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Here are some frequently asked questions about LASIK surgery.

Q: 1. What is refractive surgery?

A: Refractive surgery is any surgery that lessens your dependence on corrective lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Q: 2. Do you offer refractive surgery?

A: Yes, we offer several types of refractive surgery including LASIK.

Q: 3. What is LASIK?

A: LASIK is a surgical procedure used to correct a wide range of refractive errors including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. A thin layer of the cornea is lifted to create a protective flap. The cool beam of the excimer laser re-shapes the cornea and the flap is then returned for a quick, natural recovery. Patients experience little discomfort and can return to work the next day.

Q: 4. What is nearsightedness?

A: Nearsightedness is a refractive error that can be treated with LASIK. If you are nearsighted, distant objects are blurry while close objects are clear. This is also called myopia.

Q: 5. What is farsightedness?

A: Farsightedness is a refractive error than be treated with LASIK. The technical term for farsightedness is hyperopia. Hyperopia requires an individual to use their focusing ability to see objects far away and more focusing ability than customary for near objects. Severe hyperopia can cause blurred images for both near and far objects.

Q: 6. What is astigmatism?

A: Astigmatism is when the front surface of your eye is not perfectly round; it can be described as being shaped like a football. Astigmatism can cause distortion of both near and far objects and can be corrected with LASIK.

Q: 7. Is LASIK covered by insurance?

A: Currently LASIK is considered an elective procedure and is generally not covered by insurance. However, we encourage you to contact your insurance provider to inquire about coverage; you may also consider contacting your human resources manager if you have a flexible spending account. Many patients choose to use this account for elective procedures or take advantage of our convenient payment plan.

Q: 8. Is LASIK an FDA approved procedure?

A: Yes!

Q: 9. Does the procedure hurt?

A: The actual procedure does not hurt; drops are used to numb the eye. Some patients experience a slight pressure sensation during the procedure. After the procedure, patients may experience some discomfort such as scratchiness, mild irritation and dry eyes. A post-operative kit with drops will control these symptoms.

Q: 10. What are the side effects?

A: With any surgical procedure there are possible side effects. The most common side effects to LASIK are sensitivity to light, night glare, dry eyes and mild irritation. Most side effects are temporary and will subside within one to three days. Remember that the best side effect is better vision!

Q: 11. How long will I be off work?

A: Typically only 1 or 2 days, but can be longer depending on individual case.

Q: 12. What type of anesthetic is used for LASIK?

A: Your eye is numbed with drops, not needles.

Q: 13. Will I need to wear glasses once my eyes have healed?

A: The overwhelming majority of patients that have had LASIK do not wear glasses for daily activities. Patients may need reading glasses around age 40 due to the normal aging of the eye (known as presbyopia.) Some patients many need a minimal prescription for night driving.

Q: 14. I wear bifocals now, and my doctor says that I'll still need to wear reading glasses even if I have LASIK done. Why is this?

A: The excimer laser will not correct your need for reading glasses (which is known as presbyopia.) Presbyopia occurs around age 40 when our eyes lose the flexibility required to focus between objects far and near.

Q: 15. What does LASIK mean?

A: LASIK stands for "Laser in situ Keratomileusis." It is the use of a laser to re-shape the cornea without destroying the adjacent cell layers.

Q: 16. How many LASIK procedures have you peformed?

A: Dr. Harton has performed well over a 1,000 LASIK procedures and was recently named as one of LaserVision’s “Top 100 Surgeons”.

Q: 17. Do you charge more if my eyes are really bad or if I have astigmatism?

A: No, there is no “bait and switch” tactic at the HCEC. We charge one price and that includes your pre-op work-up, your surgery and your post-op care for six months. There is no extra charge if you have astigmatism or if your prescription is “bad”. When shopping around, beware of the discount centers that often advertise one price, but charge more based on certain criteria.

Q: 18. Is financing available?

A: Yes, we can help you apply for financing that can make LASIK very affordable for most people.

Q: 19. Where do you perform the LASIK surgery?

A: Patients have the option of having their LASIK surgery or CustomVue treatments in Rome, Acworth or Atlanta.

Atlanta Location- TLC Atlanta, 5505 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd.

Q: 20. How do I get started?

A: Contact our Refractive Surgery Coordinator, Paige Bennett, at (706) 233-8556 or (770) 386-9442. Ms. Bennett can provide additional information and answer questions you might have. In addition, she can schedule you for your free consultation.