Patient Information

Your free consultation: what to expect

Every patient at California Center for Refractive Surgery begins with a free, no-obligation consultation. Allow 60–90 minutes. We schedule Monday through Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm, and parking is free at all three locations.

This is a full diagnostic workup, not a sales appointment. During your visit we perform:

• Corneal topography — detailed mapping of your cornea's shape and curvature
• Pachymetry — measurement of corneal thickness, which determines candidacy
• Refraction — your precise prescription
• Slit-lamp examination — microscopic evaluation of the eye's structures
• Dilated retinal exam — assessment of the retina and optic nerve
• Intraocular pressure measurement — screening for glaucoma risk
• Tear film and dry eye assessment — a key predictor of comfortable recovery

You leave with a recommendation from Dr. Paul C. Lee across every option — LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL, PRK and refractive lens exchange — the reasoning explained, and your exact all-inclusive price. Because CCRS offers every major procedure under one roof, the recommendation fits your eyes rather than a limited menu.

Prefer to start from home? Take our free online vision assessment first.

How to prepare for your consultation

Stop wearing contact lenses first

This matters more than anything else you do to prepare. Contact lenses reshape the cornea, and measurements taken too soon are inaccurate — which can affect your surgical plan.

• Soft contact lenses: discontinue for at least 3 days before your appointment
• Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses: discontinue for at least 3 weeks

Wear your glasses during this period. If you have no glasses or can't stop wearing lenses, call us — don't simply cancel.

What to bring

• A current pair of glasses, and your contact lens boxes or prescription if you have them
• A list of current medications, including eye drops and supplements
• Your medical and eye history, including any prior eye surgery, injury or condition
• Your insurance or vision plan card, if you have one — some plans offer member discounts
• Sunglasses — your eyes will be dilated and light-sensitive afterward

Plan for dilation

Your pupils will be dilated for the retinal exam. Vision stays blurry and light-sensitive for several hours. We strongly recommend arranging a ride home; do not plan to drive immediately after your appointment.

Payment, insurance and financing

Vision correction procedures are elective, so most health plans do not cover them. That said, several options meaningfully reduce your out-of-pocket cost:

• FSA and HSA funds — pay with pre-tax dollars, which significantly lowers the real cost
• Monthly financing, including zero-interest plans through CareCredit — a $4,000 package for both eyes works out to $66.67 per month over 60 months
• Vision plan discounts — many plans offer member pricing; bring your card

Our pricing is all-inclusive. Your quoted price covers the pre-operative evaluation, the procedure itself, medications, all post-operative visits, and any future enhancement. No hidden fees, no bait-and-switch, and a price match guarantee.

See the full price list for LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL and RLE.

On the day of surgery

• Arrange a ride. You cannot drive yourself home. Plan for someone to accompany you.
• Skip eye makeup, lotions, perfume and cologne for 24 hours beforehand — residue and fragrance particles can interfere with the sterile field.
• Wear comfortable clothing. Something that doesn't need to be pulled over your head afterward is ideal.
• Eat a light meal and take your usual medications unless told otherwise.
• Allow extra time. The laser portion takes only minutes — the bladeless LASIK flap is created in about 15 seconds — but plan to be at the office longer for preparation and post-procedure review.

Bring your sunglasses. You'll want them for the trip home.

After your procedure

Your follow-up schedule

Post-operative care is included in your price — never billed separately. Your standard schedule is:

• Day one — the morning after surgery
• Week one
• Month one
• Beyond, as needed — for as long as your eyes require follow-up

Any future enhancement, should you ever need one, is also included.

Caring for your eyes at home

• Use your prescribed drops exactly as directed. They prevent infection and control inflammation — the two things that matter most in early healing.
• Do not rub your eyes. This is the single most important restriction, particularly in the first week after LASIK.
• Wear your protective shields while sleeping for as long as instructed.
• Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs and natural bodies of water until cleared.
• Hold off on eye makeup until your surgeon says it's safe.
• Expect some fluctuation. Mild dryness, light sensitivity and vision that varies through the day are normal early on and typically settle.

Recovery differs by procedure. SMILE creates no corneal flap, so patients often return to contact sports, swimming and eye makeup sooner. PRK reshapes the corneal surface without a flap and has a longer visual recovery, which is why it suits contact-sport athletes and thinner corneas.

When to call us right away

Who is caring for you

Dr. Paul C. Lee, MD is a board-certified refractive surgeon and the founder of CCRS, with more than 50,000 procedures performed across 25+ years. He is fellowship-trained in cornea and refractive surgery at Tulane University, board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. He was named one of Newsweek's America's Best Eye Doctors (2023) and has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019.

Dr. Mania Asadourian, OD is a fellowship-trained optometrist who works alongside Dr. Lee providing pre- and post-operative care. She is fluent in English, Armenian and Farsi.

Our locations and hours

All three offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, with free parking. One phone number reaches all three: (323) 933-3111.

• Los Angeles (Mid-Wilshire)4160 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90010
• Sherman Oaks4954 Van Nuys Blvd., #200, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 — serving the San Fernando Valley
• Pasadena2900 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 — serving the San Gabriel Valley

See full location details and directions, or request your free consultation.

Frequently asked questions

How long before my consultation should I stop wearing contacts?

Stop wearing soft contact lenses at least 3 days before your appointment, and rigid gas-permeable lenses at least 3 weeks before. Contacts temporarily reshape the cornea, so measurements taken too soon are inaccurate and could affect your surgical plan. Wear your glasses during this period instead.

Do I need someone to drive me home?

Yes for surgery, and we strongly recommend it for your consultation as well. Your pupils are dilated during the consultation's retinal exam, leaving your vision blurry and light-sensitive for several hours. After surgery you cannot drive yourself home under any circumstances.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

Bring your current glasses, your contact lens prescription or boxes, a list of all medications including eye drops, your medical and eye history including any prior eye surgery, your insurance or vision plan card, and sunglasses for after dilation.

Does insurance cover vision correction surgery?

Most health plans do not, because LASIK, SMILE, EVO ICL and RLE are elective procedures. However, you can use FSA or HSA pre-tax dollars, which meaningfully lowers the real cost, and CCRS offers monthly financing including zero-interest plans through CareCredit. Many vision plans also provide member discounts.

Is post-operative care included in the price?

Yes. CCRS pricing is all-inclusive: your quoted price covers the pre-operative evaluation, the procedure, medications, every post-operative visit, and any future enhancement. Follow-up care is never billed separately.

How soon after surgery can I return to work?

This depends on the procedure and your job. Many LASIK and SMILE patients return to desk work within a day or two. PRK has a longer visual recovery because the corneal surface heals over several days. Dr. Lee will give you a specific timeline for your eyes and your work at your consultation.

When can I wear eye makeup again?

Wait until your surgeon clears you. Makeup particles can enter the healing eye and increase infection risk. SMILE patients, who have no corneal flap, can often resume eye makeup the very next day.

What if something doesn't feel right after surgery?

Call CCRS at (323) 933-3111 right away rather than waiting for your next visit. Contact us immediately for worsening pain not relieved by medication, a sudden decrease in vision after it had been improving, increasing redness or discharge, or any injury to the eye.