Make Your Tax Refund Really Count: Invest in Your Vision

It’s hard to believe that April 15 (yes, Tax Day!) is just around the corner. Hopefully you’ve almost finished your taxes and have an idea what kind of refund is coming your way.

Did you know the average tax refund in 2012 was $2,700? Regardless of how much you have coming, you’re probably thinking of ways to spend your windfall. Here’s the thing: You could spend your refund on new furniture, a 60” plasma TV, vacations or shopping sprees. But these purchases are fleeting.

If you have vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism and have to wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly for reading, driving or working, you could put your tax refund toward the ultimate goal of 20/20 (or better) vision. LASIK eye surgery has made this a reality for literally millions of Americans. The average cost of LASIK is anywhere from $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. It may seem like a bit much, but we offer 0% and low interest LASIK financing options to make it really affordable. And if you put your tax refund check toward LASIK, you could save a substantial chunk off the cost.

Of course, you can’t run out and spend your tax refund on better vision until you’ve had a comprehensive eye exam to determine the root cause of your vision problems.

Your new vision could last a lifetime. That would leave you plenty of time to spend your future tax refunds on new furniture, 80” plasma TVs, vacations or shopping sprees…you’ll enjoy them even more without glasses, contact lenses.

Contact Spivack Western Slope to schedule your LASIK Consultation so we can diagnose your unique situation and recommend an appropriate course of action. Call 970-945-2020.

Understanding LASIK Incisions

LASIK eye surgery has brought lens-free vision to literally millions of people over the years. Technology continues to improve this medical procedure, making the outcomes more precise than ever before.

So why hasn’t everyone jumped on the LASIK bandwagon? Fear is one factor that keeps some people away. Specifically, fear of the LASIK incision. Let’s face it: our eyes are sensitive, and the thought of having a procedure that involves cutting the cornea can be scary. When you have detailed information about the procedure, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue LASIK.

Type of LASIK Incisions

In LASIK surgery, the surgeon makes a thin flap in the cornea via one of two methods:

·         Mechanical tool called a Microkeratome. This is an oscillating, hand-held blade that is controlled by the surgeon.

·          

     Femtosecond laser also referred to as “bladeless” LASIK. Pre-calculated computer software guides the laser beam to cut the flap at a precise diameter and depth.

The corneal flap is folded back to allow the surgeon to reshape the cornea and correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism issues. When the refractive error work is completed, the surgeon folds the corneal flap back down, where it heals itself. The whole process only takes minutes per eye! And most patients are already experiencing improved vision when they leave the office.

The truth of the matter is that LASIK surgery is quite safe when it is performed by an experienced LASIK surgeon. The Food and Drug Administration has approved nearly 30 lasers; lasers they have deemed to be safe and effective for LASIK surgery. There have also been advances in the microkeratome technology that have increased the effectiveness of the hand-held blade method.

If you would like to learn more about the entire LASIK procedure, contact Spivack Western Slope today to schedule a Free LASIK Evaluation at 970-945-2020. Don’t let fear stop you from achieving great vision!

Can You Be Too Old for LASIK?

The short answer to the question, “Can you be too old for LASIK?” is: No. 

A person cannot be too old to have a LASIK procedure – there is no maximum age at which LASIK is no longer effective. However, the condition of your eyes may prohibit you from being a good LASIK candidate, regardless of your age.

The hard truth is that your eyes are continually changing as you grow older. There are a couple of eyesight conditions that begin to occur for most people that cannot be corrected by LASIK surgery:

• Presbyopia, when you lose the ability to see up-close without reading glasses. This typically starts in your 40s

• Cataracts, when the eye lenses become more opaque. This starts slowly and can gradually become quite difficult to live with in our 60s and beyond. Cataract surgery replaces the impaired lenses with artificial ones, and refractive errors can also be corrected at the same time.

There is a small segment of society that does not experience significant changes in their vision over time. In those cases, it is possible for a person of advanced age, who has good overall health and generally healthy eyes with stable vision, to have a LASIK procedure to correct a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Why not find out if you can enjoy the rest of your life with 20/20 vision? You’ve got nothing to lose and clear sight to gain. 

The only way to truly determine if you are a candidate for LASIK is to schedule a LASIK Evaluation with a respected practice like Spivack Western Slope. Call 970-945-2020 to schedule your Evaluation today.

How Much Does LASIK Cost?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a long list of lasers that are used for LASIK. While the FDA has the power to regulate the sale of medical devices in the United States, approving only those that are deemed reasonably safe and effective, the power stops there. The FDA does not have the power to regulate how doctors manage or market their LASIK practices, including how much doctors charge for LASIK eye surgery.

The average cost of LASIK surgery ranges from approximately $1,600 per eye for non-customized LASIK to $2,500 per eye for customized wavefront-guided procedures. These are just average costs; variables that can affect the bottom line may include:

•  Pre-operative testing
• Equipment for eye tracking, corneal measurement and topography, pupil size and tear film analysis
• Surgery equipment, such as traditional blade LASIK or laser
• Whether the office owns or leases the laser technology

You may have heard some LASIK centers offering incredibly low prices on LASIK, such as $499 per eye. While this sounds great, these low prices are usually a ploy to get you into the center where, upon further examination, you discover the fine print:

• You may not be a candidate for the super low pricing because your eye prescription is too strong (meaning you need a correction greater than 1.25 diopters).
• The center may also be using much older, and not as precise or effective, technology.
• You may be “nickel and dimed” for small costs that are typically included in the overall LASIK fee.

When you are researching LASIK centers, make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. You want to ensure that the surgeon you choose has the proper training, plenty of experience, offers the latest state-of-the-art technologies and is up-front with all of the costs for your procedure. Quality surgeons will also openly discuss the advantages and potential risks of LASIK and will only approve patients for LASIK after a full evaluation.

Your eyesight is not something you want to gamble on; saving money is good, but don’t let price be the only determining factor in your LASIK surgeon choice.

Spivack Western Slope offers FREE LASIK Evaluations. Contact us today at 970-945-2020.

Got the “Luck ‘o the Irish” When it Comes to Your Eyesight?

If you look up the origin of the saying, “Luck of the Irish,” you’ll find that most people use it to mean you are actually lucky. Ironically, Irish history states that the Irish often had bad luck. 

Regardless of how you might use that popular Irish saying, let’s take a moment to think about luck when it comes to your vision. Let’s face it, some people are just born with great genes and perfectly shaped corneas, while others have refractive errors that lead to problems with how the eye focuses light. You may have:   

·         Corneas that are longer and steeper than normal, resulting in nearsightedness (or myopia) where close objects are seen clearly and far away objects are blurry

·         Corneas that are shorter and flatter than normal, resulting in farsightedness (or hyperopia) where far away objects are seen clearly and close objects are blurry

·         Corneas that are football-shaped instead of round-shaped, resulting in astigmatism where you may have some degree of blurred vision at all distances

·         Eye lenses that become stiffened over time, making it harder to focus properly, especially up-close, resulting in presbyopia

No, it’s not fair. But there is a way to combat what Mother Nature gave you: LASIK Surgery. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK; however, if you have the right eye health and corneal thickness, your corneal shape might be corrected through this procedure. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. A LASIK process called Blended Vision is sometimes used to correct presbyopia, by correcting one eye for near vision and one eye for far vision to eliminate the need for reading glasses.

There is no need to be miserable with your eyesight – especially when LASIK financing exists to help you afford this amazing procedure. Even if LASIK isn’t right for your eyes, there may be other vision procedures that can be done to produce the results you desire.

So, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Let Spivack Western Slope help you get the good “Luck of the Irish” in regard to your vision. Go ahead and enjoy yourself on March 17, then call us to schedule your free LASIK Consultation so we can discuss your unique situation. 

Daylight Savings is Coming Soon – Get Your Eyes Ready for Spring

Daylight Savings this year is Sunday, March 10, 2013. That means the start of longer days, more sunshine, warmer temperatures and spring just around the corner (in fact, only 10 days after we “spring forward!”). This also means the start of spending more time outdoors enjoying the activities you love.  

If your glasses or contacts hinder your outdoor fun, and you’ve been considering treating yourself to LASIK to improve your natural vision, now is the perfect time to explore your options.

By scheduling a LASIK consultation now, you can find out if your eye health and corneal thickness is right for this procedure – and if it might give you 20/20 vision. Picture yourself camping, bicycling, hiking, swimming or just enjoying a barbeque with friends – without those annoying plastic covers on your eyeballs or heavy frames sliding down your nose.

Once you are given the green light for LASIK, learn all about the risks and rewards and locate a surgeon with which you feel 100% confident, you’ll be amazed at how quick the LASIK process really is. In fact, most people see improvements in their vision immediately after the procedure (which only takes a few minutes per eye).

At Spivack Western Slope , we’re excited that Daylight Savings Time is coming and we’re ready to help you see your way through spring and summer (and beyond!) more clearly. Contact us today to schedule your free LASIK consultation. 

Daylight Savings is Coming Soon – Get Your Eyes Ready for Spring

Daylight Savings this year is Sunday, March 10, 2013. That means the start of longer days, more sunshine, warmer temperatures and spring just around the corner (in fact, only 10 days after we “spring forward!”). This also means the start of spending more time outdoors enjoying the activities you love.  

If your glasses or contacts hinder your outdoor fun, and you've been considering treating yourself to LASIK to improve your natural vision, now is the perfect time to explore your options.

By scheduling a LASIK consultation now, you can find out if your eye health and corneal thickness is right for this procedure – and if it might give you 20/20 vision. Picture yourself camping, bicycling, hiking, swimming or just enjoying a barbeque with friends – without those annoying plastic covers on your eyeballs or heavy frames sliding down your nose.

Once you are given the green light for LASIK, learn all about the risks and rewards and locate a surgeon with which you feel 100% confident, you’ll be amazed at how quick the LASIK process really is. In fact, most people see improvements in their vision immediately after the procedure (which only takes a few minutes per eye).

At Spivack Western Slope, we’re excited that Daylight Savings Time is coming and we’re ready to help you see your way through spring and summer (and beyond!) more clearly. Contact us today to schedule your free LASIK consultation. Call 970-945-2020.