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Lasik
 At
Mauer Eye Center, our goal is to help you enjoy a lifetime of the best possible
vision. Our dedication to leading edge technology and advanced surgical
techniques is surpassed only by our dedication to quality patient care. We are
the only facility in the Cedar Valley area with a state of the art, on-site
refractive surgery center.
Seventy-five million people woke up this
morning reaching for their eyeglasses, or squinted to see without their contact
lenses. But more than a million people each year give up this struggle and make
the decision to have laser vision correction.
Whether you are
nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, we invite you to learn more about
your vision by scheduling a complimentary, no-cost consultation at our office.
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Choosing a
Surgeon
An Iowa native, Dr. Mauer has been head of the Mauer Eye Center
for over 21 years. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist who graduated from
the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts with a distinguished Bachelor of
Science degree and attended the University of Iowa College of Medicine for his
medical doctorate in 1984.
Mauer Eye Center has been a staple in the Cedar Valley
community, providing quality eye care since 1990.
Dr. Mauer has been
voted the best eye doctor in Waterloo and Cedar Falls by the Waterloo Courier
Readers Poll, Best of the Best. He has been performing LASIK surgery since July
of 1999, always using the leading technology in the LASIK field. Dr. Mauer's #1
concern is YOU as our guest, and that's why you won't find a better LASIK
experience than right here at Mauer Eye Center.
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Refractive
Errors
Refractive errors are disorders, not diseases. A refractive error
means that the shape of your eye does not bend light correctly, resulting in a
blurred image. Light has to be refracted or bent by the cornea and the lens to
the retina in order for us to see. The common refractive disorders are
described below.
- Nearsightedness (myopia)- Nearsightedness
occurs when the eye's cornea is shaped too steeply, or the eye is too long.
Incoming light rays are refracted to a focal point in front of the retina
instead of on the retina. This results in distant objects being out of focus,
while close objects can be seen clearly.
- Farsightedness (hyperopia)- Farsightedness
is the reverse of nearsightedness. Instead of a cornea that is too steep, the
farsighted eye has a cornea that is too flat, or the eye is too short. Light
rays refracted through the cornea converge at a focal point behind the retina.
This results in close objects being out of focus while distant objects are
clearer.
- Astigmatism- Astigmatism is the result of an
aspheric (irregularly shaped) cornea that scatters light rays as they enter the
eye. An astigmatic cornea has an oblong shape like a football instead of a
round shape like a basketball. The result is that there is no single focal
point, and vision is blurry both near and far.
- Presbyopia- Presbyopia refers to the normal
process of aging in which the natural lens inside the eye becomes hardened. As
this occurs, the lens loses its flexibility, which makes reading difficult.
This usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 50. Everyone experiences
presbyopia. The result of this normal process is bifocals for those who wear
glasses or contacts, and reading glasses for those who have not needed
corrective lenses previously. Call to discuss if LASIK is an option for
you.
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Refractive
Surgery Options
LASIK: Laser in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is
the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure today. LASIK has
advantages over other procedures, including less post-operative discomfort and
the fact that good vision is usually achieved almost immediately or in a very
short period of time. Those with nearsightedness, farsightedness and
astigmatism can benefit from LASIK. During LASIK surgery, a thin flap of tissue
is created on the center of the cornea. This flap is then lifted back to expose
the internal tissue of the cornea. An excimer laser is then used to reshape the
cornea and correct the refractive disorder. The flap is then laid back over the
cornea where it heals itself in a very short period of time.
With
LASIK, the
instrument used to create the flap varies. Most surgeons use an instrument
called a microkeratome. A microkeratome is a device that uses a blade to make a
pass and create a flap.
PRK: Photorefractive keratectomy, or
PRK, is a type of laser eye surgery used to correct mild to moderate
nearsightedness,
farsightedness and/or
astigmatism. PRK is another refractive procedure similar to
LASIK which Dr. Mauer may suggest if you have thin corneas.
PRK was the
first refractive procedure that utilized the excimer laser to reshape the front
surface of the cornea. It was initially envisioned in 1983 and, after a long
series of clinical trials, was approved by the FDA in 1995. PRK, however, is
primarily used to correct mild to moderate cases of nearsightedness and
astigmatism. After the eye has been anesthetized with topical eye drops, your
Dr. Mauer prepares the eye by removing the surface layer of the cornea. This
layer naturally regenerates itself every few days. Pulses of laser light are
then applied to the surface of the cornea to reshape the curvature of the eye.
Postoperatively, patients typically wear a bandage contact lens for the first
three to five days to reduce postoperative discomfort and irritation. Vision is
usually slightly blurry initially and starts to clear over the first several
weeks.
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What's the
Next Step?
Contact us by filling out the form below
Request
an appointment
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Lasik FAQ's
What Is Lasik Surgery?
LASIK surgery is laser vision correction designed to decrease or
eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. LASIK can correct nearsightedness,
farsightedness and astigmatism
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Where will
my surgery be performed?
Right here in the office! Mauer Eye Center is
the only location in the Cedar Valley to have their own on-site refractive
surgery center.
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Is the
procedure painful?
The actual procedure is painless due to anesthetic
eye drops that are used, although you might feel slight pressure. After the
procedure, you may feel some discomfort which could last approx. 12 to 24 hours
as the eyes begin to heal. The best way to describe this discomfort is like
having an eyelash in your eye.
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Can you
explain how the procedure works?
The laser is a cool ultraviolet beam,
which is guided by a computer to gently reshape the front surface of the eye
(the cornea).
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How long
does the procedure take?
The total time of your office visit on the day
of the procedure will be between 60 - 90 minutes, but the actual procedure
itself will take approximately 15 minutes for both eyes.
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Can both
eyes be treated at the same time?
Yes, if both of your eyes are
candidates.
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When may I
return to work?
Generally you are able to return to work within 2 days.
If you work in a dusty environment, we recommend that you take off a week.
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What is the
recovery period?
Everyone heals differently. The average person will
completely heal in 3 months; however, the most rapid healing will occur in the
first 3 days.
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Will I
still need glasses or contacts after the procedure?
A natural aging
process called Presbyopia usually occurs when we are approximately 40-50 years
old. This is the time when the lens of our eye becomes less flexible and
therefore we are no longer able to read clearly. This is when we would need
glasses just for reading. The LASIK procedure will not delay this process or
encourage it sooner. It is a natural aging process. Are you in a bifocal now?
If yes, you will need reading glasses right after the procedure.
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What
happens if after 3 months I still do not see clearly?
At your 3 month
post operative appointment, the doctor may recommend an "enhancement." This is
the same procedure performed as before with the same post operative
instructions and care. Approximately 5% of all Dr. Mauer's patients require an
enhancement.
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What does
the Lasik procedure cost?
We offer an all inclusive price of $3990 for
both eyes or $1995 for one eye using the VISX STAR S4 excimer laser with
Wavefront technology. This is a global fee that includes the initial
consultation, all preoperative testing, the actual procedure itself, one year
of comprehensive follow-up care and any potential enhancement that you may need
for up to one year.
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What is
Dr. Richard Mauer's laser experience?
Dr. Mauer has been head of the
Mauer Eye Center for over 19 years. He is a board certified Ophthalmologist who
has performed over 2,000 LASIK surgeries since July of 1999. With the most
advanced laser vision correction technology available, Dr. Mauer is able to
give you a better quality of vision than before.
What's the Next Step?
Contact our
Lasik specialist
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