Posted on Oct 3, 2011
Florida’s exclusive provider of 3D LASIK has once again brought the best in refractive eye surgery technology to Central Florida with the new WaveLight FS200 Femtosecond laser.
Hunter Vision is currently the only clinic in Central Florida that has this new laser, which operates at extremely high speeds of one millionth of a nanosecond. This is designed to increase the speed and accuracy of the procedure, and decrease the risk of complications.
Founded by Dr. Joel Hunter—son and namesake of Rev. Joel C. Hunter, nationally known pastor and spiritual advisor to President Obama—Hunter Vision continually invests in the latest technology as part of its commitment to its patients.
Dr. Hunter explains, “We want our patients to have the best. That way, when people choose us, they can rest assured they’re getting unsurpassed technology and personal care.”
Not all LASIK is created equal, Dr. Hunter notes. Some outcomes are better than others, depending on many factors, including which laser and technique are used.
“That’s why we perform 3D LASIK. It combines today’s most advanced surgical technologies into a procedure that account for the things that make your eyes unique,” he says.
As a distinguished fellow at the most prestigious refractive surgery center in the world, Dr. Hunter had his choice of jobs, but chose instead to create a new and better kind of medical practice in his hometown of Orlando. People travel from different states, even other countries, to be treated by Dr. Hunter.
He concludes, “My family has served the central Florida community for more than 25 years. Hunter Vision is committed to continuing that tradition.”
Posted on Jul 16, 2011
ORLANDO, FLA. — While LASIK has been available since the early 1990s, many people still have questions about the procedure. According to Dr. Joel Hunter, founder of Hunter Vision, Central Florida’s exclusive 3D LASIK provider, following are the five most-asked questions.
1. Is it permanent? “Yes! It’s safe, and the changes that the laser makes to the cornea are permanent,” Dr. Hunter says. “It’s true that as the eye ages, the natural lens inside the eye stiffens, causing a loss of near vision. However, with the advent of ‘blended vision,’ I am able to treat the eyes in a way that will allow for both reading and distance vision without glasses.”
2. Does it hurt? “No. I have never had a patient that thought it was a ‘big deal’ after the surgery,” he observes. “Almost everyone is understandably nervous before the procedure, and everyone is relieved afterward to realize that it was easier than they thought it would be.”
3. Can it help astigmatism? “As an ophthalmologist, I can say unequivocally that 3D LASIK candidates can get rid of their astigmatism with a laser,” he maintains. Astigmatism is a distortion in the curvature of the cornea. LASIK is able to change the shape of the cornea and remove the distortion entirely. “The difference between now and 10 years ago in what LASIK can do is staggering,” adds Dr. Hunter, who utilizes the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment for SBK-LASIK and lens replacement available today.
4. Can it help reading vision? It is a great myth that there is no way to fix reading vision after the age of 40, Dr. Hunter explains. “With blended vision, we can remove the need for glasses at near and far.”
5. How much does it cost? “Despite the advertising you see and hear from discount providers, the real answer is that it greatly depends on your needs and your desires,” he notes. Hunter Vision has been deliberate about creating options for patients on a tight budget, including interest-free and traditional financing options to make monthly payments affordable enough for most candidates.
It’s not uncommon for discount LASIK providers to cut prices in lieu of investing in new technology. He concludes. “I heard a wise man once say, ‘There are two things in life one should never choose based on price and advertising: parachutes or surgeons.’ I couldn’t agree more.”
ABOUT HUNTER VISION
Hunter Vision 3D LASIK was founded by Dr. Joel Hunter, the son and namesake of noted Central Florida pastor Joel C. Hunter. When you come to Hunter Vision, you get more than a “two-dimensional” exchange, you get a holistic experience and the most exceptional treatment available. Learn more at www.huntervision.com or by calling 407-385-1620.
INTERVIEWS:
Robert Andrescik
407-588-7574
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Posted on Jan 4, 2011
Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine Feature Article
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At Hunter Vision in North Maitland, Dr. Joel Hunter exclusively provides 3D LASIK, a procedure that includes the most state-of-the-art pre-operative analysis available anywhere. His mission is to offer the very latest technology and give each patient the care and attention they need.
The Hunter Vision Difference
Hunter Vision is unlike any other LASIK practice in Florida. First of all, it is the only 3D LASIK provider in all of Florida. Secondly, it has Dr. Joel D. Hunter and his brother Josh Hunter at the helm. As Dr. Hunter puts it, “When Josh and I decided to go into business together it was like Superman telling you he was going to help you move.” Josh is Hunter Vision’s CEO, but he’s also the marketing expert and all-around team leader.
Likewise, Josh calls his brother a “breath of new life for modern medicine” because of the care and skill he brings to his patients. “At Hunter Vision you are not another number. Joel will sit with you one-on-one to explain everything,” Josh says. In fact, Dr. Hunter happily gives his patients his personal cell number after their procedures, in case they have any questions or concerns.
Dr. Hunter’s training with Dr. Dan Durrie, a pioneer in modern refractive surgery, also sets his practice apart. Naturally, every ophthalmic surgery clinic has to choose between off ering truly exceptional technology or the bare minimum to give most people good vision. For his patients’ sake, Dr. Hunter chose the former. He believes your vision is worthy of the most advanced 3-dimensional medical devices available today. From the initial testing and diagnosis of your eyes, to the lasers used to correct your sight, everything at Hunter Vision is world class.
Local Roots, Top Training
Dr. Hunter knew that he wanted to continue the family tradition of serving the community in Central Florida with a tireless work ethic. The road to open a world class refractive surgery center in his hometown was long, but it is clear now that each step was worth it. He attended Taylor University in Indiana and graduated with honors in two and a half years. He graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. He received the highest grade possible in every didactic course in medical school. Upon his graduation, he was given the award for Academic Excellence.
After a year internship in general medicine at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va., Dr. Hunter entered a three-year ophthalmology residency at the University of South Florida. While there, he performed more cataract surgeries than any resident in the history of the program before him. After residency, Dr. Hunter continued to hone his skills for another year through a distinguished fellowship at Durrie Vision focused entirely on refractive surgery.
Dr. Dan Durrie has been personally involved in the development of almost every new technology since the beginning of modern refractive surgery in 1988. Durrie Vision chooses one doctor each year for an intensive one-on-one fellowship, which is widely considered to be the best in the world. After a two-day interview process, Dr. Durrie discontinued all further interviews with other applicants and gave Dr. Hunter the position. While at this one-year fellowship in Kansas City, Kan., Dr. Hunter was immersed in and trained on the most advanced equipment, by the leader in the field of refractive surgery.
Ask Dr. Hunter
Q. What is 3D LASIK?
A. The best way to begin the description of 3D LASIK is to explain the pre-operative process. Your single, all-inclusive pre-op exam begins when a Hunter Vision technician captures high-definition photographs of the front surface of your eye, the lens inside your eye, your retina and optic nerve. An OCT (ocular coherence tomography) device is then used to acquire a 3D picture of your retina’s macula, which is the center of your fine detail vision. Then, a Scheimpflug camera gives an objective densitometry reading of the lens inside your eye, and a Pentacam takes two seconds to measure 25,000 data points across the front and back surface of the cornea.
This gives a 3D view of the entire eye that very clearly shows what refractive procedure would fit your particular eye structure. This analysis allows a view of the subtle nuances of each eye that make it unique. This 3D analysis offers a more indepth analysis so that I can more precisely diagnose your vision correction options.
The 3D LASIK experience continues with the laser vision correction itself. Instead of a blade, a femtosecond laser creates a layer of micro-bubbles just a tenth of a millimeter down in the cornea and separates its natural layers. This is a shallower depth and is more precise than a traditional LASIK flap. Next, an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea in a way that corrects your vision. The laser we use for this is called the Wavelight Allegretto and it is the fastest excimer laser available in the United States. More importantly, it treats the cornea in a way that respects and maintains its 3-dimensional curvature, in a way that prior generations of laser did not.
Q. Do I have to wait until I’m 50 to get LASIK? I’ve heard I’ll need reading glasses by then so I might as well wait, right?
A. Wrong. With this technology, vision can be corrected at any age from 18 to 88. Of course, the people who benefit the most are those who do it sooner rather than later, because it allows that many more days without glasses or contacts. It is true that as the eye ages, particularly during a person’s 40s, there is a stiffening of the natural lens inside the eye that causes a loss of near vision. However, with the advent of blended vision, I am able to treat the eyes in a way that will allow for reading and distance vision both without glasses. Part of what the pre-operative 3D Hunter Vision Analysis allows me to do is evaluate the best treatment for each candidate in order for them to be glasses free at all distances.
Q. Is 3D LASIK safe? Is it long-lasting or do I have to keep going back?
A. Yes, LASIK is safe. The FDA has approved LASIK as a safe and effective procedure. Yes, it is long-lasting. The changes made to the cornea with the laser are permanent. Although the lens inside the eye (which is different from the cornea treated with laser) will get stiffer over time (in the 5th decade of life) and cause a loss of near vision, I treat near vision loss, called presbyopia, proactively in patients that have these changes. If someone gets LASIK when they are younger, this treatment to give them back their near vision is still possible when they lose it.
Q. I’m not able to wear contacts and I’m sick of my glasses, is 3D LASIK a good choice for me?
A. Those who are not candidates for contact lenses or can’t tolerate contact lenses may be good candidates for LASIK. I, myself, could not tolerate contacts. I had dry eyes and would actually force myself to try to yawn to make my eyes water so I could relieve the dryness. Also, one of the great myths is that if you have astigmatism you can’t have LASIK. That is simply not true. You need to have an assessment by an eye care professional you trust, but many people who thought they could never get rid of their glasses or contacts are able to with LASIK.
Q. Would you have LASIK surgery?
A. I did have LASIK surgery in 2003. I would do it all over again in a second. I performed 3D LASIK on both my brothers and my mother and father. We all have 20/15 vision, or better. Josh, always the over-achiever, is 20/10 (twice as good as 20/20) plus he can read two letters on the 20/8 line! 3D LASIK is extremely accurate and safe. I think it’s something you have to believe in strongly if you are going to perform it on your own mother. I whole-heartedly think 3D LASIK is a great choice for better vision without contacts or glasses.
Q. What should a patient look for in a LASIK provider?
A. Ask what type of equipment they are using and then research it yourself to see if they are using the latest technology. Dig a little. Also, you may want to look at patient comments on doctor feedback sites to hear what others are saying about the doctor you are considering.
Q. Why is it so important to you to give back to the community?
A. We give back to the community not just to get our charity hours in, but because it is a key component of our business. It’s just carrying on our family tradition. We really believe Jesus was who He said He was and we live our lives according to that. We decided that 10 percent is the typical number to give, but thought 50 percent more should be our standard. So 15 cents of every dollar we make goes back to the community. Currently that is in the form of donations to Northland and Summit church to help support community programs and mission trips. We are always open to new ideas for ways to benefit others.
Hunter Vision
Located in the RDV Sportsplex
8701 Maitland Summit Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32810
407.385.1620
HunterVision.com
Posted on Nov 24, 2010
PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 24, 2010
There’s good news this holiday season ... from the IRS. People who receive laser eye surgery may be able to deduct it from their taxes. The IRS recognizes LASIK as a valid medical expense under code 213, so it may be used as a tax deduction.
The procedure is also reimbursable under flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, which allow workers to set aside pre-tax income to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. In other words, you can enjoy the benefits of LASIK using tax-free dollars.
On top of that, the Internal Revenue Service may allow you to deduct travel expenses to and from the LASIK clinic. Even if you drive your own car to the LASIK surgeon’s office, you may be allowed to deduct your fuel expenses.
In most cases, money put into FSAs does not roll over from one year to the next. As a result, most patients opt to undergo LASIK late in the year so the money is not forfeited.
“LASIK is a great way to use the remaining FSA dollars in your account before the end of the year,” says Dr. Joel Hunter, founder of Hunter Vision, Central Florida’s newest, world-class refractive eye surgery center.
Additionally, LASIK typically pays for itself in a few years. Glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses and supplies are expensive and usually need replacing every one to two years. Annual visits to the eye doctor average $125, not to mention the hassle and expense of contact lenses.
“It’s an investment in your health that not only improves your quality of life, but actually pays for itself over time,” Dr. Hunter explains.
As with any investment, you have to weigh your options carefully.
Dr. Hunter concludes, “It’s not uncommon for discount LASIK providers to provide ‘discounts’ in lieu of investing in new technology. Choose a practice that focuses on safety, diagnostic technology and post-operative follow-up. If you’re going to trust someone with something as important as your vision, then you should go in with your eyes open.”
To find out more about whether you qualify to use LASIK as a tax deduction, contact a tax consultant. To learn more about setting up an FSA, as well as what your estimated income tax savings might be, speak with your company’s benefits manager.
ABOUT HUNTER VISION
Hunter Vision uses the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q excimer laser with wavefront optimized technology. Its high-speed eye-tracker follows the eye’s fastest movements, checking the eye’s position hundreds of times per second while ensuring an accurate placement of each laser pulse on the cornea.
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Located in Orlando, Hunter Vision specializes in premier, bladeless SBK-LASIK eye surgery, cataract surgery and premium lens replacement. It is home to the Hunter Vision Analysis, a comprehensive, tech-advanced eye exam unlike any other.
Posted on Oct 19, 2010
The founding surgeon of Central Florida’s newest, world-class refractive eye surgery center says that patients need to take a close look at what LASIK providers offer before signing on for the procedure.
“The difference between now and 10 years ago in what these lasers can do is staggering. They’re far faster, far more accurate,” says Joel Hunter, M.D., who opened Hunter Vision this summer at Orlando’s RDV Sportsplex and offers the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment for SBK-LASIK and lens replacement available today.
Dr. Hunter is the son and namesake of noted Central Florida minister, Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed. As a distinguished fellow from one of the most prestigious refractive surgery centers in the world, Dr. Hunter had his choice of jobs, but chose instead to create a practice with the latest technology that is set up for the patient’s convenience ... not the doctor’s.
For those who are comparing LASIK providers, Dr. Hunter offers the following checklist:
1. WHAT KIND OF TESTING WILL YOU DO ON MY EYES?
The pre-operative exam that a surgeon performs is critical, explains Dr. Hunter. Standard exams only consider whether a person is a good candidate for LASIK. The Hunter Vision Analysis goes much deeper, using technology to render a detailed, three-dimensional view of a person’s eyes. This can help identify early cataract formation, signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration.
“We’ve helped several patients to catch serious eye problems, long before symptoms developed,” Dr. Hunter says.
2. DO YOU USE A LASER OR A BLADE TO PERFORM SURGERY?
Among LASIK providers nationally, about 50 percent still use a blade to perform the surgery. More and more providers are moving toward All-Laser LASIK. The new generation of All-Laser LASIK is called SBK, which disrupts fewer fibers and nerves, and improves post-operative corneal stability.
“Using a laser instead of a blade considerably enhances the safety and accuracy of the procedure,” Dr. Hunter explains. “At Hunter Vision, we opted for SBK-LASIK because it helps us provide a comfortable procedure with fast visual recovery.”
3. DO YOU INVEST IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE?
Like all technology, refractive surgery is evolving. “It’s not uncommon for discount LASIK providers to provide ‘discounts’ in lieu of investing in new technology,” Dr. Hunter explains.
Hunter Vision uses the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q excimer laser with wavefront optimized technology. Its high-speed eye-tracker follows the eye’s fastest movements, checking the eye’s position hundreds of times per second while ensuring an accurate placement of each laser pulse on the cornea.
The decision to have LASIK is an important one, and patients should weigh their options. Dr. Hunter concludes: “Choose a practice that focuses on safety, diagnostic technology and post-operative follow-up. If you’re going to trust someone with something as important as your vision, then you should go in with your eyes open.”
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