Hundreds of thousands of Americans and millions of people worldwide have been able to improve their quality of life and vision thanks to the new innovations in Laser Eye Correction Procedures. Eagle Eye Care is one of the first and the leading providers of LASIK Eye Surgery in the St. Louis metro area.

The most common vision problems are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

• Myopia (nearsightedness) causes blurry vision for objects in the distance.
• Hyperopia (farsightedness) is characterized blurred vision for objects close up.
• Presbyopia, common in patients over the age of 40, means the eye has trouble adjusting between close and far distances. Common treatment is a prescription for reading glasses or bifocals.

Myopia	Hyperopia
Astigmatism

All three of these conditions can be caused by a number of anomalies of the eye: an abnormal cornea, which is too flat or too steep or the eyeball length, which is too short or too long. All distort light and focus it improperly in the macula and fovea of the eye. Correction with glasses or contact lenses can keep active people from pursuing certain careers and from fully enjoying sports and recreational activities.

LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is now an FDA-approved procedure that changes the shape of the cornea to improve the focus of light into the eye. A thin layer of corneal tissue or flap is made with a microtome instrument and then folded back (step 1). The Excimer laser is then used to reshape or sculpt the cornea with soft light to place the prescription in the bed below the flap (step 2). After the laser procedure, the flap is replaced (step 3) and the cornea heals very rapidly (step 4). There is no need for stitches, patches or shots.

Step 1: Microtome cuts a flap in the cornea	Step 2: Pulses from the laser reshape the cornea.
Step 3: The flap reseals itself without stitches.	Step 4: The cornea heals within days.

In most cases, the entire procedure takes less than 20 to 30 minutes. Most patients report little to no pain. Some patients, depending upon their sensitivity, do need comfort or pain medication. Most are able to return to their normal activities in 1 to 3 days. Many patients see a dramatic improvement in vision immediately after the surgery or within 24 hours. Others may take weeks or possibly months, depending upon the amount of myopia and astigmatism, before vision stabilizes.

Dr. Eggleston prepares to perform LASIK procedure.

Limitations and Risks

The goal of LASIK is to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contacts primarily for distance, depending upon your age. Vision of 20/20 is hoped for, but results cannot be guaranteed. There is always the possibility of under- or over-correction. An enhancement or touch up procedure may need to be done approximately 3 months after the original procedure to obtain the best results. If maximum vision is not achieved, glasses or contact lenses can be used as a back up.

There are other remote, rare risks associated with LASIK and other vision correction procedures including infection, corneal perforation, rare drug reactions, problems with the flaps, striae, halos, light sensitivity, etc. Most complications can be taken care of with good patient cooperation and following of the post-procedure regiment. There are extremely rare complications, which have been reported elsewhere in the world, including an unsightly eye, partial or complete loss of vision, chronic pain, lost cornea flaps, etc. None of these severe complications have been seen at Eagle Eye Care.

LASIK does not correct presbyopia or pre-presbyopia, a condition commonly corrected with reading glasses or bifocals. Presbyopia can sometimes be addressed with monovision, where one eye is corrected for far away with the LASIK and the other eye is corrected for close-up.

Is the LASIK procedure right for me?

The ideal LASIK candidate is 21 years or older, with a stable prescription that has not changed significantly for approximately 1 year, healthy eyes and realistic expectations. Patients with certain severe medical conditions such as diabetes of the proliferative type and severe optic nerve problems, etc. may not be candidates. Pregnant women are not candidates however, nursing mothers may be candidates if their refraction is stable.

Eagle Eye Care offers free screenings and informational seminars where you can learn more about LASIK and other laser vision procedures. Click here to see a listing of upcoming dates.

Financing

Most health care, Medicare and HMO insurance plans do not cover the cost of LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures. They consider them investigational, cosmetic or medically unnecessary. Many financial plans are available. Some have no or very low interest rates. All financing arrangements must be completed prior the day of surgery. Credit cards may be used. You may be able to obtain a Federal and State tax deduction for this surgery. Please consult your tax advisor. This is a functional surgery to improve your vision and is not cosmetic.

Vision Fee Plan is a flexible monthly payment option offered through AmeriFee. It is specifically designed for refractive surgery - with payments as low as $83 per month. No initial payment Low, fixed rates ranging from 9.99% - 12.99% No prepayment penalty

Dr. Eggleston and the staff at Eagle Eye Care are continually bringing the best technologies and procedures to their patients. Their goal is to help each patient improve his or her vision and the quality of their life.