Why does the Cost of LASIK Vary so Much?

LASIK surgery can dramatically change your life, providing you with clear vision and eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. For this reason, it has become one of the most popular elective surgery procedures available.

However, LASIK is generally very expensive, and very few insurance carriers will cover the procedure. For this reason, many patients often prioritize cost high on their criteria of choosing a LASIK surgeon.

When shopping for a laser eye surgeon, you may find a significant disparity in the cost of procedures from one doctor to the next. It is important to remember that you often get what you pay for.

The following four factors contribute to the cost of your LASIK procedure:

• Pre-surgical evaluation – This is one of the most important aspects of your procedure. During your pre-surgical evaluation, your LASIK surgeon will examine the condition of your eyes to determine the best procedure to correct your refractive errors. Fortunately, many LASIK surgeons perform this service for free to attract patients. Therefore, you may want to get evaluated by several surgeons to more fully understand your options.
  
• LASIK technology – The equipment used in your LASIK procedure will greatly impact your results. Advances in LASIK technology enable eye surgeons to create your corneal flap with a laser in order to eliminate the risks associated with a microkeratome blade. Wavefront technology can be used to create a 3D digital map of your cornea which will be used to provide more precise results. This technology costs more money, but the difference in your results will justify the added cost.
  
• After-surgical eye care – Good eye surgery centers will offer extensive after-surgery eye care to ensure that you do not experience any complications. Sometimes these services cover the cost of enhancement procedures, sometimes they do not. It is important to ask your surgeon what after-surgical care measures are covered by the cost of your procedure.
  
• Surgeon skill – The skill of your surgeon will greatly impact your results, and experienced surgeons often charge a premium for their services.
  

It is important to evaluate all of these factors when choosing between surgeons who charge a premium for their services and surgeons who offer discount services.

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

Advances in Laser Technology Producing Better LASIK Results

Interim results of the ongoing LASIK in U.S. Naval Aviator study indicate that advances in laser technology are producing better LASIK outcomes. The July 1, 2010 issue of Ophthalmology Times reported the findings of the study, which were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery by Capt. David J. Tanzer, M.D.

According to Dr. Tanzer, the study is following 204 nearsighted aviators who have been treated with wavefront-guided LASIK or wavefront-optimized LASIK, with the corneal flap being created by either a 60-kHz or a 150-kHz IntraLase fematosecond laser. Creation of the corneal flap with this most advanced LASIK laser to date appears to be safer, resulting in less inflammation and no cases of photosensitivity following the LASIK procedure.

Other interim results include:

• Two weeks after all-laser LASIK was performed, 100% of those treated achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 96% had UCVA of 20/15 or better.

• One month following LASIK, 84% of the eyes in the study had UCVA of 20/12.5 and 29% could read the 20/10 line on an eye chart.

Of course, choosing to have LASIK performed using this advanced laser will cost more, so you will have to make the decision as to whether or not to pay more for possibly better results or to have standard LASIK performed. You will need to consult a LASIK surgeon near you to find out if he/she has this technology, if you are a candidate for it, and the cost of the procedure with the advanced laser.

External Factors Affecting Your LASIK Results

LASIK surgery is an extremely safe, routine procedure that enjoys one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure. However, as with any type of surgery, there are risks and complications which may adversely impact your results. While some of these factors such as age, overall health, and corneal thickness are specific to your unique situation, there are other external factors which may impact the LASIK risks you face.

These external factors can result in complications such as:

• Poor vision
  
• Overcorrection
  
• Undercorrection
  
• Poor night vision
  

Therefore, it is important to be aware of these external factors so that they do not jeopardize the success of your procedure.

Weather conditions may impact the results of your LASIK procedure. In particular, research has indicated that patients who undergo LASIK during hot or humid weather are more likely to need enhancement surgery down the road. Fortunately, these weather factors can be neutralized by your LASIK surgeon. If you plan on having your surgery during the hot and humid summer months, ask your LASIK surgeon what steps he takes to calibrate the equipment used in order to counteract the effects of the summer weather.

The type of post-surgical care you receive can also greatly impact your LASIK results. It is important that you carefully follow your eye surgeon's instructions during the recovery process to ensure that your eyes heal properly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the development of an eye injury or in severe cases, significantly poorer results.

By paying attention to both internal and external factors, you can increase the likelihood of a successful procedure.

Please contact the LASIK Directory today to find an experienced laser eye surgeon near you.

Know your Options before Choosing a LASIK Surgeon

LASIK surgery can be a life changing experience. However, as with all surgical procedures, there are certain risks associated with the procedure, and perfect vision is never a guarantee. In order to ensure that you achieve the best possible results, it is important to thoroughly examine all of your options before choosing a LASIK surgeon.

The following tips will help you as you begin your search for a LASIK surgeon:

• Maintain realistic expectations – It is important to understand all the risks associated with your procedure. When talking to a prospective surgeon, make sure he carefully explains all the benefits and risks of LASIK before you agree to work with him. Beware of any eye doctor who fails to discuss the risks with you.
  
• Take your time – There is no reason to rush into a decision. You will not damage your eyes if you wait a few months before getting LASIK. Take the time to speak with several doctors, and don't agree to undergo the surgery until you have found one you truly feel comfortable with.
  
• Research your doctor's credentials – Make sure you choose a LASIK surgeon with extensive experience performing the exact same procedure on patients with the same refractive error as you. You should also always work with a board certified ophthalmologist to ensure your surgeon has undergone the rigorous training required to be one of the best in the field.
  
• Compare prices – There is an important caveat when talking about price. Do not make price the primary factor in your decision. While there are many LASIK surgeons advertising bargain rates, you often get what you pay for. The surgeon's skill and the technology used should always be more important factors than the price. However, when choosing between comparably skilled and experienced surgeons, you may want to evaluate which one will give you greater value for your money.
  
• Understand all costs – Find out about all costs involved before you agree to work with an eye surgeon. Are medications and follow-up visits included in the quoted price of your procedure or are they extra? If you require enhancement procedures, will they be covered or will you have to pay extra? It is important to understand these terms and have them in writing.
  

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