FAQs

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for iLASIK is to proceed with the free refractive consultation. During the consultation, Dr. Oursler will evaluate your current prescription, vision needs, and expectations. In addition, he will explain the iLASIK procedure and answer any questions you might have. It is crucial to understand individual vision needs and expectations, as well as provide professional guidance in recommending whether or not you should proceed with surgery.

Most of our patients notice immediate improvement right after they step up off the table, but the visual recovery varies for each person. Most patients are seeing well enough to drive and go back to work within 24 to 48 hours. The speed at which your vision improves is due to the individual rates of healing and degree of correction. In most patients, the vision is stable by three months.

No. Anesthetic eye drops are used during surgery, so that the procedure is completely painless. Patients often do feel a moderate amount of pressure sensation during surgery, but pain is not a normal part of the procedure. If pain is experienced during surgery, the patient should notify Dr. Oursler, as it is not expected. After surgery, some patients may experience a gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes, some tearing and some light sensitivity, and small fluctuations in their vision, as well as halos around lights at night. These are all temporary and improve.

With iLASIK at Graystone Eye, we have the ability to correct a range of nearsightedness from approximately -1.00D to -8.00D or higher. Farsightedness is more limited. We typically are comfortable correcting up to +5.00 diopters. Sometimes, if the patient’s prescription is higher, refractive lens replacement may be a better option for correcting the vision.

Yes, we have the ability to correct astigmatism with the iLASIK procedure. It is important to remember that not every prescription is correctable with iLASIK and other factors are taken into consideration when evaluating a person for candidacy for iLASIK surgery. Please call 828-304-6611 or request a free consultation online.

The Traditional Method utilizes a microkeratome (or blade) to create the flap, whereas the IntraLase Method™ uses a laser for a totally-blade free procedure. Due to its consistently predictable outcomes, Dr. Oursler utilizes the IntraLase Method™ exclusively.

Due to its precision, the IntraLase Method™ now allows treatment for people with thin corneas who were previously told they were not good candidates for iLASIK.

Dr. Oursler spends an extensive amount of time educating his patients in the pre-operative evaluation and helping the patient decide what refractive procedure, if any, is right for them.

He is very thorough and detail oriented during surgery and does not rush patients through the surgery.

Dr. Oursler does all the pre- and postoperative evaluation himself. He has completed an iLASIK fellowship and has extensive experience identifying and correcting the complications that can occur with iLASIK.

Dr. Oursler has an excellent relationship with our network of Graystone affiliated eye doctors. While your postoperative care can be arranged through one of these doctors, Dr. Oursler is available to see you 5 days a week in the Hickory area if you have minor complications from the iLASIK procedure.

Graystone Eye has been a provider of quality eye care in the Hickory area for over 30 years and will continue to be in the area for long into the future. Some of our lower price competitors don’t have the same track record.

Our commitment to your final visual outcome is unparalleled by any of our competitors.

Our threshold for re-treating patients is very low, and we are available at a phone call for any postoperative concerns. Compare the Advantages.

If the goal of the surgery was not achieved with the initial iLASIK procedure, we may want to fine tune your vision with another surgery called an enhancement. The enhancement is very similar to the first surgery. The existing flap is surgically lifted with a different instrument following the original incision line. The enhancement procedure is typically done no sooner than three months after the initial procedure.

No, this is probably a misrepresentation. PRK could be technically called “all laser vision correction,” but this does not involve making a cornea flap and does not utilize the precision of iLASIK. Be sure to ask for iLASIK by name. Only iLASIK offers the safety of micron level precision of a truly all-laser surgical approach. Patients must be sure that only the IntraLase FS pulsion laser is used to create the corneal flap in iLASIK.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Checks, American Express, and Discover Card. We offer affordable payment plans through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit with interest- free financing up to 24 months for those who qualify.

No.

Yes. Your company may offer a Flex Spending Account, which allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for your medical expenses such as iLASIK.

Whether to go with lens replacement or iLASIK depends not only on the patient’s age, but the amount of correction they need. iLASIK is preferable for younger patients who don’t need reading glasses or bifocal correction. If reading correction is needed, usually around age 45, we recommend lens replacement over iLASIK.

Yes.

Dr. Oursler can address small amounts of astigmatism with laser corneal relaxing incisions at the time of surgery. Higher amounts of astigmatism are treated with a toric version of the multifocal implant.

Insurance or Medicare does not cover the cost of lens replacement for presbyopia patients. However, if a patient has developed visually significant cataracts, insurance or Medicare will cover the cost of surgery for a standard IOL. For an additional charge, patients may opt to upgrade to the newer presbyopia correcting lenses.

Your company may offer a Flex Spending Account, which allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for your medical expenses. Use our FSA Savings Calculator to find out how much you can save by using your FSA to pay for lens replacement.

At Graystone Eye we have our own surgery center attached to our Hickory, NC, location. This feature allows us to ensure ease and convenience for our patients while keeping facility fees down.