Texan Eye
Austin, Texas (512)327-7000
(800)252-2020
Envision Freedom from Your Contacts & Glasses
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs - Our Austin Surgeons Answer LASIK, Laser Eye Surgery Questions

This page features information about Texan Eye, refractive surgery and what to expect following treatment at one of our Austin laser eye surgery centers. If you are considering refractive surgery, explore this page to view common questions from our Central Texas and Austin patients along with responses from Texan Eye staff.

What eye care services are available at Texan Eye?

Texan Eye offers a full range of eye and vision care services to patients of all ages. Our broad scope of expertise makes us an especially good choice for those who have complex eye conditions or want a second opinion. Texan Eye provides the latest corneal and refractive surgery procedures in addition to providing complete eye exams and contact lenses and eyeglass prescriptions. For more information about eye care services available At Texan Eye, contact us today.

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What insurance does Texan Eye accept?

Texan Eye accepts many kinds of health insurance. Whether you have Medicare, managed care or private insurance, it's likely that your insurance will cover all or some of the services you receive. It is difficult for Texan Eye to predict what insurance benefits will be covered by individual insurers. Since you are responsible for charges (deductibles, coinsurance payments, etc.) not covered by insurance, we suggest that you check with your insurance carrier regarding the details of your coverage. If you are a member of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), you must receive prior authorization from your insurance company or carrier before making an appointment at Texan Eye in order to receive any insurance coverage.

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How long should I expect to stay at Texan Eye during my visit?

No two patient visits are exactly the same. The initial visit is usually quite extensive, so be prepared to spend 1 to 2 hours at Texan Eye. If your condition requires special testing or immediate attention, or if there are emergencies or delays with other patients, your stay could be longer. Be assured that our doctors and staff will do their best to attend to your needs within a reasonable timeframe.

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What are Texan Eye’s office hours?

Texan Eye is open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. All after hours emergencies are handled through our on-call service 24 hours a day.

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Are eye exams necessary even if my vision is okay?

It is important to undergo regular eye examinations in order to prevent and detect eye disease. Certain conditions, including glaucoma, do not manifest any symptoms until permanent damage has been done. Detecting these diseases early allows for more flexible treatment options and reduces the risk of further harm.

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What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It results when pressure inside the eye increases to the point where it damages the optic nerve. Unfortunately, once glaucoma begins to affect vision, the damage is permanent. While there is no established cause of glaucoma, certain people are at a higher risk for developing the condition – including those with a family history of the disease, those suffering from diabetes, African-Americans, and anyone over the age of forty.

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What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma tends to develop without warning, and usually does not cause any pain or significant vision loss until the disease has progressed. In some cases symptoms are present before significant damage to the optic nerve has occurred – these symptoms would include reddened, painful eyes, hazy or blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, and halos near lights.

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Is there treatment for glaucoma?

After diagnosis, glaucoma can be successfully controlled and eye pressure can be decreased with prescription eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery.

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What is macular degeneration?

The macula is the part of the retina near the back of the eye that is responsible for helping us recognize clear, sharp images. Macular degeneration refers to a progressive loss of vision caused by deterioration of the macula.

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What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?

  • Loss of color vision
  • Difficulty seeing objects clearly
  • Distorted, blurry vision
  • Darkened, or empty spots near the center of the visual field

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Can macular degeneration be treated?

If detected early, the “wet” form of macular degeneration can be treated with a laser procedure. However, the “dry” form of macular degeneration has no existing treatment.

* Vision loss can sometimes be delayed or halted with certain vitamins and minerals. To learn more, contact a Texan Eye doctor today.

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What is a cataract?

A cataract refers to a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. Cataracts cause blurred or hazy vision; they are believed to be caused by a chemical change in the eye.

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Who is at risk for developing cataracts?

You may be at risk for developing cataracts if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • You are more than 50 years of age
  • You have sustained an eye injury
  • You have a family history of cataracts
  • You are a smoker
  • You take certain prescription medications

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Do cataracts have symptoms?

Yes. Cataracts are not painful, but they do tend to result in:

  • Blurry vision
  • A feeling of “film” over the eyes
  • Improvement in near vision
  • Sensitivity to bright lights and glare

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How are cataracts treated?

As cataracts progress, vision can be corrected with frequent changes in lens prescriptions. When significant vision impaired has occurred, the lenses clouded by cataracts can be replaced through lens implant surgery.

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What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a known complication of diabetes that affects the retina, causing blurry vision, blind spots, or floaters. The retina is the lining toward the back of the eye that allows us to focus our vision. When the blood vessels that supply nourishment to the retina are weakened, they tend to leak or swell, causing vision loss, and eventually, blindness.

With early intervention, diabetic retinopathy can be controlled; however, any damage to the retina is irreversible.

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What are “Flashes” and “Floaters”?

Floaters refer to visual symptoms like circles, dots, lines, or cobwebs that “float” through vision when the eye is moving. Floaters commonly develop during and after middle age, and occur when imperfections develop in the clear vitreous gel of the eye. These imperfections result in shadows across the retina, the portion of the eye responsible for seeing clear, sharp images.

Floaters (with or without flashes of light) can be symptomatic of serious eye damage, and are often associated with torn or detached retinas. If you have noticed floaters or flashes in your vision, please contact our eye doctors to schedule an exam as soon as possible.

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What is the difference between LASIK and PRK?

The main difference between ASA-PRK and LASIK eye surgery is recovery. Following LASIK surgery, there is minimal post-op discomfort and patients can generally return to work within a day. LASIK patients also recover their vision more quickly than patients who undergo ASA-PRK. While LASIK patients are only required to take medication for several days, ASA-PRK patients must take medication for several weeks. LASIK is currently the procedure of choice for the vast majority of our patients. At Texan Eye in Austin, LASIK accounts for more than 95% of laser eye surgery procedures performed each year. However, for many patients ASA-PRK will produce the best results.

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How safe is laser eye surgery?

With the advent of new refractive surgery technology, laser eye surgery has become infinitely more safe and effective. At Texan Eye in Austin, recovery from laser eye surgery is brief and the procedure is more comfortable than ever before. The laser eye surgery techniques used by our eye surgeons have also been refined over the years to minimize the risk of side effects.

Laser eye surgery dates all the way back to the eighties. Worldwide, more than two million laser eye surgeries have been performed since that time. In the United States, laser eye surgery is FDA approved and is considered a safe and successful treatment for patients with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism who meet laser eye surgery eligibility requirements.

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What sort of improvement in vision can I expect following laser eye surgery?

Perfect vision following LASIK or ASA-PRK surgery is not a guarantee. As with any other medical procedure, there are a variety of factors that will influence the outcome of laser eye surgery. Results are different with each individual; however, clinical studies have demonstrated that the vast majority (~98%) of patients with myopia or astigmatism achieve 20/40 vision or better following laser eye surgery. This translates into the ability to drive and enjoy a variety of activities without needing glasses or contact lenses.

Following treatment at one of our Texan Eye centers in Austin, laser eye surgery patients can expect their vision to stabilize within a matter of weeks. Healing will vary by the individual, and minor fluctuations in vision may occur following treatment.

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Are laser eye surgery results permanent?

Yes. During laser eye surgery, the shape of the cornea is permanently changed to correct refractive error. However, aside from refractive error, there are several age-related conditions (cataracts and presbyopia) that may affect vision at a later time. Fortunately, Crystalens®, ReZOOM™, and ReSTOR® lens implants are available for the correction of cataracts and presbyopia.

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Is laser vision correction painful?

No. At our eye centers in Austin, LASIK and ASA-PRK patients have their eyes numbed with eye drops prior to laser eye surgery. There are no needles or shots to prepare for treatment and during the surgery there is no pain. Patients may experience some discomfort following surgery, including swelling, but this can be managed with medication.

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What kinds of risks are associated with laser eye surgery?

Complications following laser eye surgery are rare. Most side effects will disappear with time, and the risk of permanent vision problems is less than one percent. During a consultation at our Austin, Georgetown, Bastrop, and Burnet eye surgery centers, patients can find out more about the risks of surgery and discuss any concerns they may have.

We feel that all patients should have a thorough understanding of the risks they face before choosing to undergo laser eye surgery. Please contact our eye center in Austin today to find out more about laser eye surgery risks.

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How do I find out if laser eye surgery is right for me?

The easiest way to find out if laser eye surgery is right for you is to visit one of our offices in Georgetown, Bastrop, Burnet, or one of our three Austin locations, for a comprehensive surgical screening. Your screening will take about one hour. During the appointment, one of our premier eye surgeons will examine your eyes to determine the best treatment for your vision problems. From there you may choose to schedule surgery at one of our laser vision correction centers.

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How long does laser eye surgery take?

From entering our facility to departing after the procedure, patients can expect to spend between one to two hours at our eye care center in Austin. For LASIK eye surgery, time spent in the treatment room is approximately 15-30 minutes. Actual laser activity lasts only 2 minutes per eye! Our patients are usually on their way after a final check with the doctor.

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Do both eyes need to be treated at the same time?

Our patients may undergo LASIK and other laser eye surgery on both eyes during a single appointment or they may choose to spread out the treatment over several appointments. Most choose to have both eyes done on the same day.

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After laser eye surgery, when can I return to work?

Following laser eye surgery, your vision will likely improve each day over the course of several weeks. Our Austin LASIK patients can expect to return to work in just a few days after the procedure. ASA-PRK recovery time will be longer to allow for proper healing of the epithelium.

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Will I still need to wear reading glasses after laser eye surgery?

Patients over the age of 40 who need reading glasses are generally suffering from a condition called presbyopia (a hardening of the natural lens of the eye) that makes it difficult to change focus for reading. When those patients undergo LASIK to correct refractive error (hyperopia, myopia, or astigmatism), they may still require reading glasses if they develop presbyopia.

One of the recent trends in ophthalmology is for patients to undergo LASIK eye surgery to eliminate refractive error and then follow the treatment with Crystalens®, ReZOOM™, or ReSTOR® lens implants. Flexible lens implants are designed to replace the natural lens of the eye, allowing the eye to focus light rays precisely on the retina. Lens implants also have an added bonus for patients over the age of 40 - since their natural lenses are removed, those patients will not have to worry about developing cataracts.

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Is laser eye surgery covered by insurance?

Laser eye surgery is not usually covered by insurance; however, some employers offer plans with flexible spending that would allow patients to put money toward LASIK or ASA-PRK.

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Does Texan Eye offer laser eye surgery financing?

To find out more about the LASIK and ASA-PRK payment plans, contact one of our Central Texas or Austin eye centers or visit our LASIK financing page.

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Contact Texan Eye in Austin if you have further questions about laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, or our other general ophthalmology services and treatments.

Contact us for a consultation.

Contact Texan Eye in Austin for more information about LASIK and other laser eye surgery.







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