Press: “Look at All Options When Choosing a LASIK Provider,”
 Central Florida Eye Surgeon Advises

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.”