Fact vs. Fiction

"The Myth of low-cost LASIK"

Dr. Michael Bense, MD, FRCSC

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the more frequently asked questions from previous patients.

View video faqs here

Q. Will I be a good candidate for treatment?
A. For the best possible results, we are able to treat most people over 18 years of age who have had a stable prescription for 12 months. A consultation with a Bense Vision affiliated optometrist or ophthalmologist will determine your suitability for treatment based on your personal prescription, lifestyle, and expectations.

Q. Will I ever need glasses again?
A. Fewer than 1 in 900 patients may require glasses for distance after laser vision correction. The majority of patients who do require them, only require them for specific tasks. However, as we grow older a condition called presbyopia always develops, and most people will eventually require reading glasses, whether they have treatment or not. However, new FDA approved laser treatments that can help eliminate the need for reading glasses are currently being offered at Bense Vision: see Mono-vision.

Q. Does Bense Vision offer patient financing?
A. Yes. We try to make laser vision correction affordable for every patient. We are committed to preventing finances from becoming a barrier to laser vision correction. These will be explained further during your consultation. Please see our enclosed Patient Finance leaflet.

Q. Will I see better if I choose a “Custom” LASIK treatment?
A. Yes, the Custom treatment we use is called “Advanced CustomVue WaveFront™”. It most often delivers improved visual results when compared to standard laser treatments or conventional glasses and contact lenses. 100% of study participants in an FDA clinical trial could see well enough after WaveFront™ to drive a car legally without glasses or contact lenses.

Q. Do I need to leave my contact lenses out prior to treatment?
A. Yes. Depending on the type of lenses you wear, you will need to leave them out (and wear glasses) prior to consultation/treatment. Contact lenses may distort the cornea and lead to inaccurate measurements and treatments.

Soft Lenses		Leave out for 1 day (minimum)
		Leave out for 1 week (minimum)
Hard/RGP lenses		Leave out for 1 week (minimum)
		Leave out for 1 month (minimum)

Q. Will I experience discomfort during or after treatment?
A. We use anaesthetic eye drops that completely numb your eye so you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. After any type of LASIK treatment, patients may feel some grittiness, light sensitivity and watering for a short while. With PRK treatment, you may feel some mild discomfort after the treatment, potentially in the first 24-48 hours.

Q. What if I close or move my eye during my treatment?
A. Drops are used to eliminate the blink reflex, and an eyelid holder keeps your eye open. There is a very sophisticated eye tracker which follows your eye as it moves during your treatment. If your eye moves out of line, the laser tracks the slightest of movements and stops pulsing.

Q. How much can I expect my vision to improve?
A. The final result depends on your original prescription. Although we are unable to guarantee you 20/20 vision, we can reasonably predict outcomes based on the original levels of prescription.

Myopia Prescriptions:
-1.00DS up to -6.00DS 98%
-6.25DS up to –12.00DS 95%

Hyperopic Prescriptions:
+1.00DS up to +3.00DS 96%
+3.25DS up to +4.50DS 85%

Q. When will I be able to drive and return to work?
A. All forms of LASIK have a fast visual recovery time, with nearly all patients noticing a marked improvement the same day. Most people are able to drive and return to work within 24-48 hours unless their work environment is very dusty or dirty. Recovery following PRK treatment can take up to 4-10 days.

Q. Are these laser procedures safe?
A. Yes. However, all laser treatments are classed as surgical procedures and as such carry some degree of risk, although minimal. As a medical procedure, laser eye surgery has a very low complication rate: less than 3%. Annoying problems like night glare, halos at night, dry eye issues and so forth, on the other hand are far more common especially after older procedures like Basic Blade LASIK, which is designed to ignore the issues surrounding night vision. To reduce the incidence of many of annoying complications, it is suggested that clients not choose the outdated LASIK and PRK surgeries, and instead opt for at the minimum a ‘customized procedure’. The most peace of mind afforded by any laser procedure, is the Custom Blade-Free LASIK (iLASIK™) option.

The vast majority of these complications are minor but annoying nevertheless if they occur. The procedures have undergone extensive scrutiny from public health agencies and the medical health profession and, after more than a decade of research, complications significantly affecting vision are extremely rare. Your optometrist, ophthalmologist and counsellor will discuss any potential complications with you.

Q. What if I am not a good candidate for laser eye surgery?
A. The vast majority of patients who want freedom from their glasses and contact lenses consider laser vision correction. However, not everyone is a good candidate for such treatment, and fortunately for a lot of them there are alternatives. Ask your Bense Vision optometrist or ophthalmologist if there are any alternatives available to you.

Q. Are all lasers the same?
A. No. Unlike other laser providers, Bense Vision uses only the most popular and technologically advanced laser, the VISX S4IR™, delivering the safest and most precise results. It is used by more than 66% of North American surgeons and performs more LASIK surgeries than all other LASIK lasers combined in North America.

Q. Why Choose Bense Vision™ for Your Laser Procedure?
A. Where do you start looking? Finding a laser eye center can be a frustrating and confusing experience. It seems that every laser eye center boasts the best surgeons and the latest technology. Frankly, trying to cut through all the hype can be exhausting. That’s where we can help.

• Dr. Mike Bense is one of Canada’s most experienced laser eye surgeons.
• He is the 1st eye surgeon to perform laser vision correction in Atlantic Canada over 15 years ago in 1993, right here in St. John’s.
• Bense Vision™ is a Newfoundland company and is a world class laser centre.
• It is not to be confused with other LASIK franchises, many of whom only offering a limited range of laser vision correction procedures like Basic Blade LASIK and Custom Blade LASIK. They do not generally offer blade-free LASIK surgery at these centres.

Q: What results can I expect after Custom LASIK at Bense Vision?
A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the out form of Custom LASIK (VISX CustomVue™ procedure) for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and now also mono-vision.

The following are some of the FDA clinical study results, one year after the VISX CustomVue™ procedure*:

• 100% could pass a driving test without glasses or contact lenses
• 98% could see 20/20 or better without glasses or contact lenses (higher than any laser available in the world)
• 70% could see better than 20/20 without glasses or contact lenses
• Four times as many participants were very satisfied with their night vision after CustomVue, compared to their night vision with their glasses or contact lenses.
• Overall, many participants were more satisfied with their quality of vision after the VISX CustomVue procedure than before the procedure with use of glasses or contacts.

Q: Is Custom LASIK done Blade-Free (iLASIK™) really the “Best of the Best LASIK procedures and if so, what are the benefits of iLASIK™?
A: Yes. The benefits of iLASIK™ are numerous and include the following:

• It is the most advanced LASIK procedure available to patients today.
• iLASIK is 100% blade free: unlike during Basic and Custom LASIK where a hand held razor-type of steel blade is used to cut a corneal flap
• Safest LASIK procedure in the world
• Better quality of day and night vision than Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK
• Less chance of needing a touch-up procedure than Standard LASIK
• Less chance of glare at night than Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK
• Reduced risk of complications than Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK
• Less dry eye than Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK
• Less risk of epithelial in-growth beneath the flap than Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK
• Lifetime strength of cornea stronger than compared to Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK.

Q: Describe the excitement about Blade-Free LASIK compared to Standard LASIK.

A:

• The iLASIK procedure virtually eliminates the majority of the most LASIK complications related to use of the microkeratome blade that is used in Basic and Custom LASIK.
• Additionally, by creating an optimal corneal surface below the flap, the iLASIK procedure provides for better visual outcomes -- taking patients to 20/20 vision and beyond.

Q: How does BEC compare with other laser franchises that advertise ‘cheap’ LASIK prices?
A: Discounted laser surgeries, wherever they are performed, are usually performed with cheaper technologies like outdated steel blades still used in LASIK and Custom Blade LASIK. Compare the price of a black and white TV with that of a new HD-plasma TV: there is simply no comparison as is the case between blade and blade-free surgeries.

Q: Does anybody offer ‘cheap’ blade-free LASIK?
A: No! Cheaper LASIK prices mean you get an older procedure like Standard LASIK, using dated or outdated technology like a steel blade to cut a flap. These are non-customized procedures dating back to the late 1990’s. VERY FEW people will choose Standard LASIK today (or even Custom LASIK if still done with a blade) if they knew of the much safer blade-free surgery options.

Q: LASIK Pricing Issues: What is your cheapest price?
A: Standard LASIK is done by blade and can be had almost anywhere from $350-$1,600 per eye depending on your prescription. Some clinics charge a set fee for Standard LASIK like $999, while others try to entice clients to a free consultation, by advertising fees that ‘start at around $400 per eye’. They set their fee rates according to your prescription strength but many fail to inform you of the following:

• What they are offering is an older type of LASIK done by blade called Standard LASIK.
• Their average fee for this older type of procedure (regardless of the advertised starting price) averages out between $1350 and $1600 per eye.
• Based on the average prescription strength, you have a less than a 7% chance of actually qualifying for Standard LASIK for less than $1,000.
• Standard LASIK is still done with a steel blade and is very likely to worsen your night vision.
• If you decide you wish better night vision and opt for Custom LASIK, the minute you customize your LASIK or PRK procedure, the cost is ALWAYS over $1,700 no matter where you go. “No more sweet deals.”
• Most franchises that advertise low LASIK prices, do not offer Blade-Free or Custom LASIK but Basic Blade LASIK.
• When your cornea is too thin to recommend the use of a blade as in some cases of Standard LASIK and Custom LASIK, they will offer you an older procedure called Standard PRK (1987) and call it blade-free. Remember, PRK is not LASIK regardless how it is done.
• All LASIK procedures in Canada are tax-free.

Q: What should my expectations be when I consider Laser surgery costs?
A: Canadians should expect to pay somewhere between $1,300 and $3,000 per eye for comprehensive all inclusive services related to laser eye surgery depending on what level of advanced and sophisticated technology is used.
Over 90% of people prefer Custom LASIK over Standard LASIK because it improves one’s night vision as well. Expect to pay $1700 or more per eye anytime you customize LASIK or PRK, even at clinics that advertise lower LASIK fees.
Custom Blade-Free LASIK procedures like iLASIK, will typically cost $2,200 - $3000 per eye across North America and the world.

Q: So, are discount laser centre truly cheaper than other centres?
A: No

Q: Where do I get my LASIK surgery done?
A: Where do you start looking? Finding a laser eye center can be a frustrating and confusing experience. It seems that every laser eye center boasts the best surgeons and the latest technology. Frankly, trying to cut through all the hype can be exhausting.
That’s where we can help.

The best approach is to choose a LASIK or PRK surgeon based on their reputation and the confidence and competence they and their staff convey to you during your consultation. An inexperienced surgeon is no bargain at any price.