If you would like to meet with an eye care professional at Eye Associates of Wilmington, contact our office today for a consultation.






  • 1729 New Hanover
    Medical Park Dr.
    Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
    Ph. (910) 763-3601
    Map and Directions
  • 5211 Eason Street, Suite #1 Southport, North Carolina 28461 (on Highway 211, across from the Hampton Inn)
    Ph. (910) 454-0563
  • 14057 Highway 17,
    The Beacon, Suite# 200
    Hampstead, NC 28443
    Ph. (910) 319.6200
    Map and Directions

    ** Hampstead office open to see patients on July 20th! **

Frequently Asked Questions — Eye Associates of Wilmington

At Eye Associates of Wilmington, our goal is to provide patients with the thorough information they need to make informed decisions about their eye care. Serving the region with the latest developments in the ever-evolving field of ophthalmology for over 30 years, our eye care experts take pride in staying abreast of the latest techniques and technological innovations.

If you have further questions you would like to ask a physician in person, please contact Eye Associates of Wilmington to schedule an informative consultation.

Blade-Free LASIK Questions

How does blade-free LASIK work?

Blade-free LASIK uses the precision of a laser instead of a blade. With traditional LASIK surgery, the oscillating blade of a microkeratome is used to create a flap in the cornea, which allows your physician to perform the LASIK procedure on the underlying tissue. With blade-free LASIK at Eye Associates of Wilmington, our physicians use a pulsed laser to precisely alter the tissue surrounding what will become the LASIK flap. This is done to a depth determined by your physician. The flap is then folded back and the LASIK procedure is performed.

What technology does Eye Associates of Wilmington use in blade-free LASIK?

At Eye Associates of Wilmington, our physicians utilize the precision of IntraLase® laser technology. We are the only provider of blade-free LASIK in eastern North Carolina and are dedicated to providing patients with its benefits.

Does blade-free LASIK allow a physician to customize my procedure?

Yes. With computerized controls, the laser is adjusted to meet your individual needs. Corneas vary in thickness. Because your Eye Associates of Wilmington physician can make precise adjustments to control the amount of tissue affected by the laser, the thickness of your LASIK flap can be adjusted to provide you with the most beneficial treatment.

[ back to top ]

Custom LASIK Questions

What is “custom” about custom LASIK?

Custom LASIK is custom because it measures, maps, and corrects for higher order aberrations. These higher order aberrations are unique to each person's eyes. Lower order aberrations corrected by both traditional and custom LASIK are commonly known as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Because higher order aberrations are thought to be connected with visual glare and halos, custom LASIK is an important option for many seeking refractive surgery at Eye Associates of Wilmington.

What is wavefront technology?

Wavefront technology maps higher order aberrations of the eye and serves as the basis of custom LASIK. At Eye Associates of Wilmington, VISX® Advanced CustomVue® technology is used to implement the wavefront diagnostic process. When creating a map of higher order aberrations, light is first passed through the eye. The way this light is then reflected is measured to indicate imperfections. These imperfections are then mapped and, with the help of the VISX® Advanced CustomVue® system, are corrected for.

What can I expect from my custom LASIK procedure?

After a custom LASIK procedure at Eye Associates of Wilmington, a patient can expect to experience greatly enhanced focusing ability and the crisp, clear vision that comes with the most precise vision correction method available. In a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study, 98 percent of patients experienced 20/20 vision or better one year after surgery.

[ back to top ]

Cataract Questions

How can I treat cataracts?

There is now an excellent treatment option available for those who suffer from cataracts. During cataract surgery using the latest multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs), the clouded lens of a cataract is replaced with one that provides visual clarity as well as increased focusing ability. At Eye Associates of Wilmington, our experienced cataract surgeons use ReSTOR® and ReZoom® IOLs to free our patients from vision clouded by cataracts.

What can I expect after cataract surgery?

Patients can expect to experience improved vision anywhere from one day to a week after cataract surgery. At Eye Associates of Wilmington, our staff is proud to help patients rid themselves of the blurred vision typical of this common eye disease.

What will my recovery be like after cataract surgery?

Complete healing takes from two to six weeks. Although every surgery carries some risk, cataract surgery complications are rare. Any pain that is present after surgery should subside in a couple of days. Until that time, pain relief medication may be recommended. Special eye drops may also be prescribed to promote the most beneficial recovery possible.

[ back to top ]

Glaucoma Questions

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease affecting the optic nerve, which carries information gathered by the eye (everything we see) to the brain. If left untreated, the disease can lead to vision loss and possible blindness.

What causes glaucoma?

Glaucoma is caused by an imbalance in the pressure of fluids within the eye. These fluids — called the aqueous humor — are created in the back of the eye and exit through a drainage system known as the trebecular meshwork. Glaucoma occurs when the trebecular meshwork is blocked and cannot drain fluid as rapidly as it should. This can occur for a number of reasons. The increased pressure caused by the resulting fluid backup reduces the blood supply to the optic nerve, causing irreversible damage.

How can glaucoma be treated?

Although the damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, its progression can be stopped or significantly slowed through surgical treatment or medication. Fortunately, glaucoma progresses slowly and central vision is the last field of vision lost. However, glaucoma’s slow progression can also cause it to go unnoticed until severe damage has occurred. At Eye Associates of Wilmington, our physicians will be happy to meet with you to determine if your vision is affected by glaucoma and, if so, what treatment or treatments are most likely to help halt the progression of the disease. Highlighting our extensive glaucoma care experience, our glaucoma specialist, Katherine Ochsner, M.D., was the first full-time fellowship-trained glaucoma surgeon in the area.

[ back to top ]

A Consultation at Eye Associates of Wilmington

If you have further questions you would like to ask an eye care professional at Eye Associates of Wilmington, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.

[ back to top ]