1. How safe is laser vision correction?

2. How effective is it?

3. Will I still need glasses or contacts?

4. How much follow-up care is involved?

5. What are the potential complications and side effects?

6. Is laser vision correction approved by the FDA?

7. How do I find out if I am a candidate for laser vision correction?

8. Can I finance this procedure?

Q. How safe is laser vision correction?

A. Because only the outer layers of the cornea (the front part of the eye) are affected, there is little risk of serious damage to the eye. Over two million patients worldwide have been treated, and serious problems have been extremely rare.

Top

Q. How effective is it?

A. Overall, between 94% and 98% of patients achieve 20/40 or better vision after the procedure, which is good enough to drive without corrective lenses in most states. Experience is the key factor in obtaining a good result. For the past 10 years, Dr. Maida has dedicated his entire practice to laser vision correction. Dr. Maida has been utilizing the excimer laser six years longer than any other eye surgeon in north Florida.

Top

Q. Will I still need glasses or contacts?

A. You might. Although the vast majority of our patients are thrilled with their outcome and do not use glasses, some still prefer glasses to sharpen their vision. Some patients may wear corrective lenses for certain activities such as reading or driving at night. During your evaluation, we will discuss with you your probable outcome following the procedure.

Top

Q. How much follow-up care is involved?

A. As with any medical procedure, follow-up care is as important as the procedure itself. PRK patients will need to come back each day for three days so the healing of the eye surface can be monitored. LASIK patients will need to come back on the day following the procedure. PRK patients will use eye drops for three months, while LASIK patients will only need drops for one week. Throughout the first year, you will require periodic visits with your regular eye doctor to ensure proper healing of the eye and to measure your visual progress. After the first year, you should continue to have your annual eye exams regardless of how well you are seeing in order to monitor the condition of your eyes and to check for potential eye health problems.

Top

Q. What are the potential complications and side effects?

A. Ten percent of PRK patients will experience discomfort in the days following the procedure, for which eye drops may be prescribed. LASIK patients rarely experience discomfort. The risk of infection is only about 1 in 300 and may be reduced through simple precautions such as keeping the area around your eyes clean, avoiding rubbing the eyes, using eyedrops prescribed by the doctor and refraining from activities such as swimming and gardening for only one week. Side effects such as night glare are experienced by a small percentage of patients and are usually temporary. You will be provided complete information regarding the risks of complications and side effects prior to the procedure.

Top

Q. Is laser vision correction approved by the FDA?

A. Yes.

Top

Q. How do I find out if I am a candidate for laser vision correction?

A. Maida CustomVision offers examinations and evaluations to determine whether laser vision correction can help you. To schedule your consultation call (904) 268-3937.

Top

Q. Can I finance this procedure?

A. Yes, we have financing options for as low as $80 a month.

Top