Denver LASIK Video Contest Winner - Levi Ramos

Meet Levi Ramos, our winner in the Most Serious category from our LASIK video contest that took place at Dishler LASIK in Denver, Colorado.

TOM MARTINO: We’re going to switch gears now. We have the winning video for free LASIK. Denver’s most renown LASIK surgeon, Dr. John Dishler, has been on the show as an expert. We talk about LASIK surgery, and I have to tell you that this morning we get to meet the man who won the serious category video. Now, we had two submissions - or two categories of submission, Dr. Dishler - people who were going to be funny, and people who are going to be serious, right? DR. JOHN DISHLER: Right, right. TOM MARTINO: And each one of them would win free LASIK surgery. DR. JOHN DISHLER: That’s correct. That’s correct. TOM MARTINO: Now, Levi won the serious category. You haven’t had your surgery yet. That’s why you have glasses. Are you nervous about it? LEVI RAMOS: A little bit. TOM MARTINO: A little bit. Everyone’s a little bit nervous. I mean, it’s natural to be a little bit nervous. Have you visited the facility? LEVI RAMOS: I have. I have. TOM MARTINO: What do you think about it? LEVI RAMOS: I did my consultation and it’s amazing. TOM MARTINO: They’re so nice. LEVI RAMOS: Yeah, the technology involved with it nowadays takes away the whole nervousness. TOM MARTINO: All right, let’s take a look. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Yeah, this is what’s great. I mean, we’ve had other people on, who’ve had the LASIK already, saying, “Hey, it’s great. I can see— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] Let’s follow him through. DR. JOHN DISHLER: But yeah, this is someone who hasn’t had it. he won the contest. We have video of his submission - also a little video of when they told him he won. TOM MARTINO: Okay. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Which hopefully we can show, and then he’s going to be filmed on Wednesday. Next Wednesday is when we’re doing his surgery, and then he’s going to be back to be with us again afterwards. TOM MARTINO: All right. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Yeah. TOM MARTINO: So, let’s take a look at his winning, or at least an excerpt, from his winning video. [MUSIC] VIDEO: One step at a time, don’t be living on the line. I don’t need a friend. I got - - on my mind. Sunshine on my brain, making everyone complain. - - , don’t be being so strange. - - . Baby, where have you been? Everybody says that you’re moving again. I don’t want to do - - , baby, every— FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: [Interposing] If I told you that you won the contest, would you be excited? LEVI RAMOS: Yeah. FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Yeah? Congratulations. [APPLAUSE] FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Yay, Levi! [LAUGHTER] FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Take a bow, take a bow. LEVI RAMOS: Thank you guys, so much. FEMALE VOICE ON VIDEO: Congratulations. LEVI RAMOS: I’m going to go outside and scream. [LAUGHTER] LEVI RAMOS: Thank you so much. TOM MARTINO: What a great value, Levi, and these people are really good, you’re going to love them. And how bad are your eyes? LEVI RAMOS: Pretty bad, yeah. Without them, I can’t see faces. I can’t distinguish, you know, if you’re looking at me or not. So, pretty bad. TOM MARTINO: We’re going to follow you through. LEVI RAMOS: Okay. TOM MARTINO: Now, Dr. Dishler offered two of these for the serious category. Yours was kind of funny, not that serious, but you got the serious category and then we have the funny category. Let’s talk about the latest and the greatest. Of course, uh, you pride yourself at having a state certified surgical center. Explain what that is because I think Levi would be more comforted to know that. You control everything? DR. JOHN DISHLER: Right. We—this is like a small hospital, so we have complete control on the environment, back-up generators, back-up battery power for everything. We have our own air conditioning filter the air. We have to meet all the guidelines of a hospital, so— TOM MARTINO: It’s a day surgery center. DR. JOHN DISHLER: It’s a day surgery center. People could have more major surgery than this there, but we take it very seriously. Knock on glass, I guess, we’ve never had an infection. We have all registered nurses. We’re prepared for, you know, anything that might happen. Someone has an allergic reaction, for instance, to something we’re, you know, prepared and ready for that as opposed to just a LASIK center that’s opened in—you know, you can open a LASIK center anywhere, but we do this in our certified surgery center. Our total facility is almost 7,000 square feet, so it’s fairly large between the office part and just adjoining at our surgery part. TOM MARTINO: And you have your own air supply, actually? DR. JOHN DISHLER: Yes, yes. We fil— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] I mean, that’s amazing. DR. JOHN DISHLER: We have a double filtration thing for the air. We control the temperature. One of the things for getting really good results is having very consistent temperature, very consistent environmental conditions. We have two operating suites. We have four lasers all together. We do only blade free LASIK. So, we’re very, we think, state of the art. TOM MARTINO: Let’s talk about the surgery itself and the laser machine or the lasers. Talk about royalties. I don’t think people understand. When you own you own laser, it’s still costs to turn it on. Now, the reason I’m bringing this up is because it would be impossible with the latest technology— DR. JOHN DISHLER: [Interposing] Right. TOM MARTINO: To charge $200, because some people do this add, you know, $200, $400, and we have to tell them that the newer laser, just to turn them on, could cost that much. Explain what a royalty is. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Well, there’s two parts to this. First of all, the ads that say as low as $299 or $499— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] Yeah. DR. JOHN DISHLER: That’s only a very tiny percentage of people to qualify for that. That’s sort of a come-on. They couldn’t make money doing everyone for that price. Secondly, you’re right. The lasers—there are older lasers that are still approved, but you wouldn’t want to have your LASIK with them where there are no royalties. But all the newer, better lasers, and there’s a number of them— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] Yes. DR. JOHN DISHLER: They require—besides once you buy the laser— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] Right. DR. JOHN DISHLER: And own it, which is very expensive, it’s like a vending machine. You have to pay every, single time you use it. So, when someone has a laser treatment, we actually are doing four laser procedures, and each procedure - two to make the flaps and two for the correction - and each one requires payment of a royalty that are cost hundreds of dollars— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] Right. DR. JOHN DISHLER: A piece. So, it’s very, very expensive just the cost of doing this. TOM MARTINO: Right. Exactly. You know, there is no magic people. You know, less than two percent of the people actually have little enough correction that they do it for that cheap. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Right. Right. TOM MARTINO: Now, let’s talk about active lifestyle. That’s another question we get, okay? What can I do? What can’t I do? Am I going to be limited? DR. JOHN DISHLER: You know, most people that have this done, they can see well, although a little bit blurry, but very well right after it’s done. Next week, you’ll probably hear this for yourself. I expect Levi will be able to read a clock across the room without his glasses, which he can’t do now. By the next day, almost everyone can drive themselves in for their post-op appointment. TOM MARTINO: Mmm hmm? DR. JOHN DISHLER: Then go back to their normal activities. We have a few restrictions. We don’t want people skydiving and doing certain things, you know, for a couple of weeks, but most people, if they have it done within a day or two, they’re back at work, back at their normal activities. TOM MARTINO: And, of course, for you, you do have an active lifestyle Levi, right? LEVI RAMOS: Yes. DR. JOHN DISHLER: No paintball, you know, for a week or so there. TOM MARTINO: No, I mean, think about that. You won’t have to worry about glasses because glasses are a pain. LEVI RAMOS: It’s exciting. It’s exciting. I have—I used to ride a motorcycle for a couple of years and having to put my glasses on under my helmet and fight and fuss with that every single time, you know, it’s going to be a change. It’s going to be an awesome change and I’m excited too, definitely. TOM MARTINO: And are you a professional paintball referee? What, are you kidding me? LEVI RAMOS: Actually, something like that. TOM MARTINO: What does a referee—I thought when you get hit, you know it? LEVI RAMOS: Well, a ref is someone who works at the paintball field. TOM MARTINO: Oh, okay. LEVI RAMOS: And - - . TOM MARTINO: All right, so glasses are getting in the way. We’re going to follow him through. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Right. TOM MARTINO: Next week. DR. JOHN DISHLER: Next week we’ll have footage. We’re going to—you know— TOM MARTINO: [Interposing] All right. DR. JOHN DISHLER: You’ll get to see what it’s like and I think that’s going to really be helpful. You know, the more people know—one of the things I want to mention is everyone who comes to see us, we give them a tour. They not only get an eye exam, but we give them a tour of the whole facility. TOM MARTINO: And that’s no obligation and no cost. DR. JOHN DISHLER: No obligation, free, and then by seeing the operating rooms, by meeting everyone, by getting a feeling for what it is, it really takes the, you know, the nervousness out of this. TOM MARTINO: And by the way, you get a free iPod if you’re a candidate, remember that. A free iPod if you’re candidate, just for showing up, and there is no charge for the exam, a thorough exam, and no charge for the tour, of course, and they want to answer all of your questions. Plus, 24 months, 0% financing with approved credit, some restrictions apply. Of course, you have to ask them for details. You can go to Dishler.com to find out more. Dishler.com or give them a call (303) 793-300, (303) 793-3000. This is the place we recommend to our friends and family. I mean, Paul’s— MALE VOICE: [Interposing] My mom, mmm hmm. TOM MARTINO:: Paul’s mom went there. Dishler.com, (303) 793-3000.