Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK

Our LASIK exam is the medical field’s most comprehensive, 14-test diagnostic LASIK exam that takes approximately 2½ hours to complete. During this exam, you will learn about LASIK as an alternative to glasses and contact lenses. Dr. Manger and his expert staff of doctors will perform a series of 14 tests on your eyes to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK. An esteemed specialist from our team will examine your eyes and address any questions you might have. You will also meet with a patient counselor to discuss recovery time, what to expect during the procedure, and financing options. It is important that you bring your glasses and contact lenses to this exam.

To determine if you are a good LASIK candidate, answer these questions:

• Are you 18 years of age or older?
• Has your glasses/contact lens prescription remained relatively stable or only changed slightly for the past year?
• Are you nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism?
• Are you over 40 and wearing reading glasses or having difficulty seeing up close?
• Would you like to see clearly without glasses and contacts?

If you meet these basic criteria above, call and schedule your LASIK exam, the medical field’s most comprehensive, 14-test diagnostic LASIK exam that takes approximately 2½ hours to complete.

Along with improvements in technology, Dr. Manger’s extensive expertise often allows him to treat patients who may have been turned down for LASIK in the past. In fact, half of the people who qualify for LASIK have previously been told by their eye care professionals they could not have the procedure. Many times, eye doctors who do not perform LASIK surgery are not supportive of the procedure, and will tell patients that they are not good candidates for LASIK because they are farsighted, have astigmatism, need reading glasses, or other invalid reasons.

LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that works by reshaping your cornea so that light is able to focus more precisely on your retina. LASIK laser vision correction has been approved by the FDA to treat the broadest range of vision imperfections, including mild to severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Even patients who wear over-the-counter reading glasses or bifocals may now benefit from this type of laser vision correction. With LASIK, patients usually experience little or no postoperative discomfort, and visual recovery is quick. Learn how LASIK works, step-by-step.

Few surgeons can match Dr. Manger’s laser vision correction qualifications and expertise. With 24 years of experience, Dr. Manger has personally performed more than 94,000 LASIK procedures.1 And 99.7%% of Dr. Manger’s patients see 20/20 or better following their procedure.1

Dr. Manger personally sees all of his patients in a single office location. You will never be passed off to another surgeon or surgical center. Dr. Manger is also 100% focused on LASIK — it’s the ONLY PROCEDURE he does. His “one office, one surgeon, one specialty” approach allows Dr. Manger to provide an unmatched level of attention to detail and quality of care. While many LASIK centers delegate the initial assessment to other staff, a leading specialist will personally determine your suitability for LASIK at Saddleback Eye Center. 

No. Some people are surprised to learn that conventional LASIK is only partly performed by a laser. The first step in conventional LASIK uses a metal blade, called a microkeratome, and a mechanical holding device to create a corneal flap. The second step is performed by an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. LASIK replaces the blade in the first step of the procedure with a computer-controlled cold-beam laser. This treatment is 100% All-Laser and 100% blade-free, providing patients with a safer, more precise approach to laser vision correction.

First, LASIK is 100% blade-free. Conventional LASIK uses a metal blade and a mechanical holding device, called a microkeratome, to create a corneal flap. LASIK replaces the blade with a computer-controlled cold-beam laser; Dr. Manger has 2 of these lasers in his facility. Replacing the blade with a laser considerably enhances the safety and accuracy of the procedure. And because the corneal flap is created with the precision of a laser, Dr. Manger is able to sculpt the corneal tissue at the exact depth required for the premium level of safety his patients expect. Second, LASIK is completely personalized for your eyes. Dr. Manger is able to provide you with an All-Laser Custom LASIK procedure by using 1 of his 2 WaveFront lasers and by selecting from 3 different excimer lasers to perform your laser vision correction. This level of customization offers potentially sharper, crisper vision than your glasses and contacts. Conventional LASIK does not provide this type of customization. And third, the ultra-precise and sophisticated technology ensures a higher level of safety and accuracy. With LASIK, you enjoy the peace of mind that your procedure is being performed with the most advanced All-Laser Custom Wavefront LASIK technology.

LASIK is affordable. Many people find that LASIK is just a fraction of the long-term cost associated with maintaining and caring for glasses and contacts. For most, the cost of LASIK is less than the cost of eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses that would be incurred over an 8 to 10 year period.² We also offer interest-free financing† and other financing options so you can pay for LASIK over time and start enjoying better vision right away.

This is another big concern for patients. We frequently hear patients say, “I have all the confidence in the world in Dr. Manger, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep my eyes still.” Don’t worry. Blinking or moving your eyes during the procedure is not a concern. We hold your eye open with a gentle device, and the lasers are equipped with eye trackers that will follow any small movement your eye may make during the procedure. These eye trackers are so sophisticated that they can track eye movements up to 1000 times per second, ensuring the laser beam is centered on your eye at all times.

Choosing to have LASIK won’t put your life on hold. Most of our patients see 20/20 and resume their normal daily activities, like driving, going to work, reading, working on the computer, and watching TV, the very next day.

While no surgery is without risk, keep in mind that nearly 20 million LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide.⁴ Experienced LASIK surgeons like Dr. Manger report a complication rate well below 1%. And it has been documented that the risk associated with long-term wear of contact lenses is 5 times higher than the risk of a single LASIK procedure.⁵ With Dr. Manger, you’ll be in the hands of a highly experienced and skilled eye surgeon who has built his reputation on precision, safety, and unsurpassed outcomes.

Both are important. However, experts in the LASIK industry have agreed for years — LASIK is 90% surgeon and 10% technology.² Before operating, a LASIK surgeon makes more than TWO DOZEN decisions for EACH EYE. Every surgeon will make those decisions differently. EXPERIENCE MATTERS. Because he is a LASIK Specialist, Dr. Manger insists on having technologies that enable him to perform personalized correction for each individual’s eyes. That’s why he has not 1 or 2, but 7 lasers in his office to tailor the procedure and ensure that each patient gets their own personal WOW effect.