Laser and LASIK Eye Surgery FAQs

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Unlike 10 years ago, the utilization of all-laser LASIK with the Allegretto laser can produce results that are as good or better than glasses or contact lens. There is a slight chance of inferior nighttime vision, but we find it very rare.

Yes, you may wear contact lens following LASIK, but there’s a only slight chance you will need them!

While it is preferred that you remove your contacts prior to the consult, it is not required. Our technicians can gain a bit more information if they are removed, but you are welcome to leave them in if you prefer.

We require a minimum of 3 days and prefer one week without wearing contact lenses for soft, daily wear lenses prior to surgery. RGP lenses require a four to six week period without wearing contact lens and will need a few measurements to be performed during that period.

No, Cataracts are treated in a different way. An artificial lens is implanted inside the eye to replace the cloudy natural lens in cataract surgery. In LASIK, a laser is used to gently reshape the cornea.

Astigmatism is a natural condition of the cornea on the front part of the eye. Normal corneas are round in shape, like a basketball. Eyes with astigmatism are irregularly shaped, more like a football. Depending upon the amount of astigmatism, this can cause distortions and blurriness in vision due to the bending of light rays as they enter the eyes. It is not threatening or unhealthy, just bothersome.

Generally called Enhancements, retreatments are generally needed when there is a large amount of vision correction being performed during the first surgical procedure. Sometimes, after a long period of time (years) after the surgery, the surgeon may recommend an enhancement due to vision changes. Lower levels of near and far sightedness and astigmatism usually do not require enhancements.

The majority of people see very well for many years following the LASIK procedure. Should there be changes in vision, Dr. Magruder may recommend an Enhancement.

You will be given a mild sedative and numbing drops in the eyes prior to the procedure and should feel little if any pain during the procedure.

Risks associated with LASIK are minimal. However, there are slight risks that include redness, infection, mild halos, dry eyes, and temporary “fuzziness” immediately following the procedure. These typically go away after a few days. Studies have shown that there is less risk associated with the LASIK procedure than with overnight contact lens wear.

Cataracts generally are related to age and are a separate condition of the eye. Therefore, Cataracts are not related to the LASIK procedure.

PRK is similar in nature to LASIK, only with PRK, there is no flap created and the front surface of the eye is treated to correct your vision. PRK is performed on a regular basis for certain medical conditions. Dr. Magruder will discuss the best options for you prior to the procedure.

Implantable contact lenses or ICL’s are small lenses, similar to a regular contact lens, that can be implanted into the eye, enabling the surgeon to correct large amounts of nearsightedness in patients that have corneas that are too thin to correct with the laser. This may be a great option for those who have been told in the past that their corneas are the thin to be corrected.

Implantable contact lenses or ICL’s are small lenses, similar to a regular contact lens, that can be implanted into the eye, enabling the surgeon to correct large amounts of nearsightedness in patients that have corneas that are too thin to correct with the laser. This may be a great option for those who have been told in the past that their corneas are too thin to be corrected.

Yes, the surgeon will sometimes combine several procedures for optimal results.

LaserVue utilizes the latest laser technology with the Intralase iFS Femptosecond laser for flap creation and the Allegretto Wave laser for vision correction.

While our pricing is not the lease expensive in Central Florida, it is not the highest either. We feel that our pricing reflects our level of training, technology and personalized care.

In a nutshell, "experience, technology and personalized care." At LaserVue, you are treated as a guest in our state of the art facility. Dr. Magruder meets with each patient personally during their complimentary consultation to discuss their options and answer any and all questions. Some patients are surprised to learn that they are not candidates for LASIK surgery. However, in those cases, there are often other surgical options that may be available. Dr. Magruder carefully creates a surgical care plan that is tailored to the patient. You will be guided through the entire process from start to finish by medical professionals and will never be subjected to a sales pitch or a hard sell. Dr. Magruder opened the first LASIK center in Central Florida in 1997. Since then, he has trained countless other LASIK surgeons and has been an FDA Clinical Investigator on numerous clinical studies that have aided in the evolution of refractive surgery. We are proud to offer the latest technology in order to provide the safest and most precise procedure to Central Florida. The decision to have surgery is very personal and we strive to make it a pleasant experience. Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Magruder. Come see why over 20,000 patients worldwide have put their trust in Dr. Magruder.

While it is best to contact our office for the most up to date list, we currently accept the following insurances: Aetna PPO-POS, Aetna Medicare Replacement, BCBS PPO, PPC, Bluecard program, Great West, Medicare, Tricare Standard, United Heathcare, Blue Choice, and Secure Horizons.

Yes, Dr. Magruder personally meets with you at your consultation to discuss the best recommendation for you.

LaserVue utilizes all-laser LASIK for the majority of LASIK procedures. A microkeratome (a.k.a. “blade”) may be used for some specialized medical reason but is not the primary method we use.

Generally speaking, you may return to normal daily activities the following day after your procedure. We ask that you don't swim or spray water from the shower directly into the eyes for about a week following the procedure. You will be evaluated the day after your procedure and any special postoperative instructions will be given at that time.

The cost of your procedure varies depending on your needs. Find out exactly what it will cost you at your no-obligation consultation.

No, our fees cover all eye conditions and ranges of correction, considered a “global” fee. Our fee covers all visits before, during and after the surgery, and any necessary enhancements for two years following the procedure.

No, because LASIK is considered an elective procedure, it is not covered by heath insurance. Rarely, some employers may offer a LASIK benefit as part of a compensation package. You may want to check with your HR representative or feel free to contact our office.

No, you will not be dilated at the initial consultation to discuss your options.

Yes, you will be receiving a light sedative on your surgery day and will need to be driven home for a long nap. You may drive yourself to the next day checkup if you like.

Generally speaking, there are four visits to our office. There is a 30-minute non-dilated initial consultation, followed by a two-hour preoperative dilated workup in a week or two depending upon contact lens wear, 1.5 hours on the day of surgery, and a brief 10 minute check the following day. Of course, these times and additional exams may vary depending upon the specific procedure and amounts of vision correction.

Some may notice immediately that their vision is better. It is very common for the swelling to take a few days to clear before you notice any significant improvement.

No, we use a light sedative that will not put you completely to sleep, but many patients do not remember anything from the procedure.

No, the cataract itself will never come back. There is a capsule behind the intraocular lens that may fog with time after cataract surgery. Some people may call this a secondary cataract. This occurs in about 50% of patients and an in-the-office laser procedure corrects it.

Astigmatism is a distortion in vision (like nearsightedness or farsightedness) that is not corrected by cataract surgery. It is due to an irregularly shaped cornea. The custom procedure is for people who wish to see with little to no dependency on glasses after surgery. If you opt for Custom Cataract Surgery, Dr. Magruder will either use incisions or a toric implant to correct for the irregular cornea, giving you the best vision possible without the use of glasses.

Prior to surgery we will have you start an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medication. You will continue with these medications post-operatively, and you will also take a steroid after surgery to keep any inflammation under control.

No, you can take all of your regular medications as you normally would. On the day of surgery, you will cut your diabetic medication dosage in half.

Yes, you will have to remove your contact lenses prior to taking measurements of your eye. The amount of time depends on which type of contacts you wear. You may put your contacts back in after the measurements have been taken, but they must come out again 3 days prior to surgery.

You will have a follow-up visit the day after surgery. Additional follow-up varies from patient to patient, but most patients are seen 2-3 weeks after their surgery date.

We usually recommend waiting at least three weeks before getting new glasses made. You want to heal before investing in new eyeglasses.

Cataracts will get worse with time. There is no need to take out a cataract unless an individual is having trouble doing everyday tasks/hobbies because of a cataract. If you are told that you have a cataract but no one has recommended surgery, it is probably because it is not yet affecting your vision. When it does, it’s considered “ripe.”