Facts and Statistics
Dr. Kremer has been performing PRK and LASIK since 1996, soon after the excimer laser was approved for use in the USA. He has completed thousands of laser procedures.
Payment options include Credit Card payments (earn miles!) and Flexible Spending Accounts through your employer.
We offer discounts to active military, police and firefighters who keep us safe.
What are your outcomes?
Your outcome will depend upon your degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Dr. Kremer’s patients achieve 20/20 vision in 96% of cases with All Laser, Intralase flap Wavefront programmed Custom lasik treatments. More than 70% of our patients are able to read the eye chart linessmaller than 20/20 line (20/15 or better)!
Despite the accuracy of the technology we use for LASIK, some patients need a second treatment to reach their visual potential. Our ‘re-treatment rate’ runs approximately 2.4%. This means that overall, our patients have a better than 97% chance of needing a single treatment to achieve excellent vision.
Dr. Kremer has performed LASIK for over 100 doctors and has done thousands of LASIK procedures. Come in for a no-obligation evaluation soon!
For more information, please visit the Eye Surgery Education Council.
FAQ
LASIK – Frequently Asked Questions
How long have Cross sound services surgeons been doing LASIK?
Dr. Kremer has been performing excimer laser procedures since 1996, soon after the excimer laser was approved for use in the USA. He has performed LASIK since 1998. He has completed thousands of laser procedures, and has treated over 100 local doctors.
Do you treat both eyes on the same day or separately?
Generally, both eyes are treated the same day.
How long does the procedure take?
Since both eyes are usually treated during the same appointment, you are in the LASIK suite for approximately 15 minutes.
Will I have to wear glasses or contact lenses after surgery?
LASIK is not a miracle procedure. It does not promise perfect vision or that everyone will be totally free of corrective lenses. The more correction you require, the greater the chance that you may still need glasses or contacts for certain activities.
Can anyone have LASIK performed?
If you would like to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses and you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism and are 18 or older with a stable prescription and healthy eyes, you may be able to benefit from LASIK. Call our office to schedule a no-obligation complimentary evaluation to find out if LASIK is for you!
How long will I be off work?
The amount of time you are off work often depends on how important good vision is to performing your tasks, but most people miss only 1 or 2 days of work.
Can my optometrist perform the after-surgery care?
Your doctor of optometry may be able to perform some of the evaluation steps and after surgery care with LASIK. Of course, your surgeon at Achieve Eye & Laser Specialists is always available.
Will I feel any pain or discomfort during LASIK?
There is no pain during the actual treatment since eye drops numb your eyes. If needed, you may also be given a mild sedative. You will feel some pressure when a tiny instrument is placed on your eye and your vision may dim for a few seconds while the flap is being created, but you should not feel any pain. After the procedure, some people experience mild irritation, light sensitivity and watery eyes for a few days.
Are my eyes patched after surgery?
Your eyes are not patched after LASIK, but you will be given clear plastic goggles to wear at night.
Do I need to use eye drops after the procedure?
You will use medicated eye drops for 1 week after your treatment, and artificial tears are recommended for a longer period.
How long will my vision be blurry?
It is normal for your vision to be a little blurry for a few days after LASIK. While your eyes are healing, it is normal for your vision to have mild fluctuations.
Will I eventually see 20/20?
The majority of people see 20/20 without correction after LASIK, but not everyone. No one can guarantee your exact vision after LASIK, but we can give you an idea of your chances of obtaining 20/20 vision during your evaluation.
If I don’t get full correction, can I be retreated?
Your LASIK correction may be fine-tuned with retreatment, known as enhancement. This is generally performed within the first few months. With an enhancement, the flap is simply lifted back to allow the laser beam to improve your vision. Although retreatment may further improve your ability to see, perfect vision is still impossible to guarantee.
How can I find out if I’m a candidate for LASIK?
Call Cross Sound Services at 360-698-7300 for a free, no obligation evaluation. If you already have an eye doctor, you may be able to see them for much of your evaluation for surgery and care after surgery.
Cost and Payment Options
The cost of your LASIK procedure will depend upon your individual vision correction needs. We can provide you with the exact figures during your complimentary consultation.
Payment options include Credit Card payments (earn miles!) and Flexible Spending Accounts through your employer.
We offer discounts to active military, police and firefighters who keep us safe.
Risks and Side Effects
Even though LASIK is a procedure with very few complications, some risks and possible side effects should be considered:
- Infection, Inflammation (very rare, we have never had a serious case)
- Corneal Flap Problems (none to date with intralase all-laser flaps)
- Under correction or Over correction (corrected with re-treatment)
- Corneal Surface Irregularities (most commonly due to dry eyes)
- Halo and Glare Effect (uncommon with wavefront treatments)
- Light Sensitivity (common initially, very uncommon long-term)
- Fluctuating Vision (common initially, uncommon later)
What are the risks with LASIK?
There are risks with any surgical procedure. Although complications with LASIK are rare, you need to be aware of them. Potential problems include complications with the corneal flap, infection, removing too much or too little tissue with the laser beam, the need for reading glasses, microscopic surface irregularities, halo effect or night vision problems, inability to wear contact lenses, and other remote risks.
What are the long term effects of LASIK?
LASIK was first performed in the 1990’s, so we do not have decades of follow up information. However, since LASIK was first introduced, studies have shown only rare complications developing after the procedure.
We will take the time to answer all of your questions about LASIK and the risks involved. We take pride in taking the time to fully evaluate your eyes and only recommend LASIK if we expect you should have a good result. We turn away more than 30% of the people that see us for LASIK as we believe they are not ideal candidates for treatment. If we recommend LASIK to you, we expect you will do well.