Contoura LASIK – Costs & Innovations

In the United States, topography-guided Contoura LASIK is FDA approved to treat myopia with or without astigmatism and mixed astigmatism within specific ranges. Our eye doctor will evaluate whether your prescription falls within the FDA-approved treatment zone for this technology.

Hyperopic treatment with topography-guided algorithms is not FDA approved in all markets. If you are farsighted, your surgeon may recommend a different platform or technique.

The procedure works especially well for astigmatism because the topography reveals the exact axis and magnitude of corneal irregularity. This precision often leads to better astigmatism correction than traditional methods.

Your cornea must be thick enough and healthy enough to undergo laser reshaping. We measure corneal thickness and check for any signs of disease during your comprehensive evaluation.

• Sufficient corneal thickness to allow safe tissue removal
• No signs of keratoconus or corneal ectasia
• Stable corneal shape over time
• Absence of significant scarring or infections
• Adequate residual stromal bed thickness after flap creation and ablation based on your measurements
• No corneal dystrophies such as epithelial basement membrane dystrophy or Fuchs dystrophy
• No history of herpetic eye disease affecting the cornea

We typically recommend waiting until you are at least 18 years old and your prescription has been stable for at least one year. Changing vision means your eyes are still developing, and surgery could require future enhancements.

If you are over 40, we will discuss how natural aging affects near vision. Contoura corrects distance vision extremely well, but presbyopia will still require reading glasses for most patients.

Certain health conditions can interfere with healing or make complications more likely. During your evaluation, we review your complete medical history to identify any concerns.

• Autoimmune diseases that affect healing
• Uncontrolled diabetes with fluctuating blood sugar
• Chronic dry eye that is not well-managed
• Pregnancy or nursing, and for several months afterward until prescription and hormones stabilize
• Active eye infections or inflammation
• Current or recent use of medications that impair corneal healing such as isotretinoin or amiodarone
• Significant allergic eye disease or habitual eye rubbing that cannot be controlled
• Autoimmune or immunosuppressive therapy that requires individualized risk assessment

Not everyone needs the advanced mapping that Contoura provides. If your corneas are very regular and your prescription is straightforward, standard LASIK may deliver equally excellent results at a lower cost.

Our eye doctor will review your topography and explain whether the extra investment in Contoura is likely to provide meaningful benefits for your specific situation. We always prioritize the approach that best matches your needs and goals.

Your evaluation begins with a thorough eye examination that includes multiple measurements and imaging studies. We test your current prescription, measure corneal thickness, and evaluate the overall health of your eyes.

The topography scan is painless and takes only seconds. You simply look at a target while the camera captures images of your corneal surface. Our team will explain each step so you know what to expect during your visit.

After we complete your scans, our eye doctor will review the topography maps with you. These color-coded images show the shape and curvature of your cornea in detail.

• Red and warm colors indicate steeper areas
• Blue and cool colors show flatter zones
• Irregular patterns may suggest astigmatism or other issues
• Symmetry between eyes helps predict outcomes

On surgery day, we apply numbing drops to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. You will lie back while the laser system is positioned over your eye, and we will ask you to focus on a small light.

The surgeon typically uses a femtosecond laser to create a thin corneal flap and gently lifts it to expose the tissue underneath. If a mechanical microkeratome is used, your surgeon will explain the rationale. The topography-guided laser then reshapes your cornea according to your customized treatment plan. Finally, the flap is repositioned to heal naturally without stitches.

The actual laser treatment takes less than a minute per eye. The entire procedure, including preparation and both eyes, usually requires about 15 to 20 minutes in the surgical suite.

You will spend additional time before and after surgery for final checks and initial recovery observation. Plan to be at our facility for approximately two hours on the day of your procedure, and arrange for someone to drive you home.

In the US, topography-guided Contoura LASIK is approved for myopia with or without astigmatism and mixed astigmatism. Hyperopic approval varies by market and platform.

Do not drive until cleared at your one day visit. Most patients return to desk work within one to two days, depending on comfort and vision.

Soft lenses are typically stopped for at least one week, toric soft lenses for about two weeks, and rigid gas-permeable or scleral lenses for three to four weeks, or until stable scans are obtained.

The value of Contoura depends on your individual corneal shape and visual goals. If you have irregular astigmatism or want the sharpest possible vision quality, the additional investment often provides meaningful benefits. For patients with very regular corneas and simple prescriptions, standard LASIK may deliver equally excellent results without the added expense.

The corneal reshaping from Contoura is permanent, and most patients enjoy stable vision for many years. However, natural age-related changes such as presbyopia will still occur, typically requiring reading glasses after age 40. Some people may experience minor prescription shifts over decades, but the majority of your correction remains intact long-term.

Contoura excels at correcting astigmatism because the topography precisely maps the irregular curvature causing your blurred vision. Many patients with astigmatism achieve better outcomes with Contoura than they would with standard LASIK or PRK. The detailed mapping allows the laser to address even subtle irregularities that other methods might miss.

Contoura corrects distance vision but does not prevent presbyopia, the natural loss of near focusing ability that occurs with aging. If you are over 40, you will likely still need reading glasses for close tasks. We can discuss monovision or other strategies to reduce your dependence on readers, though these involve trade-offs in distance vision clarity.

The discomfort level is similar between Contoura and traditional LASIK because the surgical technique is essentially the same. Both procedures use numbing drops that eliminate pain during surgery, and most patients report only mild discomfort or a gritty sensation for the first day afterward. The advanced mapping does not add any additional pain or recovery time.