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The Kraff Eye Institute of Chicago is the nation’s leading provider of LASIK surgery. With a focus on using the most state of the art treatment techniques, Dr. Colman Kraff, a pioneer in the field of laser corrective surgery, achieves the best results for his patients, improving their quality of life for years to come.
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) is an FDA-approved refractive procedure intended to reduce your dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive procedure at Kraff Eye because of the quick results and recovery time it provides.
In qualified patients, LASIK surgery will dramatically decrease a patient’s dependency on glasses and contact lenses. Many patients actually describe LASIK as a miracle.
The procedure is designed to treat patients who are myopic (nearsighted) and hyperopic (farsighted). More recent advancements in technology now allow us to also treat patients with high levels of astigmatism. The newest customized iDesign advanced wavefront guided technology, used by the Kraff Eye Institute, helps Dr. Kraff achieve highly accurate results.
LASIK is essentially a 2-step process. Step 1 is where Dr. Kraff uses the Intralase Femtosecond Laser to create a very thin flap on the surface of the cornea. Step 2 is where Dr. Kraff lifts the flap and uses another laser to reshape the cornea. The reshaping of the cornea allows the light traveling through the eye to hit the retina, thereby correcting your vision.
Approved by the FDA in 1997, LASIK is a safe and painless alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses.
At your consultation visit, we will check your current vision with and without your glasses or contacts. During the examination, we will measure the thickness of your cornea, take a topography of your eyes (map of the top surface of the eye), and check the overall health of your eyes. These tests along with an examination with Dr. Kraff will let you know if you are a candidate for refractive surgery. One of our refractive counselors will go over the procedure in detail with you and answer any questions you might have regarding the surgery. You will then have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Kraff, who will let you know if you are a candidate for laser vision correction, and answer any additional questions you may have.
Depending on if you wear contact lenses, and the type of lenses you wear, surgery can be anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks following your initial consultation. If you wear specialty lenses, Dr. Kraff will instruct you on how long you need to be out of your contact lenses prior to surgery. If you don’t wear contact lenses, then the Refractive Consultant will work with you to find a day and time that works best with your schedule.
You can simply CALL US or make an appointment using the online forms at the links below
312-444-1111Schedule Consultation
On the day of surgery you will want to plan on being in the office for about 2 hours. The LASIK procedure is around 30 minutes, with the actual LASER treatment being only a matter of seconds.
Is LASIK Surgery for Everyone?
LASIK surgery can improve the vision of patients with a variety of refractive errors. At the Kraff Eye Insitute, we determine if our patients qualify for the LASIK procedure and offer Custom LASIK and All-Laser (Bladeless) LASIK. Please, learn more about our LASIK procedures below and schedule a consultation to see if you are a good candidate.
On the day of surgery, you should expect to be in the office for about 2 hours. This will allow for patient check-in, additional testing, administering a mild oral sedative to help you relax, performing the procedure, and then reviewing post-operative information.
Creating the flap takes approximately 4 to 5 minutes. The patient will be given several sets of numbing drops to ensure a painless treatment. It’s normal during this step to feel a small amount of pressure. The sensation only lasts for about 30 seconds for each eye.
Dr. Kraff will be talking to you throughout the entire process so you know what to expect.
The second step usually takes 10 minutes to complete. Additional numbing drops will continue to be administered to help keep you comfortable during the procedure. The treatments will be done one eye at a time and will take approximately 5 minutes for each eye. Dr. Kraff will use a small instrument to gently keep the eyelid open. Then, Dr. Kraff will use surgical instruments to lift the flap created in step 1. Next, the laser will reshape the cornea to improve your vision. This step is quick, usually less than 1 minute, and during that time you will feel NO discomfort. Once completed, Dr. Kraff will realign the flap; smoothing out any wrinkles or creases. He will then begin the same process on the other eye.
After the procedure is over, your post-operative instructions will be reviewed in detail and Dr. Kraff will take one final look at your eyes before you leave. The patient is encouraged to go home and try and sleep as much as possible.
After your LASIK procedure, you will be taken to our recovery room where all of your post-operative instructions are explained in detail. Dr. Kraff will examine your eyes again before you leave and answer any follow-up questions you might have. You will need to have someone with you to assist you in getting home following your LASIK surgery.
When you arrive home, you will sleep 4-6 hours during which time the majority of the healing process takes place. You may experience some mild discomfort (watery eyes, stinging, light sensitivity) during this time and we want you to keep your eyes closed as much as possible to aid in your recovery.
The day after your LASIK surgery, you will come back to the office for a post operative examination which lasts about 30 minutes. Dr. Kraff will review your progress and answer any follow-up questions you might have. 90% of patients return to normal daily activities within 24 hours of their procedure.
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Safety is, and will always be, Dr. Kraff’s number 1 concern when performing a LASIK procedure. During the initial consultation, Dr. Kraff will assess whether a patient falls within treatable parameters for surgery. If he feels that surgery is not a safe option for you, he will not recommend moving forward and will discuss safe alternative options if appropriate.
Since Dr. Kraff started participating in the original FDA clinical trials in 1991, he has been an active participant, striving to continuously advance LASIK. In continuing to work with the FDA, Dr. Kraff has participated in dozens of clinical studies, helping to advance LASIK technology and ensuring safe and effective results for patients.
“When deciding on where, and if, to have an elective procedure, we understand that cost is always going to play a factor in the decision-making process. We understand how the words “CHEAP” and “DISCOUNT” can be extremely appealing, but it’s important for patients to understand what exactly is included in the cost of their procedure. When here for a no-cost consultation, our team will explain what separates Dr. Kraff from our competitors. They will go over the exact cost of surgery, what’s included in the service and experience, and what the payment options are. Our team has researched the best financing options and are proud to partner with Care Credit. Patients should also know that HSA and FSA funds are allowed towards the surgery!”
Kraff Eye Institute has researched the best credit options and is proud to announce a partnership with CareCredit, America’s top patient payment program. CareCredit allows you to start your vision care procedures at once – then pay for it at your convenience with low monthly payments that are easy to fit in your monthly budget.
Please call our office at (312) 444-1111 for more details.
Dr. Colman Kraff has been at the forefront of LASER eye surgery since the beginning. Having personally performed over 70,000 LASER procedures, he is one of the most reputable and skilled surgeons anywhere.
Dr. Kraff works closely with industry manufactures as a principle investigator and consultant. As a result, he actively participates in the most recent FDA trials to ensure the best and most precise technology is available to patients.
Dr. Kraff was born and raised in Chicago. He enjoys running and photography, as well as, spending time with his wife, children, and granddaughter.
As long as patients fall within treatable perimeters, LASIK is a safe and effective procedure
A typical LASIK procedure, from start to finish, takes about 15-30 minutes. The LASER portion to correct your vision is less than 1 minute
During the procedure a patient will be given several sets of numbing drops. These drops help create a painless procedure for the patient. Post-operatively, a patient will be given oral pain medication to help minimize any discomfort. This discomfort is temporary and usually only lasts a couple of hours
If a patient falls within treatable perimeters and requires an enhancement, a 2nd procedure can be performed. The enhancement procedure varies slightly from the initial procedure as we do not need to recreate a flap. Depending on when the primary procedure was 1st performed, Dr. Kraff may recommend doing PRK for the enhancement
Yes! The Kraff Eye Institute utilizes the most advanced wavefront guided technology. This technology allows us to treat high levels of astigmatism
Laser eye surgery does not stop the natural aging process of the eye (presbyopia). Patients who are being treated for Myopia or Hyperopia should understand that they will still need reading glasses when they are in their late 40s or early 50s. If a patient is currently wearing reading glasses, then Dr. Kraff may recommend what is known as Monovision. Monovision will be discussed when you are in the office for your consultation.
Dr. Kraff places an emphasis on providing patients the safest and most effective treatments available. Here at the Kraff Eye Institute we utilize the iDesign technology. The iDesign is the most advanced way of screening and mapping the cornea. This software gives Dr. Kraff the ability to truly customize each individual treatment. This technology is used in both LASIK and PRK treatments.
You can simply CALL US or make an appointment using the online forms at the links below
312-444-1111Schedule Consultation
