LASIK surgery St Louis
If you are considering LASIK in St. Louis, don’t you owe it to yourself to find the best LASIK surgeon St. Louis has to offer?
Not all LASIK is alike.
Dr. Jason P. Brinton is a world-renowned LASIK surgeon and founder of Brinton Vision in St. Louis, Missouri. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Brinton has helped to pioneer new laser eye surgery procedures. He has been at the forefront of LASIK research and advancement, always ensuring that his patients benefit from the latest and best technological advances in diagnostics and laser procedures.
Dr. Brinton has performed LASIK surgery on professional athletes, media celebrities, military pilots, and fellow doctors and surgeons. He believes that every patient, regardless of status or title, deserves the best possible care, and has invested in the education, staff, and technology to provide quality care. Come see the difference at Brinton Vision!
Are you ready to take the next
step in your vision journey?
What is LASIK surgery?
LASIK, an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis, is now one of the most successful surgical treatments of any kind in the world today. Sub-Bowman keratomileusis (SBK), or “bladeless LASIK,” is the most modern form of this life-changing laser eye surgery, and we are pleased to offer SBK laser eye surgery in St. Louis at Brinton Vision.
SBK is used to treat farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), presbyopia, and astigmatism (click here to learn more about astigmatism). Combined with wavefront technology used to map the surface and interior of the entire eye, it is more precise than ever. Many patients who were told they were too young, too old, or have astigmatism can now have LASIK in St. Louis.
What is SBK technology?
Just a few short years ago, LASIK utilized a mechanically controlled metal blade called a microkeratome. It was a good procedure; it was safe and it helped a lot of people, but it was not quite as precise as many ophthalmologists would have liked.
Then along came SBK. SBK utilizes what’s called a femtosecond laser. Not only do many patients have even better vision afterward, but their results are more predictable. What’s more, many patients who were once excluded from LASIK eye surgery have now been able to enjoy the visual freedom that SBK LASIK can provide.
What is Wavefront technology?
The latest technology in LASIK includes wavefront-optimized, wavefront-guided, and topography-guided LASIK procedures. Collectively, these are referred to as “custom” treatments. Brinton Vision’s expertise includes the use of a variety of custom and conventional approaches accomplished with five state-of-the-art treatment lasers — more than any other LASIK eye surgeon in St. Louis.
With wavefront-guided LASIK, Dr. Brinton uses detailed maps of the cornea, almost like topography maps in geography, to provide an enhanced view into the tiniest complexities of the eye. Wavefront-optimized treatments preserve the natural shape of the cornea in ways never before possible. The wavefront-optimized laser system Dr. Brinton uses was the first to be certified by the FDA to improve nighttime halo and glare, commonly experienced by glasses and contacts wearers, but also among the common side effects of traditional LASIK procedures.
How can I pay for LASIK?
When determining whether LASIK or any of the six modern LASIK alternatives is best for you, quality care and outcome should be your top priority. Still, we recognize that vision correction must fit into your budget. We take all standard forms of payment (cash, check, credit card, etc.), and we are able to work with health savings accounts (HSAs) and medical savings accounts (MSAs). Most laser vision correction procedures are tax-deductible. We also work with multiple financing companies to provide monthly payment options to fit most budgets. Our most popular monthly payment options are:
Zero down payment & no interest for 24 months
Zero down payment & low monthly payments with fixed interest rate for 60 months
Insurance companies do not cover LASIK. If your insurance does, we will accept their payment. In nearly 15 years of practice, Dr. Brinton has yet to see an insurance company pay for LASIK.
We sometimes hear of insurance companies claiming to give a 15%, 25%, or $1000 discount on LASIK. This is a sales tactic that most of our patients are smart enough to see through. Patients repeatedly tell us that the “insurance discount price” is the same as the “friends and family price” that the guy before them in line got just for asking. Our patients appreciate the fact that we are not a discount eye surgery center and don’t play these games.
What happens during the LASIK surgery process?
Brinton Vision has invested in the latest laser technologies for the best outcomes. First, Dr. Brinton uses one of the lasers to create a carefully calculated flap in the cornea. Then he uses a different laser to accurately reshape the cornea underneath the flap. Within seconds, the laser procedure is completed and the protective corneal flap is laid back into place to self-heal.
The results of LASIK are so predictable and the procedure is so safe that Dr. Brinton has performed this eye surgery on thousands of patients, including photographers, professional athletes, artists, surgeons, and other eye doctors.
What to expect on the day of your LASIK procedure
On the day of your procedure, plan to be at Brinton Vision for about three hours, though the procedure itself only lasts about 15 minutes for both eyes. You will need a driver to take you home after your procedure.
Just as if you were going to an eye examination, you don’t need to wear special clothes or change your attire while you’re here. The only thing we’ll add to your outfit is a small, blue cap which you’ll wear during the procedure.
Some of the tests conducted during your Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis may be repeated to ensure each aspect is checked and double checked prior to your LASIK eye surgery.
When you are ready for the procedure, eye drops will be used to numb your eye, then a small, gentle eyelid holder will be put into place so that you do not need to worry about blinking.
Once the laser vision correction procedure begins, the laser portion typically lasts less than 20 seconds for each eye.
See if you're a candidate for LASIK.
What to expect after LASIK
LASIK laser eye surgery patients typically experience little if any discomfort during or after the procedure. Your vision may be blurry for two or three hours after you return home, but within a very short time, you should be seeing details of the faces and places around you that you probably had no idea you were missing!
Most patients are able to resume regular activities, including returning to work, the day after surgery. A follow-up visit will be scheduled for the next morning, where one of our vision correction specialists will personally evaluate your progress. At that visit, you will be given the final okay to return to your routine while seeing the world much more clearly — without glasses!
Are there LASIK alternatives if I am not a candidate for LASIK?
Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. At Brinton Vision, we utilize seven of the most state-of-the-art technologies to determine the health of your eyes from the inside out. Our doctors use these diagnostics and their years of experience and research to empower you with the information you need to make the best decision for your vision goals. Even if you are not an ideal candidate for LASIK, Brinton Vision is one of only a handful of LASIK providers in the country to offer all six modern LASIK alternatives. These proven treatments provide clear, natural vision to people with high prescriptions, steep astigmatism, thick or thin corneas, or who have age-related vision loss that LASIK does not address. Brinton Vision can even provide solutions for many people who have had earlier versions of LASIK in the past.
The bottom line is that, even if you have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK by another provider, Brinton Vision may have a solution for you.
LASIK testimonials
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what our patients have to say.
LASIK eye surgery lasers and diagnostic technology in St. Louis
Refractive laser technology has revolutionized vision correction. In less than a generation, laser science has nearly solved nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, cataracts, and many other vision issues that have plagued human beings for millennia.
Are you ready to take the next
step in your vision journey?
At Brinton Vision, we believe vision is one of our most valuable gifts. Our vision is at the heart of how we perceive and connect with the world around us, and it allows us to fully appreciate life’s beauty. That’s why Dr. Jason Brinton has invested in the education, continued training, and technology he needs to provide the very best laser eye surgery options in Missouri—and in the nation.
Brinton Vision is among only a handful of providers in the United States to have the diagnostic tools and lasers under one roof to provide LASIK plus all six of its modern variations. These advanced technologies come from all over the world and are part of his commitment to provide the best possible patient care.
It should be noted that, while laser technology plays a key role, it is your surgeon’s skill and experience — and your suitability as a candidate — that are the most important factors affecting your LASIK outcome.
What kind of diagnostic technology does Brinton Vision utilize?
Every great LASIK outcome begins with proper diagnostics. Brinton Vision patients can — and do — attest to the fact that we invest in the time and technology in making sure they have the proper diagnosis and receive the treatment best-suited for their unique eyes.
Our comprehensive Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis utilizes seven painless state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies under one roof — more than any other laser vision center around.
Acutarget HD
The Acutarget HD, developed by Visiometrics S.L. in Spain, uses double-pass light technology to objectively measure vision quality and light scatter. It guides centration of all seven refractive procedures we perform at Brinton Vision, particularly RLE and Kamra. It also diagnoses early dry eye, stages of dysfunctional lens syndrome, “over-40” vision, and cataracts.
LenStar LS 900 APS
The LenStar LS 900 APS was developed by Haag-Streit AG in Köeniz, Switzerland. It takes 32 highly accurate laser optic measurements of the entire eye. It directs the lens implant power for Tecnis multifocal, Symfony, Tecnis toric, Alcon ReStor, and Crystalens for Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). It also measures pupil size and corneal astigmatism.
3D Maestro Fundus & OCT
The 3D Maestro Fundus and Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanner was developed by Topcon Corporation in Tokyo, Japan and provides spectral domain, high-resolution optical coherence tomography. The high-definition fundus camera images it provides aid in assessing overall health of the peripheral retina, macula, and optic nerve. It also provides imaging of the back and front of eye for EVO ICL sizing.
CEM-530 specular microscope
Nidek in Gamagori, Japan developed the CEM-530 Specular Microscope to more accurately determine health of corneal cells within the eye. Critical endothelial cells act as water pumps to keep the cornea from swelling, but inappropriate contact lens use can affect corneal endothelium. This technology analyzes corneal health through automated endothelial cell counting of the central and paracentral cornea.
Pentacam HR
The Pentacam HR was developed by Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH in Wetzlar, Germany. It provides high-resolution tomography and images the shape, size, and position of ocular structures involved in LASIK and refractive surgery, and it captures elevation data, curvature, and thickness of the cornea. It is also used for EVO ICL sizing and post-operative examinations.
Visante anterior scanner OCT
Carl Zeiss Meditec in Jena, Germany developed the Visante Anterior Scanner OCT. It produces a high-resolution view of the front portion of the eye, where laser vision correction is performed. It also aids in evaluating complex LASIK cases and shows positioning of KAMRA, and EVO ICL technologies in the eye.
Wavescan Wavefront system
The Wavescan Wavefront system is American technology developed by Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. in Santa Ana, California. It features wavefront optical technology engineered by the same company that manufactured the Hubble II telescope. The Wavescan measures a remarkable 240 data points within the eye and allows Brinton Vision to personalize LASIK treatments according to each eye’s unique characteristics. It also determines eye prescription to 0.01 diopter.
What kind of lasers are used at Brinton Vision?
As the only practice in St. Louis with multiple femtosecond and excimer laser platforms under one roof, we are better equipped to customize treatment options. We utilize the following lasers:
VISX S4 IR
This is one of our two excimer lasers. More LASIK cases have been done on the VISX laser than on any other laser in the world. It is also the laser approved for use in U.S. fighter pilots and NASA astronauts.
See if you are a candidate for LASIK.
Allegretto Wavelight
This is the second of our two excimer lasers used for LASIK. The Allegretto Wavelight laser is the fastest excimer laser in the country. (The Schwind laser is the fastest excimer laser in the world).
Zeiss Visumax — 500 Hz
This is one of our two femtosecond lasers. A femtosecond is one quadrillionth of a second. This is our newest laser and is the fastest femtosecond laser in the world, firing at 500Hz. It is also the only laser in the world that can do SMILE, a third-generation laser vision correction procedure. SMILE is a 100 percent femtosecond laser-based procedure.
Yag laser
This is a laser that we can use with Custom Lens Replacement surgery.
Are your lasers and lens implants FDA-approved?
Labeling for each of the lasers approved for LASIK can be found by clicking here. The FDA has available on its website general background and risk information concerning use of lasers for LASIK, which can be found on the FDA LASIK website. Some of these lasers were used for years in Europe and across the world prior to approval in the U.S., and for others, Dr. Brinton was one of the doctors selected to be part of the research team conducting the U.S. FDA clinical trial process that led to laser approval.