LASIK & Other
Vision Correction Procedures
LASIK (Ages 18-50)
Laser In-situ Keratomileusis (known as LASIK) uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the front and clear outer window of the eye. By accurately sculpting the curvature of the cornea, the nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be precisely treated to eliminate your need for glasses and contact lenses. In 2019, nearly 700,000 LASIK procedures were performed in the U.S. Due to its tremendous success, LASIK has quickly become the procedure of choice for most patients because they recover quickly and have fewer side effects and complications than with other methods of vision correction. In fact, most LASIK patients notice a significant improvement in their vision almost immediately after surgery.
Dr. Rush uses the safest and most advanced technology to perform the LASIK procedure with Alcon’s WaveLight© Refractive Suite. This advanced LASIK technique is a two part procedure. The first step uses the WaveLight© FS200 Femtosecond Laser to create a flap in the cornea. The second step uses the WaveLight© EX500 Excimer Laser to sculpt the cornea underneath the flap to treat your refractive error. Each person’s cornea is perfectly unique to them as is the case for your DNA or your fingerprints. New imaging technology can measure precise amounts of curvature that are specific to the exact shape of your eyes. The most advanced excimer laser technology with Contoura can sculpt your cornea using this data to create a customized profile that will provide optimal outcomes for your vision.
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
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.
Click here to learn more about Topography-guided LASIK
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.
Learn more about the WaveLight Topolyzer
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.
Learn more about the US-based clinical trial
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.
Click here to learn more about how the WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond Laser works
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.
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 dependences on glasses or contacts
• Have had our Comprehensive Ocular Health Analysis that shows no signs of glaucoma, cataract or other eye disease that affects the ocular health
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 with our affordability calculator. 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
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.
If you're hoping you can find LASIK for $220 per eye, you will be disappointed after being lured into a corporate laser vision franchise that tries to confuse you on their tiered-pricing model and explains why you (and basically everyone) don’t qualify for that low price point. It is also disappointing to travel to a place that has limited treatment options and then you don’t even get to meet the doctor to discuss.
Set up a virtual or a face-to-face 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 doctors so we can discuss all available treatment options and make sure that 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.
Analyze the cost using our affordability calculator
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
Have you ever wondered how corporate discount LASIK centers can afford to offer extremely discounted LASIK for prices that seem too cheap to be true? 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 The corporate LASIK discount centers only offer cheap 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 their misleading LASIK scheme works: The corporate laser vision franchises base the price of your procedure on your prescription strength. If your prescription is among the lowest 1% of the general population, then you just “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 reputable 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 blade-less 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 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 15,000 publications in scientific journals 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.
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 glares 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 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 that 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 allow for us to preemptively and aggressively treat your ocular surface prior to any intervention to correct your vision. We are equipped to detect dry eye disease with our Comprehensive Ocular Health Analysis before offering LASIK as the most appropriate procedure for you.
Older procedures with blades (radial keratotomy) and first generation lasers with smaller treatment zones can cause significant glares and night vision disturbances. It is very rare to have these symptoms with newer technology.
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. Some patients have the perception that you must go to a big city to find the latest cutting-edge technology or experienced surgeons. With just a little research about Rush Eye, you will discover that it is definitely not the case.
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 to what it looked like in year 2000 as a flip phone. The new advances in the technology is very apparent. Often times 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 goals and optimize your outcome.
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. Detailed evaluation with our Comprehensive Ocular Health Analysis 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. The Comprehensive Ocular Health Analysis will help us make this determination.
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.
“The experience with the Rush family is the primary thing that made me choose them. Obviously being local to Amarillo and not having to travel is a good, good upside. My local optometrist recommended them and I wasn’t nervous at all about using them with their combined experience and everything. And everybody in my family that has ever dealt with them and anybody else locally, they have an amazing reputation around here. And for the rest of my story…life after LASIK I would describe as simply a sigh of relief and a breath of fresh air. Going through every day without glasses takes a load off of something to worry about and allows me to focus on other things in life.”
~ Reece McKillip
Vision Correction Alternatives to LASIK
Photorefractive Keratectomy uses the same excimer laser used in advanced LASIK but is done directly over the surface of the eye without the creation of a flap. We favor LASIK in most cases as PRK requires a longer healing time on the surface of the eye and has more discomfort in the postoperative period. Excellent outcomes can be achieved using this technique, and it remains a good alternative treatment option that we may recommend for you in certain scenarios. Some providers may refer to this same procedure as “epi-LASIK”, “advanced surface ablation”, or “LASEK”, all of which are minor variants of PRK.
EVO ICL is a microscopic lens made of collagen placed by a Rush Eye Associates specialist so you can just wake up and see. The permanent, intraocular lenses are used to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness and astigmatism.
The ICL, or Implantable Collamer Lens, is a safe and effective treatment option that's grown to be one of the most popular vision correction options.
ICL is made of collagen so you can’t feel it or see it in the mirror, and it’s in sync with your body chemistry so your immune system doesn’t even know it’s there.
Originally, ICL was seen as a solution for people with high myopia (high lens prescription) and for those whose corneal thickness was not sufficient to have LASIK.
ICL is still a great option for these types of patients, however, because of the consistently precise results ICL delivers, it has grown to be one of the most popular vision correction options among those who simply want incredibly clear, crisp vision and a reversible option.
Other Vision Correction Options
There are several vision correction procedures available for patients who may not be considered good LASIK candidates. Dr. Rush will discuss these less common options with you if they offer an advantage to achieve your best possible outcome.