The Center for Refractive Solutions at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE), uses advanced technology to help you see better. We perform procedures to correct vision for people with refractive errors who need glasses or contacts, and we also treat cataracts. All of these procedures are minimally invasive and require a short recovery time.

Refractive Errors 

Refractive errors are common eye conditions that make it difficult to see clearly. They can be caused by problems with the shape of the eyeball or cornea, which prevent light from focusing on the retina properly, and also the aging process. The Laser Vision Correction Center, which is part of the Center for Refractive Solutions, offers the most advanced surgical treatment options such as LASIK, PRK, custom lens replacement and EVO ICL, to help patients achieve clear vision. There are four types of refractive errors:

• Myopia (nearsightedness): When you cannot see clearly unless something is very close to your face 
• Hyperopia (farsightedness): You can see things that are far away but have trouble seeing things close to you 
• Astigmatism: When things appear blurry or wavy
• Presbyopia: It becomes harder to see things close to you as you get older; this usually starts when you are in your mid-40s and continues to get worse.

Cataracts

Cataracts affect a great number of older adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, about one in two Americans will have cataracts at some point. The condition tends to affect people over age 50, though some people have cataracts even in their 40s. Cataracts develop slowly, and we don’t have to treat them until they are affecting your ability to see and your quality of life. Often this doesn’t happen until you reach your 60s or 70s. Some people develop cataracts in one eye. Others have cataracts in both eyes. Sometimes people might develop cataracts due to an eye injury or certain medical conditions. Regardless of the cause, we can help.

At the Center for Refractive Solutions, we use a team approach to develop the best treatment plan for your cataracts and help patients select the right intraocular lens that fits their lifestyle and budget.

About Vision

When we work to improve your vision, our goal is to correct it to 20/20. This is considered the ideal average for human vision. But what does it mean to say, “I have 20/20 vision”? The first number refers to the distance between the person being tested and the eye chart (located 20 feet away). The second number represents the distance at which the average person can read the eye chart. A person with 20/20 vision can read a "normal" size letter when it is 20 feet away. A person with 20/40 vision can only read the same sized letter from 40 feet away. Someone with 20/400 vision sees the chart the way a person with 20/20 vision would when 400 feet from the chart. While it is possible to have better than 20/20 vision, for the majority of patients the goal is normal, 20/20 vision.

In normal vision, light rays travel through the cornea and the lens of the eye. They focus on the retina in the back of the eye. Both the curve of the cornea and the size of the eyeball affect how well we see. As light rays pass through the eye, they are bent (refracted). When your eye doesn’t bend the light properly, we say there are refractive errors. This can distort your vision and make it hard to see properly.

Financing Your Refractive and Cataract Surgery

Whether you are having cataract surgery or laser vision correction surgery, like LASIK, you might be responsible for certain out-of-pocket costs. For example, laser vison correction surgery is considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance. While cataract surgery is covered by health insurance, some parts of surgery like premium lenses or laser-assisted surgery will result in out-of-pocket expenses. Your ophthalmologist will discuss in detail the surgical options that best fit your case, and together you will choose the procedure that fits your budget and vision goals. When deciding whether to invest in refractive surgery or premium lenses for cataract surgery, a cost-benefit analysis may help. Some question to consider:

• How much do you spend on contact lenses in a year? Now multiply that by five and ten years. Compare the cost of contacts over your lifetime as compared to the cost of refractive surgery.
• How much are your eyeglasses or contacts interfering with your lifestyle? If you enjoy active sports or have hobbies or jobs where eyesight and/or mobility is key, you may want a more permanent solution.
• Can you find a way to finance this expense if you don’t have the cash right now?

Financing options include:

• Flexible Spending Account: A flexible spending account through your job allows you to pay for eligible medical expenses, including these procedures, with pre-tax dollars.  
• Health Savings Account: Some health insurances allow you to set aside pre-tax money to help pay for qualified medical expenses.
• Loan: You may be able to take a loan from a credit union or bank.

Open Access for Physicians

The Laser Vision Correction Center at NYEE, which is part of our Center for Refractive Solutions, offers New York metro area surgeons open access to advanced laser vision correction technology in our state-of-the art facility in lower Manhattan.

The Center offers procedures in LASIK, custom LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy, and EVO implantable Collamer Lens, using the latest technologies featuring the VISX Star S4 IR Excimer Laser, the Intralase iFS Advanced Femtosecond Laser (bladeless LASIK), the Wavescan Wavefront system, and the Oculus Pentacam.

For questions regarding open access, please contact Cassandra Rolon at 212-979-4600 or email at crolon@nyee.edu.