Fellow Performed Laser Vision Correction Discount Program

At UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, we are proud to offer a special discounted program for patients who wish to undergo laser vision correction (either LASIK or PRK) that is performed by our cornea, refractive, and complex anterior-segment fellows under the direct supervision of our faculty. This provides an excellent value opportunity for qualified patients, while contributing to the educational mission of our Institute.

As mentioned above these are discounted prices for having one of our cornea, refractive, and complex anterior segment fellows perform the LASIK procedure under the direct supervision of our faculty.

Below is the current discounted fee schedule, per eye. If both eyes are treated, double the amount listed. 

The procedure cost includes post-operative care for six months. 

Legal/Financial Disclaimer
The discounted fees shown above apply only for the “Fellow-Performed Laser Vision Correction” program and are offered as part of our academic teaching mission. They do not apply to standard attending-performed refractive surgery. Pricing is subject to change without prior notice. 

Why choose the fellow-performed option?

• You receive the same state-of-the-art technology and surgical environment used for all our refractive patients.
• Our cornea, refractive, and complex anterior-segment fellows bring advanced training, and each case is supervised by a board-certified faculty member with expertise in cornea and refractive surgery.
• You benefit from lower cost while still receiving high-quality care in an academic-medical-center setting.
• You contribute to the teaching mission of our Institute, helping train the next generation of refractive surgeons.

Cost of LASIK Consultation

The cost of a LASIK consultation is $175. If you decide to proceed with surgery, this amount will be applied toward the total cost of your LASIK procedure.

To schedule your consultation, please contact our Laser Refractive Surgery team at 949-824-9970.

A cornea, refractive, and complex anterior-segment fellow is a fully trained ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who has already completed medical school and a rigorous ophthalmology residency) who has chosen to pursue one additional year of advanced subspecialty training focused on the cornea, ocular surface, anterior segment, and refractive surgery.

During this fellowship year, the doctor gains extensive hands-on experience in:

• Advanced LASIK and PRK refractive techniques
• Corneal transplantation procedures (such as DMEK, DSAEK, and PK)
• Keratoconus and corneal crosslinking management
• Complex cataract and anterior segment reconstruction surgeries
• Ocular surface disease diagnosis and surgical treatments (including pterygium, limbal stem cell transplantation, and amniotic membrane grafting)

Cornea fellows at UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute are board-certified or board-eligible ophthalmologists who have already performed hundreds of ocular surgeries before beginning their fellowship.

At UCI, these fellows work closely with and are directly supervised by expert faculty surgeons, leaders in the field of corneal and refractive surgery who oversee every case, from preoperative evaluation through postoperative care.

This structure allows fellows to refine their skills using the most advanced technology and techniques while ensuring that patients receive the same world-class care and safety standards maintained across all UCI Health surgical programs.

1. Screening consultation – A full refractive evaluation including vision, refraction, corneal imaging/topography, tomography, pachymetry, ocular surface assessment, and health history review. The fellow performs the examination and the faculty surgeon reviews and approves candidacy.

2. Pre-operative preparation – Once you are determined to be a candidate, you will receive detailed pre-operative instructions (discontinue contact lenses for recommended period, arrange transportation, review medications and ocular surface regimen).

3. Procedure day – On surgery day, the fellow surgeon will perform the procedure under the supervision of the faculty surgeon. You will be treated with the same laser platforms, safety protocols, and care standards as all our patients.

4. Post-operative care & follow-up – Standard follow-up visits at the same intervals as our regular refractive surgery patients. Any enhancement or complication follow-up will also be provided under the supervision of the faculty team.

5. Enhancements/retreatments – If required, enhancements will be offered per our standard policy.

Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is a refractive procedure involving a laser that cuts a flap on the cornea and reshapes underneath it to correct such eye conditions as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. LASIK surgery was first approved for use in the United States in 1995 and remains one of the most popular vision correction procedures. Millions of patients worldwide have enjoyed clear, crisp vision after undergoing LASIK surgery. 

Using the latest in LASIK technology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute’s Refractive Surgery LASIK Center surgeons customize each procedure to deliver even more precise vision correction. Many patients find that they have better vision than when they wore glasses or contact lenses. During the LASIK procedure, the surgeon carefully creates a thin flap that is gently folded back to expose the inner corneal surface for reshaping with the excimer laser. The flap is then carefully refolded over the treatment area, acting as a bandage as the eye heals. Most patients see their vision improve within hours after treatment. Many are ready to return to work or their normal activities the following day.

Our ophthalmologists use the Intralase Method™ for all our LASIK treatments. The blade-less Intralase® femtosecond laser is the safest way of creating the corneal flap for vision correction treatment.

Not all patients are good candidates for LASIK surgery. For patients whose corneas are too thin or who have other considerations, other options include PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis), or Epi-LASIK surgery.

During these procedures, the laser treatment is done directly on the surface of the cornea after removing a small amount of the outer layer of cells.

The PRK procedure can be done to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.

Monovision is an option for patients aged 40 and older who have difficulty reading due to the unique natural aging process (presbyopia).  This is a technique in which one eye is corrected for distance vision while the other eye is corrected for near or intermediate vision.  Monovision provides a viable option for active people who require both distance vision and near vision in their daily activities.  Because monovision is a compromise, reading or distance glasses may still be needed for certain activities - such as reading fine print or driving at night.  Special testing is performed to see if monovision is right for you.

EVO ICL ™

At UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, we are proud to offer the latest Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL), the EVO ICL™ a cutting-edge, long-term vision correction option for patients seeking greater freedom from glasses or contact lenses.

Unlike LASIK or PRK, which permanently reshape the cornea, ICL involves placing a biocompatible, implantable lens inside the eye to correct nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism. This minimally invasive procedure delivers crisp, high-definition vision and is an excellent option for patients who may not be ideal candidates for laser-based surgeries.

Besides delivering high-definition vision, ICL offers several key advantages: it includes built-in UV protection, causes minimal disruption to the eye’s natural structures, and is reversible, preserving your future treatment options.