TESTIMONIALS

“I had laser surgery….it went perfectly!”
– Kelly D.

“Highly recommend New Braunfels Vision Center. The staff within the center provides the best patient services and always are very helpful.”
– Mirta J.

“Everyone from the front office to the end of my appointment was friendly and kind. If you’re looking for an eye doctor, this is the place to go!”
– Sara A.

“The first day I met the doctors at NBVC, I knew I would be okay there!”
– Katharine F.

In-Office LASIK / PRK

Vision correction is an excellent investment in your medical and personal well-being. At New Braunfels Vision Center, you will have the combination of Dr. Grant Smith and Dr. Joshua Levar’s experience and state-of-the-art technology for the most precise results possible. Our LASIK and PRK services are done right here in our New Braunfels office.

LASIK

LASIK or Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), commonly referred to as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a laser to reshape the eye’s cornea in order to improve visual acuity. For most people, LASIK provides a long-lasting alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The immediate recovery period for LASIK generally lasts six to 12 hours, but it varies by patient, depending on several factors. Most patients see clearly within 24 hours after vision correction surgery, but others take two to five days to recover. Some patients may experience some blurred vision and fluctuations in their vision for several weeks after LASIK.

Although you will quickly notice a significant improvement in your vision, recovering from LASIK is an ongoing process. Full recovery varies by patient, and it may take three to six months for your vision to fully stabilize. During this time, your LASIK surgeon will meet with you regularly to check on your vision.

Our Lasik service includes IntraLase and CustomVue and one year of follow-up care. Read what the FDA says about LASIK here.

Intralase

Until recently, the flap was created with a hand-held blade called a microkeratome. Instead, our doctors use the Intralase laser for this important step. The Intralase laser gives you the most precise results, the safest procedure and the fastest healing period.

Customvue

Your vision is as unique as your fingerprint. Traditional methods measured vision in quarters (for example: .25, .50) Using the WaveScan diagnostic system, Dr. Smith and Dr. Levar can measure your unique vision with 25 times greater accuracy. This information will be transferred directly to the VISX STAR S4 laser system to give you extremely precise vision correction.

PRK

If you are not a candidate for LASIK, you may be a candidate for PRK.

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a type of refractive surgery to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. PRK was the first type of laser eye surgery for vision correction and is the predecessor to the popular LASIK procedure. Though PRK recovery takes a bit longer than recovery from LASIK eye surgery, PRK is still commonly performed and offers advantages over LASIK for some patients.

Like LASIK and other types of laser eye surgery, PRK works by reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser, allowing light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina for clear vision.

The main difference between PRK and LASIK is the first step of the procedures.
In LASIK, a thin flap is created on the cornea with a femtosecond laser. This flap is lifted to expose the underlying corneal tissue and is replaced after the cornea is reshaped with an excimer laser.

In PRK, the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed and discarded prior to reshaping the underlying corneal tissue with an excimer laser. The epithelium repairs itself (grows back over the corneal surface) within a few days after surgery.

The final results of PRK surgery are comparable to LASIK outcomes, but initial PRK recovery is slower because it takes a few days for new epithelial cells to regenerate and cover the surface of the eye.

There is also a slightly increased risk of eye infection and haziness of vision in the first few days after surgery. LASIK patients generally have less discomfort, and their vision stabilizes more quickly, whereas vision improvement with PRK is gradual and the final outcome can take several weeks.

PRK, however, does offer some distinct benefits. Because PRK surgery does not create a corneal flap (which contains both epithelial and the deeper stromal tissues), the entire thickness of the underlying stroma is available for treatment.

This is of particular benefit if the cornea is too thin for LASIK or if you have undergone LASIK previously and therefore have a thinner residual cornea. There also is no risk of flap complications, and the risk of removing too much of the cornea with the excimer laser is reduced.

Your Next Steps

Take your time and research as much information about the LASIK or PRK procedure as possible. This will enable you to head into your consultation prepared with questions or concerns for the doctor and his team to answer. The more you know about LASIK or PRK, the less intimidating it will be.

Financing Options

We are sensitive to the fact that different people have different needs for payment. Care Credit may be an option. Click the following link to apply for financing online:

  • Care Credit (no initial payment, 0 or low interest). Fast, confidential service by phone – 800.677.0718. Or apply online at their secure website www.carecredit.com

Schedule a Lasik or PRK Consultation

New Braunfels Vision Clinic is your local solution for exceptional vision care. Schedule a Lasik or PRK consultation today.
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