Dr. Alan Faulkner and his family spent 18 years in New Orleans prior to joining his father’s practice in 2001. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Faulkner family returned to New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. “We were heartbroken to see much of New Orleans still left in shambles.” Living in Hawaii we understand firsthand the devastation families experience in the aftermath of a hurricane. We wanted to find a way to give back.

The Saints have given New Orleans a new surge of hope! In celebration, Aloha Laser Vision would like to donate 5% of all proceeds from LASIK to Habit for Humanity to rebuild and revitalize the soul of New Orleans.

”Our practice is devoted to providing our patients with the safest and most advanced technology available,“ said Dr. Faulkner. “With the Eye-Q, we can now perform laser treatments much faster than before, to achieve the best outcomes possible while ensuring the highest level of comfort for our patients.”

The Eye-Q is a next generation system featuring WaveLight’s proprietary PerfectPulse TechnologyTM to ensure maximum safety at high speed. PerfectPulse Technology was specifically developed to monitor and control each laser pulse that is delivered to the eye. The most important component of this technology is the high speed eye-tracking device which monitors eye movement 400 times per second.

Unlike older excimer lasers, which removes tissue in a central flat manner that creates an edge, Allegretto Wave’s Perfect Pulse technology uniformly applies pinpoints of laser pulses adjusted to each eye’s specific curvature. With this unique system, eye tissue is reshaped in a smooth, consistent manner that provides the very best vision result.Wavelight also uses a technology the company pioneered called wavefront. Wavefront measurements provide meticulously detailed information that can help address even obscure defectsin the eye’s optical system known as higher order aberrations. This unique LASIK platform has been shown to preserve the natural shape of the cornea and prevent the induction of optical errors that could lead to night vision problems or loss of contrast sensitivity (the ability to see the images crisply).What does this new technology mean for patients treated with the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q? Rapid treatment speed has been shown to increase predictability and reduce the incidence of complications.“Superior vision following the LASIK procedure is dependant not only the surgeon’s experience but also on the technology
used to deliver the treatment,”Dr. Faulkner added. “We offer our patients the highest level of safety and precision possible while achieving spectacular visual outcomes.”

If you have been waiting to have laser vision correction, wait no longer. Proven technology is here and now is the time to find out if you are a candidate. Call us today at 792-EYES (3937) and schedule your free consultation with Dr. Faulkner.

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Unfortunately, the media chose to concentrate on the negative outcomes of a select few rather than the overwhelming satisfaction of the majority of patients. A literature review by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) indicated that more than 95.2% of patients in the US were satisfied with their post-operative vision; globally, approximately 95% of patients were satisfied with their LASIK results.

Despite the often dramatic testimony of some dissatisfied patients, the FDA panel was not convened as a referendum on LASIK, according to Dr. Weiss, committee chairperson. “I think some of you came here today, and I know that some of the press had touted this meeting as a referendum on LASIK,” Dr. Weiss said. “It appears to me from hearing what was said today that this really has been a referendum on the performance of LASIK by some surgeons who should be doing a better job. And I hope and feel that in general will help you get the answers to some of this, and the FDA and the organizations will help in terms of getting further information to try to make things better for future patients, so your testimony here has been of value, and we thank you.”

It’s important to understand the factors associated with maximizing a positive experience with your laser vision correction procedure. As with any surgery, risks do exist. The key is in determining who is a good candidate, what technology will be used, and the experience of the surgeon.

Some patients are just not candidates for LASIK surgery; maybe their corneas are too thin, their eyes too dry, or their nearsightedness too severe. Maybe their expectations are too unrealistic. When choosing a laser center, it’s important to find a surgeon who is qualified to evaluate the patient for all options, and recommend the procedure that best fits his or her needs. Ideally, the surgeon should meet and examine the patient preoperatively to discuss treatment options, as well as the risks and benefits. The surgeon should also be available to address any postoperative issues.

Technology is another consideration when choosing a laser center. Some centers still use conventional LASIK which produces good results for lower corrections.  However, this older technology has resulted in higher instances of complaints with glare, halos and decreased night vision. Newer laser technologies like the Allegretto Wave Laser incorporate either wavefront optimized or wavefront guided treatment patterns that minimize the risk of night glare, often improving night vision when compared to contact lenses or glasses. The difference between conventional versus wavefront LASIK is like comparing regular television to high definition TV.

At Aloha Laser Vision, we take pride in bringing the best technology available to the islands. Over 4 years ago, we were the first in Hawaii to use the femtosecond laser instead of the traditional microkeratome blade to create the corneal flap during the first step of LASIK surgery. The IntraLase®FS (femtosecond) laser is safer and more precise, dramatically reducing the risk of complications and improving visual outcomes.

There is no question as to LASIK’s safety and effectiveness.  In fact, the FDA holds that nearly all LASIK patients are satisfied with their procedure. LASIK is the #1 elective surgery in the US today with nearly 12.4 million procedures performed to date.

At Aloha Laser Vision, we are committed to advancing our technology and surgical techniques so that we can continue to enhance our patients’ quality of life. If you are considering vision correction options, we encourage you to call 792-EYES (3937) to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Alan Faulkner.

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A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Cafeteria Plan is an employer sponsored benefit that allows you to use pretax
income on medical expenses. These expenses can include deductibles, co-payments and other charges not normally covered by medical
insurance, such as refractive surgery. If you expect to incur medical expenses that will not be reimbursed by your
health insurance plan, you should consider taking advantage of your employer’s FSA, if one is offered.

FSA Benefits

A Flexible Spending Account allows you to save money by reducing the amount of income tax you owe. The contributions made to the FSA are
deducted from your paycheck before Federal,State and Social Security taxes are calculated.The end result is that these contributions are
never reported to the IRS as income, allowing you to save money. For example, if you put in $4,000 to cover the cost of LASIK, you could avoid paying
up to $1,600 in taxes depending on your tax bracket. In other words, your LASIK treatment only costs $2,400, a huge savings.

How does a Flexible Spending Account(FSA) work?

At the beginning of the plan year (usually January 1st or July 1st), your employer will ask you how much you want to contribute for the
year. Most employers set a maximum contribution level of around $5,000. You only have one opportunity to enroll, unless you have a change
in your family status (marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or loss of a spouse’s insurance coverage). The yearly amount you designate is then deducted
in equal installments from your paycheck each pay period and deposited into a special account. In order to receive reimbursement for
eligible expenses, you are required to submit the provider’s receipt or a copy of theExplanation of Benefits from yourinsurance. The request for reimbursement
must occur before the year end deadline, otherwise you may actually lose the money.

What types of expenses are eligible?

Any expense that is considered a medically related deductible expense by the IRS and is not reimbursable by your insurance plan can be reimbursed
through a Flexible Spending Account. Costs that are typically included are laser vision correction, prescription drug co-payments and
deductibles.Not all employers participate in FSA programs. It is recommended that you check with your Human Resources Department to see if this
type of plan is offered. You’ll need to do a little planning to decide how much you want to set aside from your paycheck to contribute for the
year. If you put in more money than you need, it cannot be rolled overinto the next year and you will lose it. For LASIK surgery, we recommend
you that you have a consultation/screening to determine your candidacy prior to setting aside any allocations to your FSA.

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Why Your Eyes Need Help

Your eye functions in much the same way as a camera. The front surface of the eye (the cornea) and the lens inside the eye are responsible for focusing incoming light rays onto the back of the eye (the retina) so that you can see clearly. When your visual system is perfectly matched (cornea, lens and retina), the images are in focus; any mismatch will result in a blurry or distorted image. The three most common types of mismatch that occur are called myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one type of vision condition that can cause blurred eyesight. With this condition you are able to see objects up close, but not at a distance. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a vision condition in which you can see distant objects clearly, but not those up close. For someone with astigmatism the surface of the eye is curved more like a football (instead of a basketball) with both flatter and steeper curves. When the surface of the eye has an uneven curvature, vision becomes distorted.

What Are the Laser Correction Options for Correcting Less-than-Perfect Vision?
Today, laser vision correction surgeries offer more alternatives to improve less-than-perfect vision than ever before. These procedures usea laser to help correct the cornea’s shape.
Some of the most common surgeries are LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy).

It’s a Simple Procedure
This surgery is done as an outpatient procedure in our laser suite. The actual laser procedure takes only a few seconds, while the entire process may take up to an hour. Our staff will discuss the follow-up regimen (eye drops, protective eyewear, etc.) and schedule your post-op visit to ensure your eyes are healing well.

Be Confident in YourProcedure with the Allegretto Eye-Q® Laser
Studies show 97% of our patients see at least 20/20 or better following the procedure. While individual results may vary, the benefits of laser vision correction are compelling especially the thought of living without contact lenses or glasses.

An Invaluable Gift
Choosing laser vision correction surgery will help you experience the type of vision that you’ve always desired. The Allegretto Eye-Q® Laser can help by giving you a customized treatment for your vision needs, whether you suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Now you are able to have the gift of excellent vision some have naturally.  Payment plans make this truly affordable.

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