Filutowski Cataract & Lasik Institute

Had my Lasik done in September of 2014. I was so nervous but knew it would be worth it.
From my first candidate exam to my follow up 2 years later… everyone has been incredibly helpful, professional and supportive. It’s almost like being at the Apple Store of eye care. Really. Oh and they have water and snacks for patients in the waiting room.
My procedure was done by Dr. Angela Dempsey (she and Dr. Filutowski would alternate Fridays). Her voice and tone was more calming than most of my yoga teachers, and helped eased my nerves during the procedure, which only lasted about 5 minutes. It was so fast! I felt no pain, and just saw a blurry laser become very focused, to the point where I could see its particles. Sounds crazy but really cool!
Filutowski is the most expensive and well-​known in town, but you’re paying for the quality and top service. I’ve been with someone who had a procedure done at another location, and he went through a bit more pain and some disorganized service than I did. But he survived and can see perfectly well, too. So do your research if you’d like, but know that Filutowski is worth the $ 5000.

Had my Lasik done there in 2000 and everything went fantastic! Had cataract surgery about a year ago and my vision is awful! Very distorted. They gave me prescription for eyeglasses but I’m not getting them filled until I get a 2^nd opinion. I do not feel they gave me the best Intraocular Lens (IOL), kept pushing to spend the extra $ 4,000 to $ 5,000 for the enhanced lazer surgery of which I didn’t. They never went over IOL’s, the various types and only now after some research, I did find there are issues with different IOL’s. They keep telling me everything is fine, but my eyesight is so distorted I can barely drive at times. It’s not bad vision either… just distortion and discomfort. They say everything is fine, but I know it isn’t. So a 2^nd opinion is necessary.

Eye surgery, for obvious reasons, is a stressful and anxiety producing event. This is particularly so if one chooses to have ‘elective’ eye surgery. The thought that one only has two eyes and should protect them against any possible harm is never far from one’s mind. So, when I explored the possibility of having Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) — essentially cataract surgery for one who does not yet have cataracts — the overriding priority was to find a facility and a doctor who would give me the absolute best chance of having a successful and safe surgery. This is no time for discounts or special promotions — this is a time for knowledge, experience and skill.
I am very happy (and relieved) to say I found all three at the Filutowski Cataract & Lasik Institute. From the folks at the front desk to the technicians to the counselors and then to the nursing staff and ultimately to the doctors and Dr. Filutowski himself, I was treated with the utmost respect and professionalism. The pre-​surgery procedures were thorough and led to a strong sense of confidence in the ultimate result. Nothing is left to chance. All possible outcomes and variables are addressed. Potential results and actual procedures were discussed in scientific, fact-​based terms. There is no ‘selling’ no pushing or prodding; if anything, it is the opposite. I know others who have had this procedure elsewhere around the country and the due diligence prior to, and the follow ups afterward, are not nearly as thorough. That attitude is/​was critical for me — your having eye surgery not a manicure.
My last pre-​surgery appointment was with Dr. Filutowski. He discussed the procedure, the likely outcome and patiently, graciously and seriously listened to and addressed my concerns and anxieties. His staff both at MetroWest and Lake Mary are uniformly bright, informed and helpful. The counselor assigned to me, Margi Lee, was particularly invaluable in helping me become comfortable with my decision to change my 50+ years of reliance on glasses and contact lenses by undergoing elective RLE.
I should add that I was virtually helpless without corrective lenses. Couldn’t see the alarm clock less than 3′ from the bed; couldn’t tell a bowl of sugar from a bowl of milk; wouldn’t know my own daughter unless I tripped over her.
Let’s fast forward to the surgery. Everyone at the surgical center was congenial and competent. Dr. Filutowski came by before we went into the OR and I could not help but be reassured by his relaxed and confident manner. But, what you really want to know is «how did it turn out?» 5 weeks removed from surgery on the first eye and 3 weeks from the left, I now see 20/20…with no lenses, no glasses, no squinting. To say it is a miracle is probably hyperbolic — it’s medical science practiced by a man and his staff who are supremely competent — but for me, it’s a miracle. No more dragging several pairs of thick glasses, boxes of contact lenses and solutions along on vacation. No more groping for the glasses in the morning and then hoping the contacts go right in without a fight from my eyes. No more irritated eyes because I fell asleep watching TV on the couch.
After 50+ years — that’s pretty close to a miracle.

Very expensive, but they seem competent. One look at the waiting room and you’ll understand the pricing structure.

Very nice facility. We waited about 2 months after our initial consultation and got a better rate. Insurance doesn’t really cover anything though. Very high end place and very friendly staff. they have this process down to a science. It’s so smooth and there were no hiccups. There is a huge glass room where you can watch the procedure happen. The entire process is very transparent and open and they make you feel incredibly comfortable at the office. Amazing service so far.

Total scam, they will change you a crazy amount of money and then treat you like a number. They don’t care if you need an enhancement. They will delay you until it is outside your year so you will have to pay another $ 1100! Find another dr, don’t waste your time or money!

Let me start of by wondering why there haven’t been any reviews of this LASIK Center yet!
I started off by using by supplemental vision insurance to see a local eye doctor and get a Pre-​LASIK screening. I highly recommend it if you are considering LASIK. Also check to see if your vision insurance or health insurance offers discounts on LASIK. Most insurance doesn’t cover it as it is an elective procedure.
During the screening he checked most of the things that the LASIK center would check and it effectively gives you a second opinion and reassures you as to your eye health. It made me feel better. The advantage being that instead of going to the LASIK center for your follow-​ups, you just go to your local ophthalmologist.
After the screening he recommended Dr. Filutowski and as I had heard his name before I decided to do some research before making an appointment.
He and Dr. Angela Dempsey (which I did not get to see) have done over 35,000 procedures and 5 or 6 were done while I was there! A prominent facility in Chicago boast doing 40,000 with various surgeons yet Dr. Filutowski and Dr. Dempsey did it with just them in the central Florida area! He is also a Cornell graduate, owns two Ambulatory surgical centers and is board certified.
After finally making the appointment, the process is basically a repeat of what I did with my local doctor … testing cornea thickness, eye health, intraocular pressure, but they mapped my eye using a VISX/​AMO wavescan aberrometer which creates a scan of the irregularities of my eye.
Then they talk to you about the procedure and eventually set up an appointment for surgery. My particular procedure was priced fairly and compared to some of the prices I have seen quoted, even being a price I normally would associate with a large LED LCD TV it was affordable. They’ll give you documentation including instructions and prescriptions to get filled before your surgery.
BTW They only do wavefront LASIK with intralase. (AKA HD LASIK) It’s basically the best that’s out there. So when you compare take into account the technology.
Make sure someone takes you! The day of surgery you check in and they get your forms and payment. Then you wait a bit because there may be some others there waiting. (Good sign!) And you have access to some small snacks, lollipops and bottled water. There’s also free wifi but I didn’t use it. (Just ask the for the password at the desk) They will also offer you a Valium to calm you down hence the bottled water. They will also give you a goodie bag with some sample eye drops, one of your prescriptions, hair net, eye shields, cheap sunglasses, medical tape, and a cool travel mug!
They take you to one room and they lay you back and place a section ring on your eye and create the flap. No Blade!!!
You are then taken to relax a bit in a reclining chair to await the doctor for the actual surgery. Then you will be taken into the room with the the excimer laser. For techies it’s a AMO/​VISX Star S4 and it uses the wavefront guided technology scan they did on your first visit. They talk to you and let you know how long is left. There is a light you look at and keep focused on while the laser does its thing. You will smell your eye burning but it’s not horrid and completely tolerable. It takes about 30 – 40 sec per eye. After that they take a picture of you and the doctor and place it in a frame for a neat keep sake. After they finish they quickly verify that your flap is ok and they send of off. I would say it took no more than 10 min total with all the lasers even tough you’re there for about 2 hours because most of the time you are waiting.
The process is a little uncomfortable but nothing over bearing. Just things you won’t be used to. So don’t fret. You can drive your self the next day. Fast heh?
When you come back the next morning and they check that flap again and your vision. They depending you in you were referred you come back in a week or in my case to my local ophthalmologist.
I was impressed with the overall appearance of the facility and staff. They are all nice and the facility is clean. They are very cordial and not cocky and overall very nice people. For the amount of money I paid it’s worth it. I just had this yesterday and can’t rave enough about it.
My tips are trust them and you’ll be fine. Take a snack and a drink, you paid for it lol And follow all the directions to a T. These are your eyes. Take care of them.
After wondering if I should have done it somewhere else, not every center offers touch up discounts so if you require a touch up it’s a small fee. Other places only offer it if it’s within a certain time frame, usually one to two years. Here it’s for a lifetime.
I saw ²⁰⁄₄₀ this morning and I feel like I’m seeing ²⁰⁄₂₀ now and its still improving. Don’t hesitate. Do it. Just be aware of the expectations and they go over that with you.
Goodbye glasses and contacts! And Thanks Dr. Filutowski!