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The LASIK Directory Blog

Welcome to the LASIK Blog, a resource for people interested in LASIK surgery. This consumer-friendly blog is intended to be used as a central resource to answer common questions about LASIK and to point you in the right direction.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

LASIK Surgery Costs

LASIK surgery is a popular method to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Recent advances in LASIK technology have made the procedure routine and very safe. In fact, LASIK offers one of the highest satisfaction rates of any surgical procedure available.

Unfortunately, LASIK surgery is rarely covered under insurance, making cost an issue for many potential LASIK candidates. However, beware of making price your primary deciding factor. When it comes to LASIK, you often get what you pay for.

In general, most LASIK procedures cost somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000 per eye. There are a variety of factors that contribute to the cost of your LASIK procedure, including:

  • Surgeon's skill and experience
  • Technology
  • The degree of your refractive error

At your initial consultation, make sure to ask your LASIK surgeon what the cost of your procedure covers. Some items which may or may not be included in your price quote include:

  • Anesthesia cost
  • Post-surgical enhancement and eye care if necessary
  • Pre- and post-operative evaluations
  • Medications and eye drops used before, during, and after surgery

In general, you will experience superior results with the most advanced technology. Procedures performed using a laser to create your cornea flap and wavefront technology to create a 3D map of your cornea will often increase the likelihood that you will achieve 20/20 vision without higher order aberrations such as glare or halos. It is important to ask your LASIK surgeon about these options at your consultation.

If cost is a serious issue for you, it will be important to balance the added benefits of this technology with the increase in price. You may have to prioritize which features are most important to you.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon in your area.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

3 Rules to Follow after LASIK Surgery

LASIK surgery is an effective way to correct refractive errors to your vision. It is extremely safe and enjoys one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure. However, like any surgery, you will need to take certain precautions during the recovery period to ensure that your eyes heal properly and without complications.

It is very important that you adhere to the following three rules after your procedure. Failure to do so may impact the health of your eyes.

  1. Wear eye goggles while sleeping - It is crucial that you protect your eyes while sleeping for 1-2 weeks after your surgery. Wearing goggles will help prevent eye injuries and allow your eyes to properly heal.
  2. Attend all of your follow-up visits - Your LASIK surgeon will require you to come back for a series of check-ups after your surgery. It is important that you do not miss any of these appointments. These check-ups will ensure that your eyes are healing properly without any complications or side effects. In the event that you do experience complications, it is crucial that they are diagnosed and treated early.
  3. Wear sunglasses - LASIK will heighten the sensitivity of your eyes to bright light. You will need to wear sunglasses whenever you are outside in order to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Sunglasses will also prevent dust and other particles from getting into your eyes while they heal.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon in your area.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

LASIK Surgery Costs

There are a variety of factors that will affect the cost of your LASIK procedure. Generally, you can expect your surgery to cost somewhere between $1,500 and $3500 per eye. Prices vary based on:

  • Skill and experience of your LASIK surgeon
  • Severity and type of your refractive error
  • Technology used during your procedure

While cost is often a factor for most people when choosing a LASIK surgeon, it should not be the primary factor. In general, you tend to get what you pay for. Be wary of surgeons who offer prices lower than the range listed above.

Furthermore, while LASIK is widely considered to be one of the safest surgical procedures available, there are still risks of complications, including higher order aberrations such as glare, halos, and starbursts. In general, the more expensive LASIK procedures will give you a greater likelihood of achieving 20/20 vision without complications.

There are several reasons for this. Surgeon experience and LASIK technology are two of the primary determining factors of the success of your procedure. Surgeons with extensive experience performing refractive surgeries often charge more for their skills and experience. Also, all-laser LASIK procedures and Wavefront technology enable your LASIK surgeon to achieve a greater deal of precision when performing your surgery. These technologies cost more than procedures using older technology.

The decision to undergo LASIK should not be taken lightly. You must evaluate all factors, including cost, when you decide if this procedure is right for you. However, remember that your vision is too important to cut corners on price. While you may not want to opt for the most expensive procedure offered, you will certainly want to spend enough to have your surgery performed by a highly skilled surgeon using advanced technology.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find a LASIK surgeon near you.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Should LASIK Be Considered a Performance Enhancer?

Professional athletes are always looking for any way to gain an extra edge in their performance. In recent years, this has led to rampant cheating through steroid use in many professional sports. In particular, Major League Baseball has come under extreme scrutiny due to confirmed allegations of widespread steroid use.

Just about every major sport has now banned performance enhancing drugs to ensure fair levels of competition. However, some people have come to question other procedures which may be considered "performance enhancers."

In particular, LASIK surgery has been discussed as something which may fall into this category. After all, many professional athletes have undergone LASIK in recent years, and the goal of the procedure is to improve their performance.

In fact, LASIK technology has developed to the point where athletes can often achieve vision that is better than 20/20. In sports such as baseball or golf, it is obvious how this would provide an athlete with a serious advantage. So the question remains, is there something wrong with undergoing a procedure such as LASIK which may provide an athlete with an extra edge over the competition?

I think the main issue to resolve is the question of whether or not athletes are actually receiving an advantage over their competitors. Before surgery, these athletes experienced poor vision which negatively impacted their ability to compete in comparison with athletes who have 20/20 vision. You can just as easily make the argument that LASIK is simply leveling the playing field.

This debate will most likely endure for years before a conclusive decision is reached. However, it is doubtful that most professional sports leagues will ever be able to justify banning a medical procedure simply because it improves performance. Until that time, you can expect many professional athletes to continue undergoing LASIK.

Please contact the LASIK Directory to find an experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.

 
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