LASIK

The Eye Institute has been performing LASIK in Rapid City, SD, for over two decades. LASIK, or Laser-Assisted Stromal In-situ Keratomileusis, is an outpatient procedure that utilizes cool ultraviolet light to precisely reshape the cornea to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism – all known as refractive errors. This procedure has become so popular that it is the number one elective procedure in the U.S.A, bringing a clear vision to more than 10 million people in this country alone.

What Are Some Benefits of LASIK Vision Correction?

There are many benefits to this laser vision eye surgery, including:

Significant Improvements to Vision!: The latest research reports 90% of LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, while 99% of patients achieve 20/40 vision or better. In addition, LASIK has an unprecedented 96% patient satisfaction rate – the highest of any elective procedure.

Minimal Recovery Time: Most patients can return to their daily schedule 24 hours after surgery. There are also minimal limitations after surgery.

Affordable: The cost of laser eye surgery has shown to pay for itself and save you money when compared to the cost of glasses and contact lenses. For those that are interested in financing their procedure, we offer care credit financing to those who qualify.

Fast Results: While you are not allowed to drive right after your surgery and need to take some special precautions, most patients report improvements to their vision by the following morning.

Find Out if You’re a Candidate with a free consultation!

We offer free consultations for LASIK in Rapid City, SD and at our satellite clinic in Gillette, WY. On the day of your free consultation, you will meet with our Laser Vision Center Director, Dr. Scott Schirber and our dedicated LASIK team who will perform a variety of tests to confirm if you are a good candidate for surgery or not. We will explain your options at this time and provide you with a cost sheet so you can make the best decision for you and your lifestyle. If you have astigmatism, you are most likely to still be a candidate for LASIK.

Some FAQS

Does LASIK Hurt?

Most patients report that LASIK is not painful. However, everyone has a different threshold for discomfort so your experience may be different. You can expect a feeling of pressure on the eye during the corneal flap step. The numbing eye drops we place into your eyes prior to your procedure can help minimize discomfort and pain. The first 4-6 hours after surgery your eyes may feel gritty or like you have an eyelash in your eye. As your eyes heal you may also feel slight discomfort; medicated eye drops, or over-the-counter pain medications may provide you with relief.

Is All LASIK the Same?

No. Different surgeons use different technologies. You should demand an all-laser or blade-free LASIK for your eyes. LASIK discount centers may offer outdated technology and less experienced surgeons. Don’t let price dictate which LASIK center you choose. Trust your eyesight to an experienced doctor using advanced technologies.

Will I Still Need My Glasses?

It is unlikely that you will need glasses after LASIK. The typical person aged 18 to 40 will not need prescription glasses at all. After age 40, the natural lens typically starts to lose flexibility, causing the need for reading glasses to see up close. This condition is called presbyopia and it eventually happens to all people. If you are considering LASIK and hope to avoid reading glasses, ask about a procedure called monovision.

What is the Cost?

The average cost of LASIK performed in the United States is $2,100 per eye. At the Eye Institute, we offer multiple pre- and post-operative packages to better suit our patient’s needs. Our total price may be more or less than $2,199 per eye depending on what you choose as each package is priced differently. At your free evaluation, we will give you detailed pricing information, so you can choose what fits your needs the best. Financing is available through CareCredit, and monthly payments can be as low as $87.50 per eye a month.

What are the Risks of LASIK?

Millions of Americans have had LASIK/LASIK vision correction. Like any surgery, there are risks to LASIK including:

Vision problems such as halos, glare, and starbursts
Dry eye
Flap complications
Under or over-correction
Eye infection
Vision loss (very rare)

Alternatives to LASIK?

Not all patients are good candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas or other conditions. The Eye Institute offers the following procedures as an alternative:

Less than 1% of LASIK patients experience these surgical complications. Some ophthalmologists believe the long-term risk of wearing contact lenses can exceed the one-time risk of LASIK. The FDA has stated that wearing contacts can put you at risk of serious eye problems including eye infections and corneal ulcers.

Click to view our Laser Vision Correction Book

Click to view our LASIK Procedure Steps

Does LASIK hurt?

Most patients report that LASIK is not painful. However, everyone has a different threshold for discomfort so your experience may be different. You can expect a feeling of pressure on the eye during the corneal flap step. The numbing eye drops we place into your eyes prior to your procedure can help minimize discomfort and pain. The first 4-6 hours after surgery your eyes may feel gritty or like you have an eyelash in your eye. As your eyes heal you may also feel slight discomfort; medicated eye drops or over-the-counter pain medications may provide you with relief.

When Will I Be Able to Return To Normal
Activity After My Treatment?

In many cases, patients report that they feel fine enough to return to their daily schedules in just a few hours! However, you will not be able to drive right after surgery and doctors recommend that you rest for 24 to 48 hours to give your eyes enough time to heal properly, especially if you work in an environment that can be stressful on your eyes.

Will I Still Need My Glasses?

It is unlikely that you will need glasses after LASIK. The typical person age 18 to 40 will not need prescription glasses at all. After age 40, the natural lens typically starts to lose flexibility, causing the need for reading glasses to see up close. This condition is called presbyopia and it eventually happens to all people. If you are considering LASIK and hope to avoid reading glasses, ask about a procedure called monovision or Kamra.

What Is The Cost?

The average cost of LASIK performed in the United States is $2,199 per eye. At the Eye Institute, we offer multiple pre and post-operative packages to better suit our patient’s needs. Our total price may be more or less than $2,199 per eye depending on what you choose as each package is priced differently. At your free evaluation, we will give you detailed pricing information, so you can choose what fits your needs the best. Financing is available through CareCredit, and monthly payments can be as low as $75 per eye a month.

What Are the Risks of LASIK?

Millions of Americans have had LASIK/LASIK vision correction. Like any surgery, there are Risks to LASIK including:

Vision problems such as halos, glare, and starbursts
Dry eye
Flap complications
Under or over-correction
Eye infection
Vision loss (very rare)

Less than 1% of LASIK patients experience these surgical complications.1 Some ophthalmologists believe the long-term risk of wearing contact lenses can actually exceed the one-time risk of LASIK. The FDA has stated that wearing contacts can put you at risk of serious eye problems including eye infections and corneal ulcers.

Is all LASIK the same?

What’s Next? Get An
Eye Exam!

If you are interested in finding out if you are a candidate for LASIK corrective surgery, then it’s best to have a free evaluation by our laser vision specialists. During this appointment, Dr. Schirber will be able to fully evaluate you for the procedure, and answer any questions you may have about laser eye surgery. Dr. Schirber and other members of our staff have had LASIK and are happy to share their experiences with you. 605-718-3937

See the Many Reasons to Select the Eye Institute for
LASIK or PRK Surgery:

Extended Enhancement Vision Plan – Black Hills Regional Eye Institute offers an extended enhancement policy, where other clinics only offer 18 or 24-month plans

Laser Center Staff and Family- Focused Care – The Eye Institute has a dedicated clinic solely for refractive surgery. Immediately after meeting with us, you will understand why most patients feel “like one of the family”.

Direct-to-Doctor Contact – The decision on whether to have eye surgery is one of the most important choices you will ever make, because of this, you will be given direct cell phone access to our team of doctors. This way, we are just a phone call away.

Safety First Approach – We pride ourselves on offering the best surgery for you and your eyes, whether it’s advanced surface treatment, ICL technology, refractive cataract surgery, or LASIK. Not all clinics offer or perform all surgeries; some may perform a less optimum procedure because they don’t offer all options.

Co-management With Your Local Doctor – We work with and offer education to all the optometrists in the region (Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska) to facilitate your care – making it easier for you to have the procedure, with less travel expense.

Refractive Focused Exam – The Eye Institute utilizes industry standards and focuses on the details of your eyes to get the best correction. Colvard Pupilometry, Pentacam corneal analysis, Cyclopentolate Dilated eye exams, Wavescan Wavefront analysis, and Tear Film Analysis are all givens to measure your eyes before surgery.

Excellent Financing – The Eye Institute makes the investment affordable for every budget by offering convenient payment options and cash discounts.

Eye Institute Stability and Leadership – The Eye Institute has been the leading provider of eye care for the Black Hills region since 1983. You can trust we’ll be here for years to come.

Patient Reviews

” They are awesome eye specialists and nurses, They treat my mother very well, her IV had no bruising and her eyes have no pain and that say a lot about a health care facility and how they treat their patients, thanks.”

 4.6/5

Lisa, Patient

“Great staff and doctor. if you have a serious condition this is the place to go”

 4.6/5

Lisa, Patient

“Dr. Abraham was simply amazing with my doughter’s eye condition. I was very happy to have such an educated person, right here in the black Hills.”

 4.6/5

MG, Patient Mother

Our LASIK Specialists

Stephen Khachikian, MD

Scott Schirber, OD

Solomon, Kerry. “Lasik Complications.” Dr. Kerry Solomon LASIK Complication Rates Get the Facts Comments, 5 Oct. 2017 Dupps, William. “What Is the LASIK Success Rate?” American Refractive Surgery Council, 23 Oct. 2017

LASIK

What Are Some Benefits of LASIK Vision Correction?

There are many benefits to this laser vision eye surgery, including:

Find Out if You’re a Candidate with a free consultation!