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Hunter Vision
8701 Maitland Summit Blvd
Orlando, FL 32810
Uber
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LASIK
Visian® ICL
RLE
Cataract Surgery
LASIK
Call it magic. Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." There may be perhaps no better example of this than LASIK. The reason LASIK has become almost synonymous with vision correction isn't because of its dizzying complexity; it's because all that precision makes getting the eyes you've always wanted so simple. When you get LASIK at Hunter Vision, your results are designed to be miraculous based on a process that felt too easy to make that possible.
LASIK Technology
Okay, sure, there's nothing particularly evocative about the ones and zeros of technology. But neither does it bring a thrill in the chest to consider the details of a new running shoe or the optics in a new camera. It's the miles we will conquer, and vistas we will capture, that make the technology enabling us to do these things suddenly personal and important.
Blade vs. Bubbles
While the idea of using a blade in LASIK may seem like a relic of a time past, the truth is that currently half of the LASIK in the U.S. is still performed with a blade. You probably don't need help deciding if laser is more accurate than a blade (it is) or safer (it really is), but it's probably helpful to know up front which one will be used when it comes to your procedure. Femtosecond laser, which uses microscopic bubbles instead of a cutting blade, is the only way we do LASIK and the only way we've ever done LASIK. We're sorry you even have to ask, but we're glad you will.
Excimer Laser Speed
The speed of the laser that corrects your vision is important not because it saves you some extra time, but because of what the speed makes possible for your eyes. The 500 Hz laser at Hunter Vision treats your cornea 500 times per second — more than 10 times faster than the previous generation of laser. Speed only matters if it gets you somewhere you want to go. In this case, it's the ability to create extra fine pulses for more detail — the same way you'd use a fine-tipped rather than broad brush to paint precisely.
Infrared Pupil Tracking
In previous generations of laser, the proud steps forward were the ability to track the eye at speeds closer and closer to the speed of the human eye. Now, the great and illusive end goal has been reached in the form of a laser than can track and move faster than than your ludicrously fast-moving eye. So, you can breathe easy, or you can breathe rapidly for that matter, because wherever you may have worried you might have moved wrong, the laser will be right there with you.
Wavefront-Optimized Laser
Our laser is a Wavelight Allegretto 400 Hz. That name in and of itself carries no meaning, only branding. It's important to know what laser we use, however, because you deserve to know why we chose it for you. It uses wavefront-optimized laser to maintain your corneas' natural curvature because it impacts quality of vision. It plays a key role in our average post-op vision being better than 20/20. It's because, like you — here reading through the technology section — we too are purposeful about the choices we make concerning your eyes.
3-Dimensional Corneal Imaging
The most precise laser treatment in the world is dependent on the most precise measurements possible. While the previous generation of corneal imaging was impressive, with 8,000 data points over an area smaller than a dime, it can't match what you have available to you today. Short-wavelength rotating Scheimpflug photography doesn't just sound high tech, it delivers with 25,000 data points to map the architecture of your cornea down to the thousandth of a millimeter.
LASIK Safety
The safety of your eyes includes every detail, even the ones you'll never know about, from start to finish through our time together. That's because every step matters in your journey towards eyes that see. Those first, sometimes timid, steps in deciding to see what this is all about are as important as those final, sometimes dancing, steps out of our clinic with vision you've only ever imagined. Keeping your eyes safe isn't just one of those steps, it's what guides all of them.
Candidacy
It is no exaggeration to say that the most important safety feature of LASIK is knowing who shouldn't have the procedure in the first place. Our goal is the same as yours, and that goal isn't LASIK; it is to make sure that you make the best choice for your eyes. That's the reason you'll experience one of the most thorough array of diagnostics for LASIK in the country. A link to that stuff would probably be good here. We all need to know that no detail was missed.
System Control
The same way that a plane doesn't take off until every system has been checked off a list, the laser doesn't do anything until every pulse of light is found to be calibrated perfectly before each eye. Then throughout the treatment, the laser only treats if it is performing perfectly as it is measured and guided 400 times per second.
Blade? We Think Not
Hundreds of thousands of LASIK procedures are performed each year using a blade. Oftentimes, this is how the procedure is offered at a lower price. If you feel a little ... concerned by that notion, we agree that you should be. Multiple studies have shown that all-laser (bladeless) LASIK is both significantly safer and more accurate than LASIK with a blade. Your LASIK at Hunter Vision will involve only lasers.
Laser choice
The choice of laser we made was on purpose because it's what we would (and do) want for our family and friends. The Wavelight Allegretto has outperformed competing lasers in multiple studies, especially in LASIK to fix reading vision. It's important to know that not every laser used in LASIK is the same, so we did the legwork for you and got the one you'd choose after researching it.
Post-Op: Same Day and Beyond
The entire laser procedure is only about 10 minutes long, but a significant part of getting the results that you want is involved in how your eyes are treated after the procedure. We don't just want to use a laser and then ignore that part. We are with you through the journey after to help you know what drops to take and when, so that your eyes heal with the best possible chances for your best vision.
LASIK FAQs
We get a lot of questions about LASIK. The good news is that almost everyone has the same set of concerns. Things like, "Will it hurt?" and "Can I get LASIK if I have astigmatism?" (The answers are no and yes, respectively). Chances are you've got some questions, too. Read on, and be ye enlightened.
How is Hunter Vision LASIK different?
Hunter Vision LASIK combines the 3D imaging collected in the unique and comprehensive Personalized Vision Correction Consult and the capabilities of the Wavelight Allegretto laser to maintain the natural 3D shape of your cornea during surgery. This thorough, 90-minute pre-surgery exam is able to detect the subtleties and nuances of your eye down to the micron level prior to the actual procedure. This allows your surgeon to view a uniquely complete picture of your eye before your customized correction is ever programmed into the laser. The more your surgeon knows about your eye health before your surgery, the better they are able to customize the best plan for you.
Do you use a blade for Hunter Vision LASIK?
No. 100% of the Hunter Vision LASIK procedures we do are bladeless.
Do you take insurance?
We will be happy to cooperate with your insurance company if they cover any portion of LASIK surgery. However, most plans do not cover LASIK surgery. The pre-surgery Personalized Vision Correction Consult is hundreds of dollars worth of testing on your eyes. We do it free of charge so that we are comfortable that our plan for your vision correction is the absolute best it can be. Partnering directly with insurance companies would hamper our ability to provide the personalized plan as a standard for every patient. We think you deserve better.
Can I use my HSA/FSA for LASIK?
Yes! According to IRS Publication 502, laser eye surgery is an eligible medical expense. Here's what it says: "You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for eye surgery to treat defective vision, such as laser eye surgery or radial keratotomy." There you go.
Who does better with Hunter Vision LASIK?
There are older generations of diagnostic equipment and laser technologies available today that are sufficient for some people. However, many people have subtle differences about their eyes that would be better detected by our more comprehensive imaging, and that would particularly benefit from our latest generation of laser. We believe that the 3D nature of the technology offered at Hunter Vision makes a significant difference in your final outcome. Comparing our patient results to the national averages has shown this to be true.
How much does Hunter Vision LASIK cost?
Oh, if only that answer were as simple as it could be. In general you will find that LASIK at Hunter Vision costs more than most places. We don't cut costs when it comes to your vision because we believe our patients want the best and most comprehensive treatment available. We have been deliberate about creating options for patients that would like to take advantage of what we offer, but are on a tighter budget. Hunter Vision provides interest-free and traditional financing options to make monthly payments affordable enough for most candidates.
What kind of laser do you use?
The laser that we use to correct vision is the 400 Hz Wavelight Allegretto. That matters to you because a faster laser means less procedure time and less corneal dehydration during the procedure. Ask any LASIK surgeon that you visit how old their laser technology is. Make sure they are talking about the laser they will use for your procedure. It's important.
Are Drs. Hunter and Eubanks Board Certified?
Yes, both of our refractive surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. They are members in good standing of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The International Society of Refractive Surgeons, The American Medical Association and were fellowship-trained in Cornea and Refractive Surgery with the world-renowned Dr. Daniel Durrie. The year-long Durrie Fellowship accepts one applicant per year and is regarded by many in the refractive community as the best in the world.
Is Hunter Vision LASIK permanent?
The changes made to your cornea during any LASIK surgery are permanent and can only be changed by another procedure. However, when we get this question, the patient is usually asking if they will have to have this surgery more than once. While the changes to correct your vision are permanent, the lens inside the eye will inevitably change over time and cause a loss of near vision. This is the reason almost everyone over the age of 45 requires readers or bifocals, or takes off their glasses to read. Whether you've already had this change, or it is far in the future for you, we can fix this problem as well when necessary. It brings us great joy to see the euphoria our patients have with their ability to see near and distance without glasses, no matter what their age.
How long does the procedure take?
We tell patients that they should expect to be here no more than 90 minutes on surgery day. The final prep for surgery (a one-on-one final measurement with your surgeon) takes about 15 minutes, the time in the laser room is about 15 minutes, and the post operative instructions take approximately 5-10 minutes depending on questions you may have.
What are the risks of LASIK?
While there is inherent risk in any surgical procedure, LASIK is among the most common and safest elective procedures available today. Each year over 1 million people elect to undergo LASIK. Classic LASIK performed with a blade was trusted by tens of millions of people (including Dr. Hunter himself.) Now, with the femtosecond laser that uses a layer of bubbles to separate the natural layers of the cornea (instead of a blade to cut through) it is safer than ever before. Approximately 50% of today's LASIK procedures are still performed with a blade. Hunter Vision uses bladeless technology exclusively. Your surgeon will discuss your particular risks with you at your consultation.
How many appointments are involved?
Most clinics do a "free" consultation, have you back for a "not free" further qualification, then have you in for surgery. At Hunter Vision, we combined the first two appointments into one 90-minute consultation. It costs you NOTHING for one of the most advanced, comprehensive, 3D diagnostic testing exams in the world. We do it because we believe it's best for you. We schedule your surgery at that appointment and then have you come in at your scheduled surgery time. Your time is valuable and we know it, so we are deliberate about taking the least amount of it possible. Hunter Vision is built around our patients, not the doctor.
The Hunter Vision Experience
For every experience in life that we'll always remember — experiences so wonderful and significant that we can't forget them — there are a thousand nearly-insignificant details that made it possible. As you journey through LASIK, we focus meticulously on those details so that you can do something truly extraordinary and enjoy your experience.
Greetings
One common thread that unites all of us as people is our shared dislike of waiting rooms. Your time is precious, and so the idea of a room dedicated to wasting it seems as insane to us as it probably does to you. That's why you'll be greeted right when you walk in, and be handed an iPad to efficiently check some boxes that will get your journey started. If there's time, you can grab a cold beverage and kick back in a leather chair, but you won't have long. Literal alarms go off in our back office if you wait longer than 10 minutes. Oh, and the people you'll meet, well, they're genuinely happy you're here.
Our Family, Your Friends
It's not impossible to spend time with only friendly people as you walk through the steps of an eye exam, it is just seems that way because having only those people as your helpers has to be intentional. Our family here at Hunter Vision is chosen through a two-step process: Are they the type that love people? Are they obsessed with perfection? This journey is about you and not us, but we all really love working here, and that matters only because it makes it really easy and natural to share in the joy through your journey to incredible vision.
Your Eyes: Every Detail, No Surprises
To get the best information on your best way forward towards eyes that can see, it won't work to just get the necessary tests and skip the extras. There are details in the extras, and every bit of meticulous detail we can gather about your eyes may help. You'll find the diagnostic and imaging technology from several different ophthalmology specialists' offices in this one place. There are too many 3D and laser scanners to list here (but they're here), but since we care about your peace of mind, you can rest assured that one test that is not done is the antiquated and much-hated "puff of air" machine.
Screening Is For Porches
To save you the trouble of multiple visits, every piece of information that we need is gathered at your one and only consultation, except for those who need to follow up for a unique reason. We don't do a brief screening exam for two reasons. First, because it creates an unnecessary visit for every candidate. The second reason, however, is equally important: when your plan is being created based on such a detailed and wide array of diagnostics, it's too specific to your eyes to just do screening and assume the rest. The whole exam with no shortcuts creates the picture of what you specifically require to reach your maximum vision.
Time With Your Surgeon
The information you've provided about your vision, the images and diagnostics collected are used by one of our surgeons to form a customized plan for giving you the best vision you can have. None of this happens in a back room while you wait, your doctor will sit down with you and all the pictures that were taken of your eyes and walk you through the best path forward for you in as much or as little detail as you'd like. If you have questions, great! You're in a good spot to get them answered because your surgeon is sitting in front of you and not three phone calls away.
Visian ICL Technology
The idea of using a miniature-sized contact lens to permanently correct even the most impressive glasses prescription isn't revolutionary, but the technology that now makes that possible for you certainly is. The 15-minute, easy procedure that you now have available to you is the result of decades of research in labs and clinical trials. Here's a glimpse of some details about how ICL technology has brought seemingly impossible ideas into the realm of possibility, and how it might do that for you.
Tiny-Sized Lens for Seeing a Big World
When you think of a lens designed to make your eye see better, it's natural to think of the traditional contact lens you've seen a thousand times. This ICL, however, is much, much smaller than that. Eight of them could be spread out on a U.S. postage stamp without touching. Because of its diminutive size, an ICL can make the whole world clear, all the while remaining invisible to even the closest inspection of your eye.
Designed to Match Your Biochemistry
Collamer is a special medium designed to be the ideal material for a lens that is meant to work with your own biochemistry. You need a lens that will correct the vision and leave all the rest of your eye well alone. Made of mostly water and collagen, the natural design of collamer is an outstanding refractive surface that remains quiet in the eye, even repelling substrates that might otherwise collect on its surface.
Astigmatism Correction
Because of advances in surgical technique, the microscopic pathway created to place the ICL can be created in a way that will also correct astigmatism. One of the great advances we are glad to offer at Hunter Vision is the ability to avoid the normal two-step process (place an ICL and correct your astigmatism with LASIK several weeks later) and fix it all in one, all-inclusive, 10-minute procedure.
Lens Safety
ICL, RLE, Cataracts. Primum non nocere: First, do no harm, is one of the central tenets of medicine. As you take the first steps in this journey that leads to unburdening yourself from glasses, we want to meet you at the outset with the assurance that we are of one mind on this. Keeping your eyes safe is not just one of the important points that guide the way ahead, it stands primary and solitary as the only gateway through which we will start down this path together.
Pre-Operative Evaluation
We leave no stone unturned. Actually, we turn each stone over several times just to be sure. Dr. Hunter likes to quote his mentor, Dan Durrie, who said, "these procedures are 95% knowing what to do, and 5% doing it." With obsessive, compulsive (the helpful kind) data collection and analysis of your eyes, that 95% is revealed. Do you need to have the individual cells lining your cornea photographed and (literally) counted? Probably not! But you and we both need to know that we didn't overlook a single, microscopic detail that may influence the best way forward.
Honesty
It is a bit of an indictment of the medical profession in general if the word "honesty" looks out of place when enumerating the specifics of procedural safety. It isn't a scientifically measurable quantity, but if honesty doesn't guide the process — if transparency about the details isn't absolute — then the best testing in the world can't help you. Without digressing into a discussion of ethics, we just want you to know that we are acutely aware that if all you have is a hammer, everything can look like a nail; so we promise you that even if all we have are lasers and lenses, we are vigilant to ensure that every eye doesn't look like a good candidate. We'll still be really nice about it if a procedure is not a good fit for you.
Instrumentation
For a specific task like giving you a new lifelong lens, there are specific pieces of technology that can make the job beautifully predictable instead of worryingly uncertain. Each piece of the diagnostic suite, each tool used in the procedure, every machine that will help get you the best vision — they have been chosen based entirely on being the best available in each category. Just like you wouldn't buy a discount parachute, we don't want you to have to wonder if you bought the most cost-efficient surgery possible. We don't do discounts for that very reason.
Sterilization
The level of sterility required for surgical procedures is actually a tiered system, and many surgeries don't require a top-level requirement of "sterile," but instead just need the next category down of "clean." The sterilization and/or techniques used in your natural lens replacement are the most strict existing category. Even though the procedure is only microinvasive, every instrument is sterilized and maintained by the same standards that would be necessary for brain surgery.
Drugs and Drops
The drops used before, during, and after your procedure are chosen for a specific reason: each one is the best for its job. If there is even a 0.1% difference in performance of a one medication over another, you deserve the better one. There's no way for you to know if you're the 1 in 1000 that a specific drop made a difference, so we make sure to treat everyone like they are the 0.1%.
Visian ICL FAQ
What is Visian ICL?
The Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is made of an advanced soft-material lens, composed of 100% biocompatible collagen copolymer, that provides not only UV protection and permanent vision correction, but also a quality of vision that's sharper, clearer, and more vivid than that what one can achieve with glasses or contacts. Additionally, unlike LASIK, the Visian ICL procedure does not permanently alter the shape of your cornea. There is no maintenance associated with the lens, and it is intended to remain in place as long as you are satisfied with your vision. If at any point your vision changes or you wish to have them removed, it can be done easily and because your cornea is in its natural state, you are able to pursue other vision correction options.
How is the procedure performed?
The Visian ICL procedure is an outpatient procedure that generally takes around 15 minutes. Prior to the procedure you will receive topical anesthesia drops to minimize discomfort. Then the doctor creates a very small opening to insert the lens into the eye with an injector. Once the lens is injected, it unfolds in the eye and the procedure is complete. Patients usually experience an immediate improvement in vision and are "wowed" by the results.
Who is a candidate for Visian ICL?
If you are between the ages of 21 and 45 and nearsighted, you may be an excellent candidate for the Visian ICL. This procedure is able to treat a range of patients from low to extremely high refractive errors and is especially beneficial to those with thin corneas and dry eyes. It's preferable that the patient has not undergone any ophthalmic surgery and does not have a history of eye disease such as iritis, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy.
Who is NOT a candidate for Visian ICL?
At Hunter Vision, we always recommend you undergo a vision consultation to determine the best vision correction plan for you. If the Visian ICL is not right for you, other options are available. Vision ICL may not be the best course of action for: Patients whose eye prescription has changed in the last six months; Patients without a large enough anterior cell density; Patients with an anterior chamber depth of less than 3.00mm; Patients who are pregnant or nursing; Patients with uncontrolled dry eye or blepharitis; Patients with corneal endothelial dystrophy.
Is the Visian ICL FDA approved?
Yes. The Visian ICL received approval from the FDA for a wide range of myopic (nearsightedness) correction needs.
What is the track record of the Visian ICL?
Extensive research and development preceded the introduction of the Visian ICL. It is now being used by more than 500,000 patients worldwide. The satisfaction rate among patients is extremely high – above 99%. The Visian ICL provides unparalleled quality of vision and has excellent and stable outcomes for patients with moderate to severe myopia. The Visian ICL has been available internationally for over 10 years.
Can the Visian ICL be removed from my eye?
Although the lens is intended to remain in place permanently, a surgeon can remove the implant if necessary.
Is the Visian ICL visible to others?
No. The Visian ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and observers.
Will I be able to feel the Visian ICL once it is in place?
The Visian ICL is designed to be completely unobtrusive after it is put in place. It stays in position by itself and does not interact with any of the eye's structures.
RLE Technology
Over the last century, scientists have understood the lens inside the eye to be an area that they should wisely fear to tread. So, if you were to walk through the history of lens surgery leading us to now, you would notice an interesting trend. It was only with each step in technological improvement that the point of intervention to help moved in deliberate, slow steps away from curing blindness and into improving sight. Today, you stand at summit reached by a culmination of all that progress: a place where we don't have to wait for things to get worse so that they can start getting better.
The Lenstar: Better Than the Best
In the year 2000, a new technology for measuring the eye (using laser light waves) leapfrogged over the previous gold standard (using sound waves) with an 800% increase in precision. The machine was called the IOL (short for intra-ocular lens) Master because it enables extremely accurate measurements used in choosing the correct IOL. It is still widely used with excellent results today. It would be the best tech available if the Lenstar hadn't been invented. It measures more parameters (like astigmatism) and does it far more accurately. Without exaggeration, it's the greatest and most advanced IOL calculation device in the world.
The Pentacam: Filling in the Details
Even with the Lenstar's ability to precisely measure your eyes dimensions down to the hundredth of a millimeter, there is still detail that can be colored in by the Pentacam. This specialized camera creates a 3-dimensional map of the specific details of your cornea, because your cornea is the lens that will be working with your IOL and we want to ensure they get along like old friends. If you imagine the Lenstar to be like a device that could tell you the distance from one place in Orlando to another down to the inch, you could imagine the Pentacam as one that describes the elevation of every inch of terrain on the way there.
ORA: Future Pulse
Of all the advanced technology that makes RLE possible, this is the one that feels the most like we get to live in the future. ORA (it's obscure, oddly-chosen name means it is used in the O.R. for a Range of Applications) does 40 invisible laser scans in 2 seconds during the brief moments when your dysfunctional lens is gone, and the new one isn't in place yet. Through somewhat impossibly complicated math, it deciphers what IOL power would achieve the target prescription we want for your eyes after surgery. It is amazing.
Aspheric Intra-ocular Lenses
Remember when astronauts flew up to the Hubble Telescope and repaired it so that its very impressive, but slightly blurred images all of a sudden became incredibly crisp and sharp? They fixed the problem of spherical aberration. A 2.5 billion dollar telescope was transformed by correcting the optics to get rid of spherical aberration. The IOL that can fix your vision has the same upgrade. Aspheric (spherical aberration corrected) lenses provide extraordinary optics for the human eye with literally space age technology.
Lens Safety
ICL, RLE, Cataracts. Primum non nocere: First, do no harm, is one of the central tenets of medicine. As you take the first steps in this journey that leads to unburdening yourself from glasses, we want to meet you at the outset with the assurance that we are of one mind on this. Keeping your eyes safe is not just one of the important points that guide the way ahead, it stands primary and solitary as the only gateway through which we will start down this path together.
Pre-Operative Evaluation
We leave no stone unturned. Actually, we turn each stone over several times just to be sure. Dr. Hunter likes to quote his mentor, Dan Durrie, who said, "these procedures are 95% knowing what to do, and 5% doing it." With obsessive, compulsive (the helpful kind) data collection and analysis of your eyes, that 95% is revealed. Do you need to have the individual cells lining your cornea photographed and (literally) counted? Probably not! But you and we both need to know that we didn't overlook a single, microscopic detail that may influence the best way forward.
Honesty
It is a bit of an indictment of the medical profession in general if the word "honesty" looks out of place when enumerating the specifics of procedural safety. It isn't a scientifically measurable quantity, but if honesty doesn't guide the process — if transparency about the details isn't absolute — then the best testing in the world can't help you. Without digressing into a discussion of ethics, we just want you to know that we are acutely aware that if all you have is a hammer, everything can look like a nail; so we promise you that even if all we have are lasers and lenses, we are vigilant to ensure that every eye doesn't look like a good candidate. We'll still be really nice about it if a procedure is not a good fit for you.
Instrumentation
For a specific task like giving you a new lifelong lens, there are specific pieces of technology that can make the job beautifully predictable instead of worryingly uncertain. Each piece of the diagnostic suite, each tool used in the procedure, every machine that will help get you the best vision — they have been chosen based entirely on being the best available in each category. Just like you wouldn't buy a discount parachute, we don't want you to have to wonder if you bought the most cost-efficient surgery possible. We don't do discounts for that very reason.
Sterilization
The level of sterility required for surgical procedures is actually a tiered system, and many surgeries don't require a top-level requirement of "sterile," but instead just need the next category down of "clean." The sterilization and/or techniques used in your natural lens replacement are the most strict existing category. Even though the procedure is only microinvasive, every instrument is sterilized and maintained by the same standards that would be necessary for brain surgery.
Drugs and Drops
The drops used before, during, and after your procedure are chosen for a specific reason: each one is the best for its job. If there is even a 0.1% difference in performance of a one medication over another, you deserve the better one. There's no way for you to know if you're the 1 in 1000 that a specific drop made a difference, so we make sure to treat everyone like they are the 0.1%.
RLE FAQ
Why would RLE be recommended to me over LASIK?
When the lens inside your eye is going to prevent you from getting the results that you're looking for with LASIK, your best path forward is to fix the lens itself. This can be because your results with LASIK wouldn't last long (because the lens is getting cloudier) or because focusing up close after LASIK would be too difficult (because the lens has become too stiff and stuck in the distance.)
What is the intra-ocular lens that fixes the vision made out of?
Almost always it is made out of acrylic, though some silicone IOLs exist. We only use acrylic IOLs at Hunter Vision. This acrylic material has not been observed to cause allergic reaction in tens of millions of cases since it was first introduced into the eye over a half a century ago.
Will I need to have RLE or another cataract surgery repeated later?
No! This question is one of the best questions you can ask because the answer is fun to hear. RLE is permanent and the eye cannot develop cataracts at any point in the future. The cataract problem is solved for life.
Why is RLE more expensive than LASIK?
While RLE is done in the office, the only way to do it perfectly is to have a fully functioning operating room and staff that differs from what you'd find in a hospital only in that is more specialized for lens surgery.
Cataract Surgery Technology
The imaging and surgical technology involved in modern refractive cataract surgery are so advanced, so impossible in just recent history, that it makes sense they would enable results that seemed equally impossible. Cataract surgery is no longer limited to creating a workable solution to the problem of a cloudy lens. With the ability to harness the power of computers to do calculations that once would have taken years in just fractions of a second, your cataract has changed from a problem to an opportunity. This new technology makes our age-old tech of glasses and contacts obsolete.
The Lenstar: The key to ditching your cataracts and your glasses
The technology in cataract surgery is better than ever. In the year 2000, a new and improved technology using laser light waves instead of sound waves changed the measurement data available to cataract surgeons. With an 800% increase in precision over previous technology, The IOL (intra-ocular lens) Master became the gold standard. It is still widely used with excellent results today and had the Lenstar not been released recently, it would still be considered one of the most accurate measurement devices available. The Lenstar more accurately measures more parameters (such as astigmatism) giving Hunter Vision cataract surgeons not only more, but better information. Without exaggeration, it is the greatest and most advanced IOL calculation device in the world.
The Pentacam: Because topography matters
The Pentacam fills in the micro details to add color to the full picture of the Lenstar. The pentacam creates a 3-dimensional, detailed map of the specific topography details of your cornea. Since your cornea is the lens that will be working with your new IOL to provide visual focus, we want to ensure they work together like lock and key. If you think of the Lenstar as telling us the distance from Orlando to Winter Park down to the inch, the Pentacam would give us the topography of every inch of terrain on the way there. Both are helpful in developing the full picture in choosing the right plan for your cataract surgery.
ORA: Lasers really are the future
Of all the advanced technology that makes Refractive Cataract Surgery possible, this is the most futuristic-type technology available. ORA's invisible laser scans 40 times in 2 seconds during the brief moment before your dysfunctional lens is replaced with your new clear lens . Through somewhat impossibly complicated math, it deciphers what lens power would achieve the desired target prescription. It is incredible technology that gives us precision we didn't think even possible just a few years ago when refractive cataract surgery was in its infancy.
Aspheric Intra-Ocular Lenses
Lens technology improvements for both RLE and Refractive Cataract Surgery changed the quality of outcomes for patients in amazing ways. Remember when the Hubble Telescope was repaired so the blurred images became incredibly crisp and sharp? That 2.5 billion dollar telescope was repaired by fixing the optics to eliminate spherical aberration. The intra-ocular lens that can fix your vision is designed to accomplish the same goal. The extraordinary optics for your eye, provided by space age technology, are the result of years of research and perfection achieved by a group of Ph.D's in Optics and their teams. The benefits to you come in the form of a very tiny, Aspheric Intra-ocular Lens that means you'll clearly see the things that mean the most to you.
Lens Safety
ICL, RLE, Cataracts. Primum non nocere: First, do no harm, is one of the central tenets of medicine. As you take the first steps in this journey that leads to unburdening yourself from glasses, we want to meet you at the outset with the assurance that we are of one mind on this. Keeping your eyes safe is not just one of the important points that guide the way ahead, it stands primary and solitary as the only gateway through which we will start down this path together.
Pre-Operative Evaluation
We leave no stone unturned. Actually, we turn each stone over several times just to be sure. Dr. Hunter likes to quote his mentor, Dan Durrie, who said, "these procedures are 95% knowing what to do, and 5% doing it." With obsessive, compulsive (the helpful kind) data collection and analysis of your eyes, that 95% is revealed. Do you need to have the individual cells lining your cornea photographed and (literally) counted? Probably not! But you and we both need to know that we didn't overlook a single, microscopic detail that may influence the best way forward.
Honesty
It is a bit of an indictment of the medical profession in general if the word "honesty" looks out of place when enumerating the specifics of procedural safety. It isn't a scientifically measurable quantity, but if honesty doesn't guide the process — if transparency about the details isn't absolute — then the best testing in the world can't help you. Without digressing into a discussion of ethics, we just want you to know that we are acutely aware that if all you have is a hammer, everything can look like a nail; so we promise you that even if all we have are lasers and lenses, we are vigilant to ensure that every eye doesn't look like a good candidate. We'll still be really nice about it if a procedure is not a good fit for you.
Instrumentation
For a specific task like giving you a new lifelong lens, there are specific pieces of technology that can make the job beautifully predictable instead of worryingly uncertain. Each piece of the diagnostic suite, each tool used in the procedure, every machine that will help get you the best vision — they have been chosen based entirely on being the best available in each category. Just like you wouldn't buy a discount parachute, we don't want you to have to wonder if you bought the most cost-efficient surgery possible. We don't do discounts for that very reason.
Sterilization
The level of sterility required for surgical procedures is actually a tiered system, and many surgeries don't require a top-level requirement of "sterile," but instead just need the next category down of "clean." The sterilization and/or techniques used in your natural lens replacement are the most strict existing category. Even though the procedure is only microinvasive, every instrument is sterilized and maintained by the same standards that would be necessary for brain surgery.
Drugs and Drops
The drops used before, during, and after your procedure are chosen for a specific reason: each one is the best for its job. If there is even a 0.1% difference in performance of a one medication over another, you deserve the better one. There's no way for you to know if you're the 1 in 1000 that a specific drop made a difference, so we make sure to treat everyone like they are the 0.1%.
Cataract Surgery FAQ
What's the difference between refractive cataract surgery and standard cataract surgery?
It basically comes down to how much you care about wearing glasses after surgery. There is no difference in safety between the two. If you don't mind wearing readers or bifocals after cataract surgery, there is no reason to get refractive cataract surgery. If you want to be able to read a newspaper or see which bottle is shampoo in the shower without glasses, then refractive cataract surgery is a better choice for you.
What is the new intra-ocular lens made of?
Every cataract surgery involves placing an IOL where the old, cloudy lens once sat. The new artificial lens is made out of acrylic the vast majority of the time (we only use acrylic lenses here at Hunter Vision.) This inert material has been used in eyes for over half a century and hasn't caused allergic reactions inside the eye in tens of millions of cases, so it has a pretty impressive safety record to ease your mind.
How do I know when I need cataract surgery?
When you can no longer do the things that you want to do as well as you want to do them because your vision isn't good enough, you're ready for cataract surgery. You'd need to see an eye doctor (perhaps us!) to confirm that it is a cataract causing the poor vision, but that is a diagnosis you can cheer for because it means your vision can probably be made better than you remember it being before it went bad.
Does cataract surgery hurt?
No. Since you need to trust the people helping you through this process, we try to be really honest about pain and discomfort so you're not surprised at any point. To be fully transparent, the drop that numbs your eye burns a bit, but it is the same type of numbing drop that you've had at every eye exam when getting a yearly check up. If you want a step-by-step of the (non-painful) sensations you can expect, we're happy to go through that with you when we meet.
Should I get a multifocal IOL? I've heard about "premium" IOLs and that seems like it would be the best option.
Maybe! Multifocal IOLs are amazing for those who are excellent candidates for them. But remember, these are your eyes, so we all can narrow our focus on what is uniquely best for you. That's the big idea behind the advanced imaging and time with your surgeon: together, we can figure out what will give you the best vision for near and distance based on your specific needs.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. If there is a cloud outside and we can't see well, we call it fog. If there is a cloud in your lens and you can't see well, we call it a cataract.
Does everyone get cataracts?
There is a clear lens inside each person's eye that slowly changes from clear to cloudy over the course of their life. The lens inside the eye is the clearest it will ever be before you are 10 years old. For each birthday after that, it gets a little more dense, a little less clear, and lets a little less quality light in than it did the previous year. When you are no longer able to see as well as you need to, that lens which has been changing for decades, graduates to being called a cataract. It happens to us all.
Can cataracts be fixed without surgery?
While scientists are working on medicines that may help slow the changing of the lens, there is currently no medical way to prevent cataracts. It follows that there is no way to fix them without surgery either.
What happens if I don't have my cataracts removed?
The vision will slowly get worse over time. While it is very rare for cataracts to become a danger to your health (as untreated diabetes or hypertension would), they always make the vision worse instead of better. If left long enough, hyper mature cataracts (a very severe form) can reduce the vision down to the point where a person is only able to tell if there is a light shining in their eye or not.
Is cataract surgery safe?
Yes. Since it is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world, the safety and efficacy of modern cataract surgery has had a lot of time to be perfected to its current level. While any surgery has inherent risks and possible complications, they are thankfully either quite minor or quite rare. We can go over specific possible complications with each patient to clarify any questions relating to their particular case.
Are cataracts a disease?
In its broadest definition, yes, because a disease is when any part of the body is not working as well as it should be. This is the reason that insurance covers cataract surgery. But since we tend to think of diseases in terms of infection, inflammation, or being contagious, cataracts are not a disease as we normally would define one. They sit safely in your eye, causing no trouble except for blurring the vision in the vast majority of cases.
Does insurance cover cataract surgery?
Yes. If someone has cataracts that are decreasing their quality of life, then insurance will pay for cataract surgery. Insurance will pay to get the cloudy lens out of the eye, and replace it with a clear lens (called an intra-ocular lens, or IOL). After that, a patient will still need glasses to correct refractive error -- that is, for reading and computer vision, and possibly distance vision -- but the view will be "clear" again. Many patients now have the option to choose lenses that will allow freedom from glasses not possible with basic IOL's, but currently, insurance will only pay for the most basic IOL.
Can I correct astigmatism with cataract surgery?
Yes. Astigmatism can be "cured" with either a special procedure performed during the cataract surgery, a special IOL placed in the eye after the cataract is removed, or by LASIK after the procedure.
Can I avoid having glasses or contacts after cataract surgery?
The answer to this question used to be, "there is no way to avoid glasses after cataract surgery." Many people needed glasses for distance vision, and virtually everyone required glasses for computer and reading vision. Special lenses, called Premium IOL's have now become available that can correct astigmatism, allow people to see well in the distance without glasses, and even correct near vision without the need for reading glasses. Also, through a special technique called "blended vision," patients can achieve glasses independence for reading, computer, and distance vision. These special diagnostics and/or IOL's are not covered by insurance, but can be easily substituted in place of a basic IOL because the surgical procedure is nearly identical to traditional cataract surgery.
How long is the recovery from cataract surgery?
People are usually back to their regular activities the next day. We ask that people hold off on lifting things heavier than a gallon of milk and avoid swimming for a week. While there are a few limited restrictions like this, cataract surgery has a pretty effortless recovery compared to most other events with the word "surgery" in them.
When should I have my cataract removed?
The answer to that is simple. You should have your cataract removed when you are no longer able to do things that you want to do because of your vision. This time comes for different people in different ways. Some can't stand having poor night vision and want cataract surgery as soon as possible to fix it, others will be fine with much blurrier vision and wait until they cannot read well even with glasses. Neither of those cataracts will be more difficult to remove.
Is cataract surgery painful?
Amazingly, people describe the normal surgical and healing process as painless. It seems like it would be painful to have a procedure done to the eye, but the total area disturbed on the surface is just over a tenth of an inch, and heals in a few hours.
Can cataracts come back after surgery?
No. When they are gone, they're gone. About 50% of patients will benefit from a one-time, 60-second, painless laser procedure at some point after the surgery if the capsule holding the new IOL gets cloudy (this is also covered by insurance). Outside of that, the vision will generally stay stable or even improve over the long term as long as the rest of the eye stays healthy.
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About Us
Hunter Vision believes in freedom of sight. We offer the latest vision correction procedures, including LASIK, ICL, RLE and refractive cataract surgery.