FAQ
RESOURCES
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have a question we have not addressed, or if you would like further clarification, please feel free to call us at (571) 755-2020 or submit a consultation request below.
Yes, overwhelmingly so. LASIK, along with its five other modern variations, is arguably the most studied and analyzed procedure in modern medical history. Those results all point in the same direction – vision correction is safe, effective, and long-lasting. Don’t just take our word for it, however. The US military has also fully adopted LASIK. When push comes to shove our armed forces, which has a vast repository of LASIK data, understands that glasses or contacts are ultimately a hindrance among its many service men and women.
There has not been a single reported incident of blindness occurring from LASIK.
Absolutely. One of the most common misconceptions we hear from patients is that LASIK can’t treat astigmatism. Not only is that untrue but it generally treats astigmatism better than glasses or contacts can.
No, the changes with LASIK are permanent. However, around age 45, most people begin to have difficulty seeing up close (presbyopia). This occurs whether they’ve had LASIK or not. If you are close to this age, we’ll take that into consideration in determining your best vision correction options.
No. You will not feel any pain during your procedure. However, you will experience a bit of a light show during the process.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes to complete for both eyes, but the laser portion is only seconds per eye. Most patients are surprised by how quick the process really is.
The lasers used at Brusco Vision are equipped with features to limit eye movements or monitor the position of your eye, making necessary adjustments for any position changes during the treatment process. Even if you coughed, for example, our excimer laser would automatically stop and later resume exactly where it left off. In addition, a gentle eyelid holder is placed between your eyelids so you don’t have to worry about blinking during the procedure.
No, it doesn’t. However, LASIK is a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account procedure. If your company offers a health or flexible spending account, you can generally use it to pay for LASIK.
One of the greatest benefits of LASIK is its rapid visual recovery. Although vision tends to be blurry the first few hours after the procedure, most of our LASIK patients are back to work and resuming normal activities the very next day. The vision continues to clear and improve even more over the next week.
Yes, it is a modern-day version of cataract surgery, but performed earlier in your life. The concept of a lens being well-tolerated inside the eye has been demonstrated since the 1970s.
Intraocular lenses are made of a specialized acrylic or silicone material, which is inert inside the eye – the eye will not react against the lens. This allows the lens to remain clear, avoiding the degradation and color change occurring in the natural lens with time.
No. Macular degeneration affects the retina in the back of the eye, whereas Custom Lens Replacement addresses the lens in the front of the eye. Patients should continue to schedule annual eye exams to check for naturally occurring eye problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, or detachment.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye to complete, but you can expect to be at the office for up to 2 hours on the day of your surgery.
Patients are encouraged to relax immediately following surgery, but are free to resume normal activities as comfort allows. For the first week, you should avoid rubbing or bumping the eye as well as avoid getting soap or water in your eyes while bathing or showering. Use caution with heavy lifting (greater than 25 lbs) and physical exertion for at least 2 weeks. Patients should also avoid hot tubs or swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean for 1 month.
Yes, Visian ICL has been shown to be a safe procedure. Over one million procedures have been performed in over 60 countries. Additionally, the concept of a lens being well-tolerated inside the eye has been demonstrated since the 1970s.
Absolutely. The toric version of the ICL treats astigmatism. Not only does ICL treat astigmatism, but it generally does so better than glasses or contacts can.
The Visian ICL will not degrade over time, so once implanted there is no upkeep involved and will not need to be replaced. It is removable, however, in the event it needs to be taken out in the future.
No. However, ICL does not eliminate the need for reading glasses when you develop presbyopia – this occurs whether you’ve had ICLs or not.
No. The procedure only takes about 10 minutes per eye and you will not feel any discomfort. However, you will probably experience a bit of a light show during the process.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye to complete, but you can expect to be at the office for up to 2 hours on the day of surgery.
Although vision tends to be blurry the first few hours after the procedure, most of our ICL patients are back to work and resuming normal activities the very next day. The vision continues to clear and improve even more over the next several weeks.
Yes, overwhelmingly so. SMILE was FDA approved in 2016 and has already been performed over 3 million times. SMILE vision correction is safe and effective. Don’t just take our word for it, however. The US military has also adopted SMILE as a vision correction solution.
There has not been a single reported incident of blindness occurring from SMILE.
Yes, SMILE is approved to treat astigmatism and myopia.
No, the changes with SMILE are permanent. However, around age 45, most people begin to have difficulty seeing up close (presbyopia). This occurs whether they’ve had SMILE or not. If you are close to this age, we’ll take that into consideration in determining your best vision correction options.
No. You will not feel any pain during your procedure. However, you may experience a bit of a light show during the process.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes to complete, but the laser portion is only about 30 seconds per eye. It is truly a minimally invasive procedure.
The lasers used at Brusco Vision are equipped with features to limit eye movements or monitor the position of your eye, making necessary adjustments for any position changes during the treatment process. In addition, a gentle eyelid holder is placed between your eyelids so you don’t have to worry about blinking during the procedure.
No, it doesn’t. However, SMILE is a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account procedure. If your company offers a health or flexible spending account, you can generally use it to pay for SMILE.
One of the greatest benefits of SMILE is its rapid visual recovery. Although vision tends to be blurry the first few hours after the procedure, most of our SMILE patients are back to work and resuming normal activities the very next day. The vision continues to clear and improve even more over the next week.
No, we do not participate in any medical insurance plans.
We are a different kind of practice, whose only goal is making our patients happy with great service and results. Not taking insurance allows us to maintain a boutique experience and spend more time with our patients.
Intraocular lenses are made of a specialized acrylic or silicone material, which is inert inside the eye – the eye will not react against the lens. This allows the lens to remain clear, avoiding the degradation and color change occurring in the natural lens with time.
No. Macular degeneration affects the retina in the back of the eye, whereas cataract surgery addresses the lens in the front of the eye. Patients should continue to schedule annual eye exams to check for naturally occurring eye problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, or detachment.
Patients are encouraged to relax immediately following surgery, but are free to resume normal activities as comfort allows. For the first week, you should avoid rubbing or bumping the eye as well as avoid getting soap or water in your eyes while bathing or showering. Use caution with heavy lifting (greater than 25 lbs) and physical exertion for at least 2 weeks. Patients should also avoid hot tubs or swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean for 1 month.
Both procedures are safe. ASA is better suited for certain types of eyes, such as those with thin corneas, scarring, or certain irregularities. The US military has fully adopted both ASA and SBK LASIK as vision correction solutions.
Absolutely. ASA treats astigmatism in addition to myopia and hyperopia.
No, the changes with ASA are permanent. However, around age 45, most people begin to have difficulty seeing up close (presbyopia). This occurs whether they’ve had ASA or not. If you are close to this age, we’ll take that into consideration in determining your best vision correction options.
You will not feel any pain during your procedure. However, a subset of patients can expect to experience discomfort during the healing process lasting about a day, starting 1-3 days after the procedure.
The lasers used at Brusco Vision are equipped with features to limit eye movements or monitor the position of your eye, making necessary adjustments for any position changes during the treatment process. Even if you coughed, for example, our excimer laser would automatically stop and later resume exactly where it left off. In addition, a gentle eyelid holder is placed between your eyelids so you don’t have to worry about blinking during the procedure.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes to complete for both eyes, but the laser portion is only seconds per eye. Most patients are surprised by how quick the process really is.
No, it doesn’t. However, ASA is a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account procedure. If your company offers a health or flexible spending account, you can generally use it to pay for ASA.
Because of the particular technique involved, the visual recovery with ASA takes longer than with our other vision correction solutions – days rather than hours. Most of our ASA patients have enough vision to comfortably drive within 3-7 days. The vision continues to clear and improve even more over the next several weeks.
