Refractive Surgery

Vision Correction Provider Checklist

Is the surgeon board certified in ophthalmology?

The surgeons at SureVision Eye Centers are among the most experienced and well-trained in the world. They have performed tens of thousands of surgical and laser vision correction procedures. All of our surgeons are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. In fact, Dr. Gans is an Associate Examiner for the ABO so he gives the exam to other doctors who want to be certified. He has taught courses to other doctors all over the world, and our staff includes professors at Washington University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Our vision correction surgeons are fellowship-trained, having completed extensive training as corneal and refractive surgery specialists.

Does the surgeon practice in St. Louis or surrounding areas? Will he be available in the event of an emergency?

Some centers fly surgeons in from other states to perform their laser vision corrections. Our surgeons live and practice in the St. Louis metropolitan area. They are always available to you in the unlikely event of a complication following your procedure.

How many procedures has the surgeon performed?

Dr. Gans was one of the first surgeons to perform Excimer Laser refractive surgery in St. Louis. He led the way as the Principal Investigator of Excimer Laser clinical trials at Washington University and has since performed over 11,000 LASIK procedures.

Does he or she have outcome statistics of their own surgeries to show you? What are the results after the procedure?

Having outcome statistics is important to obtaining the most accurate results, but it is easy to use statistics to give an inaccurate impression about surgical results. More than 99% of our patients achieve 20/40 vision ("driving vision") or better following their laser vision correction. The reason it is not 100% is that some of our patients are not intended to get 20/20 vision at distance because they want Monovision to help them with reading. 

Can they provide patients who’ve had laser vision correction for you to speak to?

A large percentage of our LASIK candidates are referred from an extensive network of referring doctors and from our own previous patients. The trust and confidence they have in our doctors, our staff and our technology speaks for itself with the referrals of their friends and family to our center. Patients and staff members who have experienced the excitement of being able to see without the crutches of glasses and contact lenses are always happy to tell you about their experience.

How does the Laser Center control the surgical environment?

The humidity, temperature and quality of the air in the room where your laser surgery is performed is very important to the accuracy and safety of your procedure. Changes in humidity will change the rate that the laser removes the tissue to change the focus of your eye and can significantly alter the result of surgery. Dust particles and lint are attracted to the exposed surface of your cornea during surgery and can contaminate that surface increasing the risk of inflammation and scarring.

The SureVision Laser Center is second to none in the quality of environmental controls in our surgery suite. We have a separate and specially designed air conditioning unit dedicated only to the surgery suite to maintain precise control of temperature and humidity. We use special HEPPA filters that catch particles the size of a virus to keep the air where we do surgery clean. We all know what the air and temperature and humidity in St. Louis can be like, so be sure that the room where you have your eye surgery is under tight control at the highest standards.

Is the surgeon the Medical Director at the facility where LASIK is performed? Does he proctor (train) other surgeons in procedure technique?

Lawrence A. Gans, M.D. is the Medical Director and leader of the refractive surgery team for SureVision Eye Centers and the SureVision Laser Center. With over 23 years of experience in refractive and corneal surgery, Dr. Gans is a pioneer in procedures to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Does the center offer more than one laser treatment?

All laser vision correction procedures are not the same. Because of our dedication to excellence, SureVision Laser Center-Midwest is recognized as the premium eye care provider in St. Louis and the surrounding area. Our surgeons are highly trained in a variety of laser vision corrections including ASA, PRK, and LASIK. In addition to special measurements of your prescription, corneal thickness and dim light pupil size, there are other factors such as age, general health, occupation, participation in hobbies and sports that must be taken into consideration to determine which procedure is right for you.

Following a comprehensive evaluation, our doctors and technical staff will be able to help you choose which procedure is best for your visual needs.

Does the center offer free enhancements for a year after the procedure?

The fee for LASIK includes the evaluation, your vision correction procedure with LADARVisionâ technology along with post-operative care for one year. Fine tuning your correction with an enhancement, when determined to be safe and appropriate by our Medical Director, is provided at no charge during the first year.

Some practices offer "lifetime guarantees" that are very restrictive and have hidden costs such as facility fees that are as much as $1000.00. Make sure you understand the restrictions and have in writing how much an "enhancement" will cost. Remember the laser surgery centers that sprouted up in St. Louis over the last few years and then suddenly disappeared. SureVision Eye Centers – Midwest has roots in this community that go back over 70 years. When you pay for a "lifetime guarantee" it is important to know whose "lifetime" that means.