Laser vision correction can give you clear vision without glasses or contacts

Is it time to see clearly — with 20/20 vision or better — for the first time that you can remember? Our expert team at the Casey Vision Correction Center can help. 

Our center has been an innovator and leader in laser vision correction surgery, such as LASIK and PRK, for more than two decades. 

We performed the first PRK laser surgery in the Pacific Northwest, in 1994. And we performed the first LASIK procedure in the Pacific Northwest, two years later, in 1996. 

Since then, we have continued to bring the very best in laser correction surgery to tens of thousands of people in Portland and throughout the Northwest. Our experience and skill give our patients the best possible care -- and bring the best possible results.

Make an appointment

Call 503-494-3937 or email laserctr@ohsu.edu

Our expertise

Casey is the best option to perform your laser surgery. We offer: 

• Medical Excellence: Casey is Oregon’s only academic "center of excellence" in laser vision correction surgery, reflecting our commitment to providing exceptional patient care. 

• Skill: All of our surgeons are board certified, fellowship-trained cornea surgeons. Having a doctor with extraordinary knowledge of refractive surgery, cornea structure and healing processes is vital to having the best possible outcomes during your surgery and as you heal.  

• Experience: Since the 1990s, we have performed more than 20,000 laser vision correction procedures. Our team trains doctors from all over the world in LASIK and PRK surgeries, and lectures internationally on laser vision correction. Our doctors are also internationally known corneal specialists. 

• Technology: We use only the latest technology and the most advanced procedures. Our doctors have also worked with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test and develop new laser vision correction technology. 

What is laser vision correction surgery?

Laser vision correction surgery corrects "refractive error" in your eye, when the shape of your eye incorrectly bends light as it enters your eye. The surgery give you clearer vision by making microscopic changes to the shape of your cornea, which changes how light is focused on your retina. LASIK and PRK are two common types of laser vision correction procedures.  

LASIK

LASIK is short for "laser-assisted-in-situ keratomileusis." The procedure significantly improves the vision of many people who are near-sighted, far-sighted, or have astigmatism by slightly reshaping their cornea. The cornea is the dome-shaped clear layer of tissue that covers the front of your eye and affects how light enters your eye — and thus how well you see. 

Casey surgeons perform LASIK in a two-step process. First, tiny pulses of laser light create a thin flap on the eye's surface. Then, the flap is lifted to allow the cool light of a second laser to carefully reshape the underlying tissue of the cornea.  

Once your eye is in a more ideal shape for clear vision, the flap is positioned back into place and the procedure is completed. Because the eye's surface cells heal more rapidly than any other body part, recovery occurs quickly and naturally.  

Countoura®Vision

Contoura®Vision is a LASIK-like surgery that precisely maps the unique surface of your eye to guide your laser treatment. It enables the Casey surgeon to correct very minor distortions in your cornea that traditional methods cannot correct, ensuring the best possible outcome for your vision. One recent study of Contoura®Vision results found that 30% of study participants had better vision after the surgery than they had with contacts or glasses before the surgery. 

PRK

PRK is short for "photorefractive keratectomy." In this procedure, the surgeon completely removes the cornea's outer layer before reshaping the inner cornea with a laser. That outer layer is not replaced during the surgery. The surface cells grow back within a few days after surgery. The surgery works like LASIK to improve your vision. The procedure is often better for people who have thinner-than-normal corneas. 

Surgery process

Your surgeon is with you for every step of the process, and works with our experienced technicians to provide you with an outstanding experience. 

Evaluation and exam

The first step in possible laser vision correction surgery is a pre-operative evaluation. Our doctor will give you a comprehensive exam that provides a clear picture of the overall health of your eyes. The doctor will discuss with you whether you are a good candidate for surgery. 

Surgery day

You should expect to be at our center for two to 2 1/2 hours on the day of the procedure. You will be in the surgical suite for only about 15 minutes per eye and the actual procedure — which is painless — takes only about one minute. You will be able to go home after the surgery. 

After surgery

Your doctor will review possible side effects and activity restriction with you, which may include avoiding reading, working on the computer or watching TV for the first day after surgery. You also won't be able to drive for a day or two after surgery. Visit Frequently Asked Questions to learn more. 

Financing is available

Up to 18 months financing--deferred interest/no interest if paid in full with monthly payments. Learn more with the instant online credit application from CreditCare. 

Resources

• Comprehensive eye care
• Corneal disease
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• LASIK vs. contact lenses

"The quality of life benefits are amazing. I wish I'd had it done a long time ago. I'm just delighted with the outcome. It's really remarkable to me how wonderful my eyesight is without correction at all. I wanted my procedure to be done at Casey Eye Institute because the reputation of the surgeons at Casey Eye is a good one and I have trusted colleagues and other physicians that I know who recommended it as a place to go for this procedure."
- Anna

"I'm so happy I got Lasik surgery! My eyes look so much bigger without my contacts in or glasses over them! Casey Eye Institute did an amazing job and I'm forever grateful!"
- Lisa