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Use Your Pre-Tax Dollars to Pay for LASIK

Do you know that you can use your FSA, HSA or MSA to pay for LASIK in San Diego?

The IRS has recognized LASIK as a valid medical expense  under code 213.  There are two major ways to take advantage of this:  1) Take the tax deduction, subject to IRS rules. 2) Use a FSA, MSA or HSA to pay for your LASIK tax-free!

How These Accounts Work

  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Benefit plans are established by the employer; medical expenses are reimbursed with pre-tax dollars.  Leftover funds do not roll over.   LASIK is a great way to use the remaining FSA dollars in your account before the end of the year!
  • Health Savings Account (HSA): Tax-exempt trust that pays for the medical expenses of the beneficiary who is covered by a qualified health plan.  Leftover funds roll over.  Use HSA for LASIK anytime.
  • Medical Savings Account (MSA): Tax-exempt trust that pays for medical expenses alongside a qualified health plan.  Leftover funds roll over.  Use the funds at any time for your LASIK procedure.

So, how do you go about using these accounts to pay for LASIK?

  • You can pay for the surgery upfront and submit the receipt to your employer for reimbursement; OR
  • Your company provides you with a card that we charge like a credit card.

If you’re thinking about getting LASIK in San Diego but worried about the cost, just remember that there are tons of options out there that will make it more affordable for you.  Do you need 0% financing?  That’s what we’ll get for you.  Your pre-tax dollars can be put toward paying for your surgery and LASIK is considered tax-deductible by the IRS.

You should also come in for a free consultation to discover LASIK eye surgery San Diego cost. Know all your options when you fund your FSA account!

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Short Arm Syndrome, or Why Can’t I See Anymore?

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a condition of the eye where a progressive loss of magnification ability results in the inability to see near objects.

What causes it?

Presbyopia is caused by the hardening of the crystalline lens of your eye and occurs in a predictable fashion as a result of the natural process of aging.  The first symptoms of presbyopia normally occur between ages of 40-50 and the ability to focus on near objects continues to decrease.  In fact, if your eyes have a distance prescription of zero (“plano” in ophthalmology terms), you will first need reading glasses very predictably at 42 or 43 years old.

What happens if I have…

Myopia (nearsightedness) and Presbyopia?

If you’re myopic, as you age, you lose the magnification power of your lens just like any other person.

If you’re over 42 and wearing single vision distance contact lenses, you’ll notice that you have to hold things farther away when you’re wearing contact lenses for distance and trying to read, or that you need reading glasses on top of your contact lenses to see well up close.  You’ll also notice your presbyopia symptoms when you’re wearing glasses and have an irresistible urge to take them off to read.

Hyperopia (farsightedness) and Presbyopia?

If you’re a latent hyperope (person with farsightedness who doesn’t need glasses for distance until they get older), at a young age you probably had the best distance vision out of all of your friends.  However, as you get older, you need reading glasses far earlier than most people in your age group (even by your late 30s).

Here’s how it works:  hyperopes who don’t wear glasses in the distance are using their magnification power just to see far.  As you age, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible, decreasing its ability to magnify.   So, you’re a latent hyperope in your late 30’s  sitting in a chair, looking at the beautiful view, using most of your magnification power just to see far.  Now, you pick up something to read, and whammo!  It’s blurry.  This scenario happens earlier to untreated hyperopes than myopes (nearsighted people) or emmetropes (people who have no need for prescription in the distance) because their accomodation (ability to magnify) is already used up from looking far, and there’s not as much left to magnify to read.   Eventually, when the hyperopia is high enough or you get old enough, combining hyperopia and presbyopia blurs both your near vision and your distance vision.


What are the possible treatments for my eyes?

Bifocal spectacles – The most common type of bifocal spectacle is the Flat Top Bifocal and is comprised of two segments: one for far vision and one for near.  The segments are available in different sizes according to the field of vision you need to see.  The other bifocal “with line” spectacle style is the Executive Bifocal.  The lenses are also split into two segments, with a dividing line across the width of the lens.  They do not allow for a continuous range of vision and sometimes cause blurriness.  A third type of bifocal is the progressive or “no line” bifocal.  This is the type people are wearing when you see them bobbing their heads and looking for the sweet spot in their spectacles for focusing at that exact distance.

Monovision contact lenses – With monovision contact lenses for presbyopia, each eye is treated differently.  One eye (most commonly the dominant eye) is corrected for distance vision and the other eye is corrected for near vision.  Ideally, your brain will choose the magnified image and provide your eyes with what appears to be continuous, smooth vision.  However, Monovision contacts can sometimes cause a loss of depth perception which patients find difficult to adapt to.

Monovision LASIK or PRK – LASIK or PRK surgery is used to permanently correct one eye for near vision and the other eye for distance vision.  Monovision after LASIK or PRK tends to be better accepted by patients than contact lens monovision because the patient’s visual experience is the same all the time.  During LASIK surgery, a flap is created on the surface of the cornea (the front layer of the eye).  A laser is then used to re-shape the cornea back into a natural shape so that it focuses light more efficiently, and then the corneal flap is put back in place.

During PRK surgery, the surgeon removes the epithelium of the cornea altogether, and after the procedure, bandage contact lenses are worn to help in healing the epithelium.

About 10% of presbyopic patients prefer single vision distance correction over monovision.  I spend a great deal of time and care getting your prescription right (this includes whether to go with Monovision or not) and if so, the right amount.  I spend a significant amount of time learning about your daily activities and do my best to simulate your results so that you will be thrilled with the end product.

Most people find that they can adjust to Monovision LASIK or PRK far easier than contacts because the correction is 24/7, without the hassle of taking out and putting in contact lenses.  For the remaining 10%, single distance vision after LASIK or PRK with “drugstore readers” is an excellent choice.

Follow us at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-CA/La-Jolla-LASIK-Institute/101095506604518

https://twitter.com/LaJollaLASIK

Sources:

https://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/presbyopia/presbyopia.html

https://www.pendletoneye.com/errors.htm

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/farsightedness-hyperopia-what-happens

https://www.docshop.com/education/vision/refractive/monovision/

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How Long Does LASIK Eye Surgery Take?

LASIK surgery takes very little time to complete.  On average it takes about twenty minutes from the time my patient enters the operating room to when he or she gets up and leaves.

This means that the actual surgery takes an even shorter amount of time – each eye normally takes me 5-7 minutes to complete.

Most of my patients are amazed at how quickly the surgery is accomplished and even more amazed at how they notice a drastic improvement in their vision the same day.  But that’s how it works at La Jolla LASIK Institute – I provide efficient, professional medical services and deliver excellent results.

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LASIK Recovery Time: When can I see after LASIK?

Here in San Diego, LASIK patients ask me when they will see after their procedure. I tell them: You can see right away after LASIK.  In fact, many patients have been very emotional when they sit up after their procedure and find out they can see!

Usually, your vision will be a little foggy for the rest of the day after the procedure, but it should still be better than before. The day after LASIK, you should see very well, almost perfectly, and your vision may continue to sharpen and get better for up to a week or two.

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San Diego LASIK Surgeon Makes Lives Better

I recently found a note from the wife of a patient, and it reminded me that even though I am a LASIK surgeon who is highly specialized, I am first and foremost a doctor. Because of this, I will often notice serious problems, even if they are not related to vision.

The note below is from the wife of a patient who came in for an eye exam, but after examining and talking to him, I called around and arranged some cardiac tests for him:

 

“Dear Dr. Nahl
My husband & I would like to thank you for your caring & concern. You were the only one that cared enough to help us get the right tests. Now we finally know what is the matter with him. He has endocarditis & is improving. He still has a long recovery but thanks to you at least he has a chance.”

So, when I say I am first and foremost a doctor, what I mean is that I want to be able to give people a chance—a chance to see better and ultimately to live better. When I became a doctor, I swore always to protect my patients from harm; and that means at the end of the day, I want to go home knowing I’ve improved the lives of my patients—whether that is through a LASIK procedure or making sure they get the tests they need.

For me, being a doctor means I have the honor and the privilege of changing lives for the better.

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I’ll Share My Lunch with You — What it Really Means to be “Treated Like Family”

There’s a saying: it’s the little things that count. When it comes to LASIK, I really believe it’s the little personal touches that distinguish a good LASIK surgeon from the LASIK surgeon you want performing your procedure.

That’s why, when I say I treat all my patients like family, I really mean it. It’s not just something I say but something I actively live out.

The other day, a patient came in for a lunchtime appointment from 12 to 2, since that worked best for his schedule. As soon as he came in, I could tell something was making him uncomfortable. I asked him: “Are you ok?” He told me he was missing lunch because of the appointment, and he was hungry.

So I walked him over to the kitchenette in the office, took one of my lunches out of the freezer, and heated it up in the microwave. My patient was able to eat lunch while we talked about LASIK.

This is what I mean when I say I’ll treat you like family: I want you to feel completely comfortable—not only with your LASIK procedure and the technology choices but also with me, your San Diego LASIK surgeon.