Eye Care FAQs from The Eye Associates

LASIK is $1,500 per eye, all-inclusive. Your fee covers your consultation, comprehensive eye mapping, the procedure itself, and all follow-up visits. There are no hidden fees and no price changes based on prescription strength.

LASIK is considered elective, so most insurance plans don't cover it. However, FSA and HSA funds can be used, and we offer financing through CareCredit and GreenSky. Some employer plans include a partial LASIK benefit, just check with your carrier.

No. We use numbing eye drops before the procedure. You may feel mild pressure briefly, but no pain. Some patients experience light sensitivity or a scratchy feeling for the first day or two, which is normal.

Most patients see well enough to drive themselves to their post-op visit the next morning. Vision continues to improve and stabilize over the following weeks.

We use the WaveLight EX500 excimer laser with Contoura Vision topography-guided treatment. Contoura maps 22,000 unique elevation points on your cornea to create a personalized treatment plan. For flap creation, we use the iFS Femtosecond Laser, a bladeless system that creates a precise, customized flap shaped to your individual eye.

Technology has changed significantly over the years. Corneal mapping and laser precision have improved considerably, so it is worth scheduling a fresh evaluation. Dr. Kent may find that LASIK is now an option, and if not, he will discuss alternatives that can achieve the same results.

PRK laser vision correction uses the same WaveLight EX500 laser as LASIK but does not require a flap. Instead, the outer surface of the cornea is gently prepared before treatment. It is often recommended for patients with thinner corneas or certain corneal surface characteristics. Recovery takes a little longer than LASIK, but the long-term results are the same.

Common signs include blurry or hazy vision, difficulty driving at night, increased sensitivity to light, and a prescription that keeps changing. A cataract evaluation with Dr. Kent will confirm whether cataracts are present and how advanced they are.

That depends on your vision goals, lifestyle, and eye measurements. Dr. Kent will discuss your options, including PanOptix, Vivity, and toric IOLs , during your evaluation and help you make the decision that's right for your life.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover the base cost of cataract surgery. Premium lens upgrades (multifocal, toric, or accommodating IOLs) are typically not covered. Our team will review your coverage before your procedure.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is essentially the same procedure as cataract surgery, but it is performed to correct refractive error rather than to remove a clouded lens. It is a good option for patients who want to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts. Because your natural lens is replaced with an IOL, you will never develop a cataract.

After cataract surgery, some patients develop a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), sometimes called a secondary cataract. The capsule that holds the IOL in place can become cloudy over time, causing blurry vision to return. A YAG laser capsulotomy is a quick, painless in-office procedure that clears the cloudy capsule and restores clear vision.

Cross linking will stabilize the core so that the keratoconus is not allowed to progress, and then other steps can be taken to visually rehabilitate. Crosslinking works by strengthening the corneal collagen fibers to halt the bulging and thinning. In earlier stages, specialty contact lenses may also be used to improve vision.

Keratoconus tends to run in families. People who have a family history of the condition, rub their eyes frequently, or have certain systemic conditions like Down syndrome or connective tissue disorders may be at higher risk. If you have a family member with keratoconus, we recommend getting screened.

Yes. We offer the KAMRA inlay, an FDA-approved corneal inlay that extends depth of focus to restore near vision in patients with presbyopia. The KAMRA is placed in the non-dominant eye and works by filtering light so that only focused rays reach the retina, reducing dependence on reading glasses. As another option, we can consider doing clear lens extraction or refractive lens surgery where we're using a multifocal or an extended depth of focus implant to get rid of the opio.

Yes we do see pediatric patients for routine care. Any specific pediatric issues, we refer to a pediatric ophthalmologist

Yes. We offer a full range of dry eye care. Our clinic does it in a stepwise fashion. We’re not going to start with the most expensive things that are going to drain your pocketbook and have minimal benefit.

It can. Significant untreated dry eye is a factor Dr. Kent evaluates during every LASIK consultation. In some cases, dry eye should be managed before proceeding with surgery.

Yes. Our optical shop carries a selection of frames and lenses, and we fit patients for contact lenses including specialty lenses for astigmatism and hard-to-fit eyes. Dr. Rammell and Dr. Webster handle our routine care and optical services at both locations.

Call (208) 342-5151 or use the online scheduling form on our website.

Yes. New patients are always welcome at both locations.