Laser Eye Surgery
Lasik Surgery Information

Epi Lasik

There is no need to live with poor vision. Various laser eye treatment techniques provide highly successful and safe ways to help people see more naturally. It is becoming a very common elective procedure, already undergone by more than 20 million people worldwide to free themselves from wearing glasses and contact lenses.

In the eye, the cornea is the part that helps focus light to create an image in the retina. The bending and focusing of light that enters the eye is called refraction. Refractive errors in the eye occur when there are imperfections in the focusing power of the eye caused by irregular shape of the cornea resulting in blurred vision.

The most common way to correct these refractive errors is by wearing glasses or spectacles. These are inexpensive and readily available. However, they can be difficult to handle especially for active people. They can easily be misplaced, broken, and may cause contact dermatitis in others. At times, they can be considered unattractive.

Contact lenses have been developed to address these common problems. Contacts provide more mobility, can be worn safely during sports activities, increase peripheral vision, and eliminate the need for less attractive framed lenses. However, they require more maintenance and chances of eye infection are greater. These can also be uncomfortable to wear in dusty or polluted environments. Moreover, contact lenses cannot be worn for extended periods because of the risk of eye irritation.

Over the years, advancements in refractive surgery have made it easier and more affordable to treat these different refractive errors. The goal of refractive surgery is to reduce dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Modern developments in eye treatment made it possible to perform safe and painless procedures with the use of lasers. This involves reshaping the cornea or the clear part of the eye to focus light better and to normalise vision. Surgical procedures can involve using radical keratotomy using diamond scalpel, implant procedures, thermal procedures, or the more modern special lasers. More common laser vision correction procedures include LASIK, PRK, LASEK, and epi-LASIK.

LASIK or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis is the most popular type and is the main method used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The procedure is painless and there is rapid recovery. Another good thing about LASIK is that improved vision is often enjoyed the day after surgery.

PRK or photorefractive keratectomy is an alternative to LASIK surgery. Like LASIK, it also uses lasers to reshape the cornea but without making a corneal flap. This is usually done if the cornea is too thin for LASIK procedure to be done. Since no flap is created, there is no risk of flap complications. PRK is highly accurate in correcting myopia cases but recovery time is longer compared to the more popular LASIK surgery.

LASEK or laser epithelial keratomileusis combines LASIK and PRK to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. This eye surgery causes dry eye less frequently than LASIK procedure. However 00004000 , it may cause more pain and discomfort than LASIK surgery. Recovery time is usually longer and patients should use topical steroid drops for a longer period compared to LASIK. LASEK eye surgery may be more suitable for patients with very thin corneas, making it difficult for the eye surgeon to make a LASIK flap.

Epi-LASIK is somewhat a cross between LASIK and LASEK and again, it is an option for patients whose corneas are too thin for LASIK surgery. It might also be suitable for those whose eyes are at risk of trauma such as athletes. However, this procedure can have more risks such as eye infection, mild halos around images, and dry eyes.

These laser treatment procedures have changed the way people deal with refractive errors and have provided better options especially for patients with severe myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.

To make an informed decision on which type of refractive surgery is best, patients are advised to consult experienced eye doctors for proper evaluation. Today, after research and advances in methods of refractive error correction, laser eye treatment offers optimum precision and safety, with minimal discomfort and rapid visual recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    What's the best epi lasik clinic in Kuala Lumpur ?
    What's the best epi lasik clinic in Kuala Lumpur ? and how much do they get for epi lasik and wavefront epi lasik.

    • ANSWER:

  2. QUESTION:
    What are the benefits of Epi Lasik?
    Are the surgery really beneficial? Share your thoughts.

    • ANSWER:
      Benefits of Epi Lasik are many and these benefits largely outweigh the drawbacks. Here are the benefits:

      •It doesn’t cut a cornea flap.
      •For the future, you will retain a good amount of cornea.
      •As it avoids thinning the cornea too much, it is suitable for many more people.
      •It is less likely to cause dry eyes than regular lasik.
      •It is done fast and the cornea fully heals.

  3. QUESTION:
    What do you think about laser eye surgery - EPI-LASIK Wavelight?
    I have -3 diop. (shortsightedness eye) and I am thinking about undergo a surgery.
    Will I see sharp right after the surgery?

    • ANSWER:
      I had -5.75 and I got LASIK surgery with the "Zioptix" laser (it's supposed to be more accurate). I found the surgery to be one of the scariest experiences of my life but I would definitely do it again. You will see clearly IMMEDIATELY after the surgery but your vision will be clouded...that sounds weird but it's the only way I can explain it. It was extremely painful for me in the hours afterward, but it goes away pretty quickly. I've also been told that others didn't really feel a thing, so maybe it depends on your prescription. You might experience halos around lights for a little while after but that also goes away (usually). If they ask if you want a valium, take it. They'll also give you some of the numbing eye drops that they use right after...if your eyes are in a lot of pain, use them. That's pretty much all the advice I can give!! Hope you decide to do it, one of the best decisions of my life!

  4. QUESTION:
    Can some one tell me, i ve booked appointment for laser eyez treament & its epi-Lasik Wave Front.?
    so i am feeling little bit hesitation because some people says, do intralase , some says this & that, but my dr has adviced me, epi-lasik is the one which is natural procedure, & it take 7 days to heal, well still i am abit scare about, any experience if some have had in past about kindly let me know, because i can still change my mind thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY! Before taking any decision in life, you must think, ponder, but once decided, No Procrastination, please.
      If i received all pertinent information related to you &your specs etc, it would have been a clear advice, still, I can say that if the doctor is conscientious and uses the ART & SCIENCE judiciously, you surely will enjoy Post LASER vision well. All Roads lead to Rome. So whatever you undergo, generaly you will have better life.
      Anything which can go wrong, will go wrong sometime or other, but that does not preclude us to enjoy a meaningful LIFE!

  5. QUESTION:
    Is Epi-LASIK as good as it claims compared to conventional LASIK?

    • ANSWER:
      Not necessarily. As with conventional LASIK, it may not be suitable for everyone as well. Epi-Lasik also takes a much longer time to heal and is a more painful procedure than conventional LASIK. Epi-Lasik is more suited for those who have corneal that are too thin for conventional LASIK procedure.

      Remember: Doesn't mean the latest technology is always the best. It is still best to leave the recommendation of which procedure to is best for you, up to your LASIK surgeon based on your consultation.

  6. QUESTION:
    The difference between Epi Lasik and Intralase lasik (bladeless lasik)?which type for commercial pilot?
    Well I want to become an air pilot for commercial planes, but its only my vision which is a bit low so which type of lasik do you recommend me so as I can pass my pilot Class 1 medical examination successfully?

    • ANSWER:
      check out this site : http://www.mylasikdoc.com/html/ilasik.html

  7. QUESTION:
    Custom Epi-Lasik or Regular Custom Lasik?
    I am a -9D in both eyes with mild astigmatism. I went for an evaluation for surgery today and the doctor said I was eligible for either Custom Epi-Lasik or Custom Lasik (my choice). He gave me a lot of detail on both surgeries but I still can't decide which is best for me. Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      This is a high prescription. If you do lasik, it will definitely weaken the cornea structure because of the amount of tissue that must be removed in addition to the "flap" that all ready weakens the cornea.
      In "epi-lasik" a true flap is not made. It is only the surface cells that are removed. However, this is more prone to the development of "haze" unless the doctor treats you with mitomycin-c at the time of the procedure to prevent this.
      Bottom line: I'd opt for epilasik with mitomycin-c.

  8. QUESTION:
    why I'm not gettine a good vision as expected after 2 weeks from having epi lasik?
    I had epi lasik 2 weeks ago and my left eye vision is even worse than before while the right one is almost perfect. Is this normal?my doctor says give it time but I feel there is something wrong

    • ANSWER:
      You need to give it time, but if you are woried speak with your doctor

  9. QUESTION:
    EPI-LASIK clear vision when will get?plz reply?
    i done epi-lasik but after 20 days i didn't get clear vision some shaded are there
    i done epi-lasik doctor said need 1 month to get clear vision,but if any done epi-lasik plz reply ur experience i am fear about it,for me shaded,not clear vision

    • ANSWER:
      Lasik eye surgery is very safe nowadays. My cousin got her dental implants and Lasik surgery in India by a company called Indian Health Guru Consultants. The Price for dental and Lasik surgery is very less in India. She paid 25% of the price she was quoted in America.

      Indian Health Guru Consultants is very famous in India They arrange Dental surgery, jaw surgery, Lasik eye surgery, Dental Implants etc for foreign patients in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines- about their patient stories.
      They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as dental and eye surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

      http://www.indianhealthguru.com
      Hope this helps.

  10. QUESTION:
    Epi Lasik fears?
    I have taken appointment for Epi Lasik surgery for next week. I am very afraid now after looking at some of the yahoo answers.
    1. Fears of pain
    2. There was a case whose eye sight was not recovered even after 2 weeks of surgery.
    3. I can afford to take leave at office for a maximum of 2 weeks. Will that be sufficient?
    Please help me and suggest if I can go ahead with the surgery.
    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      1. Your doctor will offer oral sedation (like Valium), along with STRONG numbing drops. You shouldn't feel a thing except for the device used to hold your eyelids open.
      2. Of course there is risk, but if you are healthy and have healthy eyes, the procedure is safe. There are 'bad cases' to every type of surgery.
      3. Epi Lasik patients mostly feel comfortable to return to work in about 5 days. 2 weeks is more than enough. Your vision might be SLIGHTLY blurry in 2 weeks, but hopefully good enough to drive comfortably.

  11. QUESTION:
    epi-lasik suitable for me?
    My age is 24. My cornea is 400 [MU] thin and my degree is about 550 per eye.

    I was not suitable for normal lasik.

    May i know what other method can i do to restore eye visibility for my case? E.g Epi-lasik

    • ANSWER:
      Epi-LASIK (sometimes called PRK - photo refractive keratectomy) may be another option for you or the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens.

      With Epi-LASIK, no flap is created prior to the laser treatment. Instead, the laser treatment is done on the surface of the eye. The downfall of that, is that recovery time is longer and you will experience more discomfort. Usually the first 3 days you will have some pain & discomfort (tearing and burning like when cutting onions) as well as the feeling of having an eyelash or something grainy in the eyes. The surgeon should give you a presciption for eye drops that will help with the pain as well as one for Vicodin.

      With the Visian ICL, it is a newer procedure and it costs more than LASIK/Epi-LASIK. With this procedure, a contact lens with the power you need is implanted in front of the lens of your eye. It takes about 15-20 minutes (Epi-LASIK 5-7 mins for both eyes) and only one eye can be done at a time (Epi-LASIK both can be done at one visit). Recovery is quicker but it does not correct astigamatism (you may need an Epi-LASIK touch-up to get rid of any astigmatism you may have.)

      Good luck! =)

  12. QUESTION:
    how much does an epi-lasik surgery cost?

    • ANSWER:
      It costs around 2000 US dollars for both eyes.

      You can find more articles on lasik here: http://www.newagey.com/lasik/

  13. QUESTION:
    Epi-Lasik Eye surgery?
    I am considering having this done - anyone know from personal experience what I should expect? Any complications?

    • ANSWER:
      You shouldn't experience any complications.

      The first 3 days you will experience pain and discomfort - burning and tearing (like when cutting onions), you may feel like you have sand in your eyes.

      After surgery the doctor should place a bandage contact lens in your eyes (it helps ease pain - pain would be worse without it) which you leave in (you won't need to take it out/clean it like regular contacts, the doctor should take it out at your 3 or 5 day check up) - you should have a check up one day after surgery and either a 3 or 5 day depending on the laser being used for the treatment.

      You should also receive a prescription for Vicodin that should be taken if necessary for any pain or discomfort. An optional medication that can also be prescribed to help w/pain would be Neurontin (or Gabapentin). You can ask your surgeon about getting a prescription for this. You would start it the morning of your surgery - taken 3 times a day for 4 days (12 tablets) total.

      Good luck!

  14. QUESTION:
    Has anyone had Epi-Lasik surgery?
    Apparently this is an alternative for those who have thinner corneas.

    • ANSWER:
      Epi-LASIK also called PRK (photo refractive keratectomy) is usually recommended for those who have thin corneas or whose corneas are too risky for LASIK.

      With Epi-LASIK, the treatment is done on the surface of the eye, no corneal flap is cut. The downfall of Epi-LASIK is that they recovery time is longer. About the first 3 days you will experience discomfort and pain - tearing and burning like when cutting onions. The doctor will place a bandage contact lens (a clear contact lens that helps ease the pain) in the eye which he/she will take out on your 3 or 5 day check up (depends on which laser treatment you do, if it's a 3 or 5 day check up). The contact lens does not need to be taken out and cleaned.

      Most patients are fine after the first three days. The doctor should give you some Vicodin to help with the pain for those first 3 days.

      Good luck!

  15. QUESTION:
    Want to do the Epi-K (Lasik) Surgery?
    If you had it, can you please tell me what you liked about it and what you didn't like. I want to do it but i'm afraid that i will get blind or something, see, i have a little baby so i want to see in my future!! LOL. Was it easy, painful, complicated, did you need an enhancement, did you pay that extra 167/eye for future enhancement???!!???
    Thanks guys!

    • ANSWER:
      LASIK eye surgery is generally considered to be a safe and effective method of treating near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism and millions of people undergo this procedure every year throughout the world.
      No surgery is without risks or complications, however, and this must be understood and accepted before making the decision.
      The most common side effects of LASIK eye surgery are dry eyes and glare. The incidence of these are debated between proponents and opponents of the surgery. The FDA considers the risks to be low enough to approve the technology required for LASIK (microkeratomes, excimer lasers, etc.)
      Safety can be increased by selecting a skilled surgeon using the best technology. Studies show that experience is one of the most important factors in selecting a surgeon.

      There is a really good San Diego Lasik website that has lots of info and some very informative Lasik articles. See the links below:
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/lasik-eye-surgery-san-diego.htm
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/lasik-san-diego-north-county.htm
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/lasik-san-diego-east-county.htm
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/lasik-san-diego-south-bay.htm
      http://www.lasik-surgery-san-diego.info/laser-eye-surgery.htm
      http://www.inkjet-cartridge-source.com

  16. QUESTION:
    Question for LASIK patients: What kind of LASIK did you have and how long before you saw 20/20?
    I had Epi-LASIK surgery on 5/18 and I still can't see 20/20. The doctor says it will improve with time but I'm starting to worry that I won't ever be 20/20. What was your experience?

    • ANSWER:
      You need to be aggressively using the eye drops and sunglasses at this point. Keep those eyes moist! I had laser surgery on my eyes in 2003. I am not 20/20, though, and never was. They don't guarantee 20/20. I had fairly severe astigmatism. One eye is very good, the other is actually a bit farsighted, but not enough that they don't coordinate well without glasses. And since I was older, I need glasses for reading as the farsightedness that you get as you get older CANNOT be corrected. No big deal. You will experience some daily fluctuations in the accurateness of your sight and the amount of light you are trying to see in (bright, muted, dark) will have allot to do with how well you see. Seeing haloes on lights at night was a problem I had for months (sometimes lights looked doubled) but that gradually got better. If after several months your vision is not what you expect it to be, then you and your doctor can discuss revisions to the original surgery. At this point, though, you are only a couple of weeks with your new vision and the doctor is most likely right--give it time and don't stress.

  17. QUESTION:
    Back to gym after Lasik surgery?
    Hi i'll be undergoing a Epi-Lasik Surgery next week and the doctor said it'll take 3 weeks approx to get back the Normal Vision.

    When can i go to Gym after surgery? Hope looking in to ma Mobile Phone screen after the surgery doesn't cause any strain to eyes..

    Plz help

    • ANSWER:
      The same time about 2-3 weeks

  18. QUESTION:
    Lasik eye surgery - Suggestion for getting 6/6 in my right eyes with 418 pachy: please find the details below.?
    I underwent epi-lasik in both my eyes during last year august. My old prescription was -9 and -4.5 as myopia and astigmatism respectively with [6/6] vision in both my eyes. After lasik my prescripition is -1.5 and -2 [6/6]in my left eye and -2.5 and -2[6/9] in my right eye . Before lasik my cornea thickness was 555 and now it is 418. please let me whether is it possible for me to get 6/6 in right eye, is it possible for another lasik surgery. Thank you

    • ANSWER:
      ummmm huh?

  19. QUESTION:
    lasik for my eyes? how do I decide the surgeon?
    i had a viral infection (mild) a yr ago and now wearing lenses is a huge task for me. my cornea dries up too fast cos of lenses. my eye doc tol me i could wear lenses after my infection cleared, but apparently i cant. i was considering lasik. has anyone done this? if so, is your vision perfect/ near perfect (not requiring glasses?). how do i choose where to get it done from? how do i chose the doctor? does the type of laser matter? like wave front or epi lasik or whatever. and how much does the entire procedure cost?
    HELP!

    • ANSWER:
      it doesn't need much skill...
      you can trust any surgeon who has done 3 or 4 such surgeries..
      it is much better if the surgeon is practising since last 2-3 years or more..

      yup..type matter...but let it to decide your doctor...which suite you better...
      2000 rupees surgeons fee
      and 4000-5000 for the drugs and medicaments..you need to purchase seperately..

  20. QUESTION:
    Anyone have Epi-Lasek and what do you think?
    I am getting Epi-Lasek and want to know if anyone has had it and their experience. Why Epi-Lasek instead of Lasik? my vision is -2.25.

    • ANSWER:
      Trader, your should ask you eye doctor (ophthalmologist) and s(he) should best answer your valid questions about these procedures. LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) is a laser refractive procedure to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. LASEK is sometimes referred to as "Epi-LASEK." It involves removing the top layer of the cornea as a flap-like sheet before re-sculpting the cornea with the excimer laser. The epithelial sheet is then replaced on the surface of the eye and a soft contact lens is inserted for a few days following the surgery.

      What is the difference between LASIK and LASEK?
      In the LASIK procedure, an instrument called a microkeratome is used to create a protective flap of tissue. LASEK also involves the creation of a protective epithelial flap, but there is no microkeratome used. Instead, the tissue is loosened with a medical solution and then is carefully moved to the side for the laser portion of the procedure. After the laser procedure, the tissue is then repositioned and healing begins.

      Why would you have LASEK over LASIK? LASEK is a great option for patients previously turned down for LASIK because of thin or unusually shaped corneas. It is also a nice option for those patients who are uncomfortable with the microkeratome.

      Good luck!

  21. QUESTION:
    I have an appt. scheduled for Epi-Lasek at the end of January?
    I am near-sighted -4.25 in both eyes and I have a 9-5 office job which entails I work on the computer and use e-mail all day long. I am not incredibly active, but I am choosing Epi-Lasek over Lasik because I don't like the idea of having a "flap" that can be dislodged for the rest of my life. I'm worried a kid would accidentally poke me in the eye or something with a "flap." However, I have heard it can take a week before you can see and with Epi-Lasek and I can only take a week off from work. Anyone have REAL experience with Epi-Lasek? Please give your real life experiences or friend's experiences. Not looking for news articles. What is the pain like with Epi-Lasek? How good were your results? Are you happy with Epi-Lasek or would you reccommend it?

    • ANSWER:
      My friend is a police officer ,and he had it done 5 years ago and was and is happy with the procedure ,I see him often and see has no regrets. He said they were professional and caring although they weren,t completely honest on the full cost.--good luck

  22. QUESTION:
    Optimax laser eye surgery - have you had an offer letter?
    I am considering having Epi-Lasik with Optimax but when I went for the consultation it seemed that everyone there had different offer letters with different amounts. I have the new year offer of around £890 for both eyes. Has anyone recently had any other offer letter and if so, for what amount and what offer was it?
    Please can people read the question before answering..the first two answers don't actually answer the question I am asking :-(

    • ANSWER:
      Hi,

      I had my eyes done at Optimax Liverpool, I bought the treatment on Ebay, the owner of the clinics sells appointments online, I paid £695 for both eyes. I would recommend asking the seller a question and then he will provide you with a contact telephone number. The service is just the same as going via the offer letter but cheaper. I never looked back, I had Epi-Lasek in July 2005, spent two weeks unable to drive, but it was worth it. Weird cause when it's been done you can see straight away, your vision deteriorates over the next couple of days as the laser work heals and then you gradually regain vision. I have now got better than 20/20 vision. Best thing I ever did, wish I'd done it years ago, and glad I came across someone on a website that told me about the ebay thing.

      I know this doesn't really answer your question, but I thought you'd be interested in a cheaper way, if you've been for consult but not booked treatment yet you can still use this route, just speak to the seller on ebay. It's actually a secretary at optimax. I'd booked a consult before I found the offer on ebay, didn't make a difference they still let me take the offer off ebay.

  23. QUESTION:
    eye surgery recovery?
    i had epi-lasik eye surgery in august thats been about 3 months ago and im still having to use the lubricating eye drops. has anyone else had this problem? my vision is great but ive got dry eyes especially in the morning.

    • ANSWER:
      Post op dryness is a very common complaint with Lasik. Most patients will with time return to pre Lasik levels of comfort, although some do have chronic dryness symtpoms. Three months is a little too early to know whether you will improve. I had Lasik about 12 years ago. It took me about 6 months or so to return to my pre op eye lubrication. Just continue to use your lubricants and give it more time. Hopefully you will gradually see improvement. Hope this helped.

  24. QUESTION:
    is there any eye treatment for plus prescription?PLZ answer?
    ok i have got following presciption
    +1.25 right eye
    and 1.00 left eye
    my eye doctor told me u have to wear glasses 24 hours a day for both near and far. but as i dont feel comfortable by it it feels like virtual like with headache all the time.Its just feel so unreal, all things looks like slanted with difficulty in colour difference . So i ask my dctr can i have treatment to cure eyes to get rid of glasses as i have tried a lot like was wearing glasses for 2 mnths to get used to glasses but failed. he said that u cant get it cured by any treatment like lasik,epi lasik etc.I just wanna ask IS it possible to cure plus presciption or whatever my prescription is by any treatment. Is there any new treatment invented???PLZ tell me if will there be any in future soon.

    at the moment even though i have this number i dont wear glasses cuz i feel uncomfortable is it alright?
    if there is no treatment for plus precription plz tell me why it isnt possible as there r lots of other treatment for other prescription like prk,epi lasik...but dat i know that prk isnt possible for my prescription

    • ANSWER:
      These two sites discuss your prescription and the options available for it: http://eyesite.com and http://eyeprescription.com.
      CK, Lasik, PRK and lens implant seem like possible options.
      Get a second opinion from a refractive surgeon.
      Of course soft contact lenses are a possible option too.

  25. QUESTION:
    Dark Hard line under my eyes ? =/ help?
    Hello!

    Im 21 and i did EPI Lasik three weeks ago...
    I noticed few days ago that there is a hard dark line under each eye =/
    and when i put foundation on it it looks flakey and it feels hard and flakey
    i tried to put vaseline on it but i dont think it worked =/
    and im really worried i dont want it to be there because it just doesnt look good
    i have dark circles allready and this would make it looks really bad! :(
    please if you know what is it tell me and how to treat it and is it okai to use anti aging serum that i use on it

    • ANSWER:

  26. QUESTION:
    Is it legal for a prospective employer to force you to have a medical procedure to get the job?
    I found this ad on Craigslist and was completely blown away by it. Please let me know what you think. It HAS to be illegal in some way. This guy is looking for an Executive Secretary for his Lasik practice in NYC. It's one thing to look for a great new employee and want your current ones to perform well but this guy is a bit over the top. He must have had a really bad day and you can tell from his post that he hates his employees. He says that in order to apply for the job, you MUST wear contacts or glasses and get a lasik procedure (this is a job requirement). What???? Is he for real??? Someone has to report this guy. So, if you have great vision, you can't work for him? Is he nuts? I guess he's not forcing you to work for him but with the job market the way it is now, if you are an experienced secretary that meets a lot of these requirements, is it legal for this guy NOT to hire you because you refuse un unnecessary medical procedure? Attorneys???? Anyone have any thoughts on this. I just had to share this with others.

    Here is the ad as it was posted today:

    EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR LASER VISION CORRECTION CENTER-MUST WANT LASEK (Flatiron)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Reply to: job-1010080759@craigslist.org [?]
    Date: 2009-01-27, 3:42PM EST

    DO NOT REPLY TO THIS AD UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO READ IT CAREFULLY TO THE END, AS THERE ARE SEVERAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, ALL OF WHICH YOU HAVE TO MEET AND SUBMIT

    SO IF YOU ARE SIMPLY GOING TO REPLY TO THIS AND 100 OTHER ADS WITH A STOCK RESPONSE AND COVER LETTER, DON'T BOTHER AS I WILL NOT EVEN OPEN YOUR EMAIL I WILL JUST DELETE IT

    I CAN TELL FROM HOW YOU APPLY WHETHER YOU EVEN BOTHERED TO READ THIS ENTIRE AD, WHICH IS ONE REASON I AM PUTTING IN SUCH SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS--TO WEED OUT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BOTHER TO READ THE ADS FULLY AND JUST SPAM RESUMES TO EMPLOYERS, WHICH IS NOT THE WAY TO GET A JOB

    I am the MD owner of www.ParkAvenueLaser.com which is NYC’s only 100% no-cut, no-flap, all-laser LASEK and epi-LASEK center

    VISIT OUR WEBSITE BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR THIS JOB SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU’RE A GOOD FIT!

    Job Requirements (you must meet ALL of these to apply):
    1. Graduate of a 4-year college, AND
    2. 10 years experience of full-time work after graduating from college, AND
    3. 5 years experience as a full-time receptionist or secretary, AND
    4. 1 year of experience in a medical or spa or retail job, AND
    5. you need to be wearing glasses and/or contacts and want to get laser vision correction, AND
    6. computer literate, good with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, ACT!

    Daily Tasks (my current secretaries make all of these mistakes on a daily basis—you should not):
    1. Call ALL appointments to confirm them (they now call “most” of them)
    2. Give me my highlighted schedule every night of the next day’s activities
    3. Pull all charts and prep them TWO DAYS BEFORE the patients come in (again, they say they do this “most” of the time, but in need to be done all of the time)
    4. Clear ALL medical insurances and check for referrals every time BEFORE patient comes in
    5. Collect ALL copays and record ALL in BOTH the chart AND receipt book every time
    6. Log in ALL payments received on the spreadsheet every time
    7. Give patients a receipt of payments and have me sign the receipt book
    8. Enter people’s FULL contact information in ACT! when they call / come in
    9. Check demographic sheet patients fill out to make sure it is complete
    10. do NOT purposely circumvent ACT! system by entering “.” instead of real information
    11. Ask patients to spell their names, company name, and email address
    12. Get the full name, phone #, date, time, and details of every message
    13. Properly greet patients and offer them complimentary tea/coffee/water
    14. Straighten out the waiting room at least once a day
    15. Come out from behind the front desk / sit down next to “VIP” patients
    16. Decrement # of referrals in the chart, and ask for new referral as gets to 0
    17. Check expiration dates of insurance cards and referrals
    18. Check charts to make sure patients actually paid for their LASEK before surgery
    19. Tell me or other staff members in a timely fashion when problems arise
    20. Take action to fix small problems so they don’t become a big problem
    21. Properly communicate issues to the other staff at the daily morning meeting
    22. Don’t check patients out too quickly and not double-check that they understand directions
    23. Tell prospective patients about your own LASEK (which you’ll get for free) to get them excited!:)
    24. Understand we are an elective surgery center, so you have to do marketing (e.g., get leads fr. patients)
    25. Ask every 20/20 happy patient for leads (names of friends interested in getting lasered)
    26. Notice which patients no-show for their postop. appointments and GET THEM IN!

    • ANSWER:
      What is asserted and proposed in this ad is not only ludicrous, but definitely outside the realm of acceptable conditions for pre employment screening. This would fall under the laws of disability discrimination as well as other pertinent laws applicable in the jurisdiction wherein this ridiculous ad was placed. This is assuming that it is a real and bonafide ad placed by a prospective employer.

      Provided this ad was placed or authorized to be placed by a legitimate hiring authority, it is a severely misguided attempt by this employer to employ a person or persons who has or will soon have first hand knowledge of the main thrust of their employment. This being the sale and commission of a certain medical procedure, and other subsequent operations or attentions inherent to such treatments and procedures.

      One could easily imagine a cardiovascular surgeon setting prerequisite requirements for a surgical nurse of having previously had angioplasty or open heart surgery performed prior to joining his surgical unit. One, no respected and competent heart surgeon would specify such, and two, if they did, prospective patients should have their head examined for ever considering allowing such a practitioner to perform a blood pressure examination, let alone, a life threatening procedure or a procedure which might result in diminished vision or blindness.

      Were there a qualified applicant initiating prospective employment activities, who was bespectacled, upon rejection of employment for refusal to adhere to these ridiculous conditions of employment, they would have cause to litigate under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and quite possibly have a cause of action under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This would be dependent upon whether this numb skull's practice received any Federal Subsistence in the form of grants or loans.

      If a qualified, ordinarily healthy individual applied and was subsequently rejected as a result of refusing to comply with the preposterous stipulations outlined in your description, they too would have recourse under employment discrimination law, although it would require development of a whole other set of issues.

      This person or party or parties needs to be reported to the governing board of their medical practice in the jurisdiction in which they are resident. Hopefully, upon counseling and advisement, they would modify both their attitude and their policies as specified. In the meantime, warn all your friends and associates if you can identify the practitioner or practitioners. This may e a problem with Craig's List unless they list their business or you follow up as a prospective candidate specifically to establish the identity of these miscreants.

      Lawyers no longer have any ethical consternation, why should some idiot with a high tech laser tool, making about 3 grand every time they fire it up be any different?

  27. QUESTION:
    Is it legal for a prospective employer to force you to have a medical procedure to get the job?
    I found this ad on Craigslist and was completely blown away by it. Please let me know what you think. It HAS to be illegal in some way. This guy is looking for an Executive Secretary for his Lasik practice in NYC. It's one thing to look for a great new employee and want your current ones to perform well but this guy is a bit over the top. He must have had a really bad day and you can tell from his post that he hates his employees. He says that in order to apply for the job, you MUST wear contacts or glasses and get a lasik procedure (this is a job requirement). What???? Is he for real??? Someone has to report this guy. So, if you have great vision, you can't work for him? Is he nuts? I guess he's not forcing you to work for him but with the job market the way it is now, if you are an experienced secretary that meets a lot of these requirements, is it legal for this guy NOT to hire you because you refuse an unnecessary medical procedure? Attorneys???? Anyone have any thoughts on this. I just had to share this with others.

    Here is the ad as it was posted today:

    EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR LASER VISION CORRECTION CENTER-MUST WANT LASEK (Flatiron)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Reply to: job-1010080759@craigslist.org [?]
    Date: 2009-01-27, 3:42PM EST

    DO NOT REPLY TO THIS AD UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TIME TO READ IT CAREFULLY TO THE END, AS THERE ARE SEVERAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, ALL OF WHICH YOU HAVE TO MEET AND SUBMIT

    SO IF YOU ARE SIMPLY GOING TO REPLY TO THIS AND 100 OTHER ADS WITH A STOCK RESPONSE AND COVER LETTER, DON'T BOTHER AS I WILL NOT EVEN OPEN YOUR EMAIL I WILL JUST DELETE IT

    I CAN TELL FROM HOW YOU APPLY WHETHER YOU EVEN BOTHERED TO READ THIS ENTIRE AD, WHICH IS ONE REASON I AM PUTTING IN SUCH SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS--TO WEED OUT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BOTHER TO READ THE ADS FULLY AND JUST SPAM RESUMES TO EMPLOYERS, WHICH IS NOT THE WAY TO GET A JOB

    I am the MD owner of www.ParkAvenueLaser.com which is NYC’s only 100% no-cut, no-flap, all-laser LASEK and epi-LASEK center

    VISIT OUR WEBSITE BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR THIS JOB SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU’RE A GOOD FIT!

    Job Requirements (you must meet ALL of these to apply):
    1. Graduate of a 4-year college, AND
    2. 10 years experience of full-time work after graduating from college, AND
    3. 5 years experience as a full-time receptionist or secretary, AND
    4. 1 year of experience in a medical or spa or retail job, AND
    5. you need to be wearing glasses and/or contacts and want to get laser vision correction, AND
    6. computer literate, good with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, ACT!

    Daily Tasks (my current secretaries make all of these mistakes on a daily basis—you should not):
    1. Call ALL appointments to confirm them (they now call “most” of them)
    2. Give me my highlighted schedule every night of the next day’s activities
    3. Pull all charts and prep them TWO DAYS BEFORE the patients come in (again, they say they do this “most” of the time, but in need to be done all of the time)
    4. Clear ALL medical insurances and check for referrals every time BEFORE patient comes in
    5. Collect ALL copays and record ALL in BOTH the chart AND receipt book every time
    6. Log in ALL payments received on the spreadsheet every time
    7. Give patients a receipt of payments and have me sign the receipt book
    8. Enter people’s FULL contact information in ACT! when they call / come in
    9. Check demographic sheet patients fill out to make sure it is complete
    10. do NOT purposely circumvent ACT! system by entering “.” instead of real information
    11. Ask patients to spell their names, company name, and email address
    12. Get the full name, phone #, date, time, and details of every message
    13. Properly greet patients and offer them complimentary tea/coffee/water
    14. Straighten out the waiting room at least once a day
    15. Come out from behind the front desk / sit down next to “VIP” patients
    16. Decrement # of referrals in the chart, and ask for new referral as gets to 0
    17. Check expiration dates of insurance cards and referrals
    18. Check charts to make sure patients actually paid for their LASEK before surgery
    19. Tell me or other staff members in a timely fashion when problems arise
    20. Take action to fix small problems so they don’t become a big problem
    21. Properly communicate issues to the other staff at the daily morning meeting
    22. Don’t check patients out too quickly and not double-check that they understand directions
    23. Tell prospective patients about your own LASEK (which you’ll get for free) to get them excited!:)
    24. Understand we are an elective surgery center, so you have to do marketing (e.g., get leads fr. patients)
    25. Ask every 20/20 happy patient for leads (names of friends interested in getting lasered)
    26. Notice which patients no-show for their postop. appointments and GET THEM IN!

    • ANSWER:
      You are 100% correct to believe this is illegal. I am a Sr. Paralegal at an employment law firm in NYC. I've heard of this establishment and they have had tons of legal problems. The ad alone you should have definitely just continued to look for something else. I would definitely report them to the Federal Drug Administration who are presently investigating 10,000 complaints against this organization. I would also contact the Department of Labor. This certainly would fall under unfair labor practices and to a much greater degree considering he is requiring an unnecessary medical procedure. I would also report him to the States Licensing Board at 1-800-442-8106. I would also check to see if he is registered with the American Medical Association. If so file a complaint with them as well. He needs to be investigated and this may very well cause him to have his license revoked once and for all.


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