about what to expect during your LASIK procedure (rushlasik.com/lasik-videos)

Your internet research will show wide discrepancies in the price of LASIK. It varies based upon what is included with treatment, the technology used, and the experience of the surgeon. The average price for LASIK in the United States using an all-inclusive price model, all-laser femtosecond LASIK with the latest topography-guided excimer laser technology, and high-level experienced surgeons is around $5,000 for both eyes. Our state-of-the-art practice offers nothing less than all of this, and we do it at a cost that is less than the average. Set up an appointment with Rush Eye Associates to see what the exact price will be for your fully customized treatment. And spend some time meeting your Rush doctor so we can discuss all available treatment options and make sure all of your questions and concerns are addressed. We are transparent with you regarding our pricing because we know this is such an important factor for you to consider when determining the best option for your vision correction. OWNING VS. RENTING YOUR VISION Over a lifetime, the average person spends approximately $25,000+ on glasses, contact lenses, solution, eye exams, etc. With prescription eyewear, your vision is never actually corrected, so it’s like renting your vision. Discover the easy financing options that are available for you(https://www.rushlasik.com/financing)

Have you ever wondered how corporate discount LASIK centers can afford to offer extremely discounted LASIK? You should know that 99% of the time, they can’t, and the cost is considerably more. ​ DO YOU REALLY QUALIFY FOR LOW-PRICED LASIK DISCOUNTS? Corporate LASIK discount centers only offer discounted LASIK ($220 per eye) to the 1% of the population whose prescription is so low that, often times, they don’t actually need LASIK. Here’s how it works: The corporate laser vision franchise bases the price of your procedure on your prescription strength. If your prescription is among the lowest 1% of the general population, then you “might” qualify for their cheapest price. Unless you have an astigmatism, then you’ll pay a substantially higher price that they NEVER promote. ​ For you to receive LASIK for $220 per eye, your prescription typically has to be less than one diopter of nearsightedness with NO astigmatism. Most people who have less than one diopter of nearsightedness – and NO astigmatism – barely have a need to wear prescription glasses at all, much less need LASIK. And anyone truly offering LASIK for $220 or $250 per eye to everyone would soon go out of business. That’s because the royalties that surgeons have to pay to the manufacturers for each eye they treat with the laser (known as a “Click Fee” in ophthalmology) is nearly twice as much as their advertised $220 LASIK price. When you add in the significant cost of annual laser maintenance, disposable supplies, surgical staff costs, surgeon fees, practice overhead, follow-up supplies, and follow-up care, the discount LASIK centers would be losing thousands of dollars on every patient they treat. HOW IT WORKS This method of discounted advertising is known as a “Bait & Switch” tactic. The “bait” part of their marketing is to lure patients in with an unbelievably low price for LASIK. The “switch” comes into play when their testing determines that your level of nearsightedness and/or astigmatism falls outside of their $220 per eye pricing. You are then “switched” to their tiered pricing model, which is a much higher price that is actually closer or equal to the price of LASIK at premium eye centers. ​ ALL LASIK TECHNOLOGY IS NOT EQUAL But here’s what makes this type of advertising even more misleading. The lowest-priced LASIK is also based on the old LASIK technology with a blade versus the newer state-of-the-art bladeless or "all-laser" LASIK methods that have become the gold standard among ophthalmologists worldwide. So, unless you want your LASIK procedure performed with outdated technology with limited procedure choices – or are barely nearsighted enough to need LASIK – don’t fall for the bait & switch tactics of the corporate discount LASIK centers. If you’ve ever noticed, their discount pricing never depicts what you are going to pay if you don’t qualify for their lowest price. ​ Our affordable price at Rush Eye Associates for LASIK and other vision correction procedures applies to everyone and is done with an all-inclusive pricing model without any hidden fees. We respect your time and your intelligence too much to want to bring you in for a sales pitch. At Rush Eye, you will meet a physician who discusses your eye health and which vision correction options are most appropriate for your exact situation, not a salesperson. ​ ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICE MODEL FOR LASIK This is exactly what it sounds like. There are no other fees or expenses. It includes all preoperative diagnostic testing and imaging, consultation with the doctor, the procedure, the medicated post-operative eye drops, and 1 year of post-operative eye care including any need for retreatment.

MYTH: LASIK cannot treat astigmatism. FACT: Modern laser technology can treat almost all severity levels of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Has another eyecare professional told you differently? You should research this for yourself. MYTH: LASIK is dangerous and can make me go blind. FACT: LASIK is one of the safest procedures in all of medicine. Many scientific studies (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27208981/)have repeatedly proven this and have also demonstrated the high patient satisfaction rates. With tens of millions of cases done worldwide since year 2000, there have literally been zero reports of total blindness caused from LASIK. But, similar to contact lens wear, all medical procedures do involve some degree of risk. MYTH: There is not much information about the long term effects of LASIK, and it may be harmful to the health of my eyes later in life. FACT: There is no evidence to suggest that successful LASIK has a harmful long term consequence for the health of your eyes. In fact, LASIK (and laser eye surgery in general) is one of the most prolifically studied topics in the entire field of ophthalmology. There have been over 19,500 publications in scientific journals (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=laser+eye+surgery)regarding laser eye surgery dating all the way back to the 1980’s. You should definitely ask Dr. Rush about any concerns that you have about LASIK causing harm to your eyes. MYTH: The LASIK procedure hurts. FACT: In many thousands of cases, no one has ever told us that they had severe pain during the treatment. Hear more directly from our LASIK patients by clicking here.(https://www.rushlasik.com/testimonials) MYTH: It takes a long time to heal from LASIK. FACT: Although healing time may vary for each individual person, most people notice almost immediate improvement with LASIK as they are walking outside the building just minutes after the procedure. In fact, many patients will have vision of 20/20 or better the very next day after surgery! MYTH: LASIK causes dry eye and glare in the vision. FACT: Symptoms of dryness is not that unusual in the early stages of healing from the surgery, but it is rare for them to persist. Scientific studies (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27208981/?from_term=dry+eye+lasik+contact+lenses&from_pos=4)have even shown that patients struggling with contact lenses are more likely to suffer from dry eye disease in the long run. In some cases, LASIK may even improve dryness problems that are related to contact lens wear, but patients who already have some degree of dry eye disease prior to LASIK will be expected to have it just the same post-operatively, as the procedure can even be a stressor on the underlying condition. Identifying issues with inadequate tear film allows us to preemptively and aggressively treat your ocular surface prior to any intervention to correct your vision. Older procedures with blades (radial keratotomy) and first-generation lasers with smaller treatment zones can cause significant glare and night vision disturbances. It is very rare to have these symptoms with newer technology.(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28586495/?from_term=glares+modern+lasik&from_pos=1) MYTH: LASIK is too expensive to be worth it. FACT: Many people discover that LASIK is a terrific investment for not only their eyes, but also for their lifestyle. You should definitely talk to someone that has experienced this firsthand. There are many financing plans that have made it more affordable than ever. We encourage you to take the time to determine is this is the right investment for you. MYTH: LASIK is an easy surgery to perform so the surgeon doesn’t matter. FACT: The surgeon and their experience level matter. Rush Eye is one of the most experienced LASIK centers in the United States. Dr. Rush uses the safest and most advanced technology to perform the LASIK procedure with Alcon’s WaveLight© Refractive Suite.(https://professional.myalcon.com/refractive-surgery/wavelight-refractive-suite/) This advanced LASIK technique uses new imaging technology to measure precise amounts of curvature specific to the exact shape of your eyes. Dr. Rush uses that data to create a customized profile before utilizing the most advanced excimer laser technology to sculpt your cornea, providing optimal outcomes for your vision. MYTH: All lasers and equipment are basically the same. FACT: Absolutely not. Just like everything in the medical field, the technology has changed dramatically over the last 20+ years since LASIK was first approved. Take a look at your smartphone today and compare it to what it looked like in the year 2000 as a flip phone. The new advances in technology are very apparent. Oftentimes, the medical technology in the field of ophthalmology progresses at a rate similar to that of the electronics industry. Unfortunately, there are still many doctors who are not using the latest technology. At Rush Eye Associates, we perform a very detailed analysis to ensure that the specific procedure that we recommend for you uses the most advanced and individually customized technology to meet your vision goals and lifestyle. MYTH: I am too old to benefit from a vision correction procedure. FACT: At Rush Eye, our team specializes in several state-of-the-art vision correction procedures to suit almost everyone. Dr. Rush will determine the most appropriate vision correction option for your specific situation and vision goals. A good starting point is based upon your age: • LASIK (Ages 18-50) • Cataract & Lens Implant Surgery (Ages 50-59) • Advanced Cataract Surgery (Ages 60+) MYTH: I am too young for LASIK. FACT: We will treat patients as young 18 years old, given that their measurements have shown stability.

As with any medical procedure, LASIK entails some degree of risk to the health of your eyes. You will be given formal written informed consent documents to review prior to any treatment. You should discuss this and any other concerns that you have with Dr. Rush. Click Here to view the FDA LASIK Risks & Contraindications(https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-are-risks-and-how-can-i-find-right-doctor-me)