lasik eye surgery?
scott l
Has anyone had lasik eye surgery or know someone who did? Could you share some of you experiences? How much does it cost and what are its pros and cons? Where would be the best and safest place to have this procedure? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Answer
I haven't had LASIK, but have recently completed a research project on it.
Average cost in 2006: $2,052 per procedure
Cost is higher for custom/wavefront LASIK ($250-500 more per eye) and for LASIK with intraLASE ($250-300 more per eye) than in conventional LASIK.
Conventional LASIK uses a small surgical instrument to create a flap in your cornea, and then a laser shoots pulses of UV light at the deep portion of the cornea, reshaping it to produce a better focus. LASIK with intraLASE uses a computer-controlled laser than conventional LASIK to produce the flap. LASIK with intraLASE is more precise, creates a thinner flap, and is better for people with very steep or thin corneas or large amounts of astigmatism. LASIK with intraLASE also has a higher success rate than conventional LASIK, but is more expensive. Custom or wavefront LASIK takes a computerized map of your eye to produce a more "custom" LASIK experience. Custom/wavefront LASIK decreases your chances of permanent dry eye or visual aberrations.
About 5% of LASIK patients experience glare, starbursts, haloes, decrease in visual contrast, and double vision (permanently) after LASIK. About 95% achieve 20/40 vision, meaning that they can see well enough after LASIK to drive without glasses or contacts. 75-85% reach 20/20. These numbers are higher for LASIK with intraLASE than conventional LASIK.
Pros: better appearance, no more hassle and cost of glasses, easier to participate in sports
Cons: possible side effects like glare, haloes, etc. (discussed above) and cost
The doctor is the MOST important factor in making a decision about LASIK, because it's the doctor's experience that counts. Choose a reputable doctor who has performed numerous LASIK surgeries, specifically the type of LASIK you intend to get. Consult your doctor to determine whether or not you might be a good candidate, but in general to be a good candidate you should be over 18, have a stable prescription for at least 2 years before the surgery, and not have any autoimmune diseases or be taking any medications that decrease your eyes' healing response.
Best of luck with your decision! Here are some links for further information:
FDA website - http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery website -
http://www.ascrs.org/
MedLine - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
National Eye Institute - http://www.nei.nih.gov/
I haven't had LASIK, but have recently completed a research project on it.
Average cost in 2006: $2,052 per procedure
Cost is higher for custom/wavefront LASIK ($250-500 more per eye) and for LASIK with intraLASE ($250-300 more per eye) than in conventional LASIK.
Conventional LASIK uses a small surgical instrument to create a flap in your cornea, and then a laser shoots pulses of UV light at the deep portion of the cornea, reshaping it to produce a better focus. LASIK with intraLASE uses a computer-controlled laser than conventional LASIK to produce the flap. LASIK with intraLASE is more precise, creates a thinner flap, and is better for people with very steep or thin corneas or large amounts of astigmatism. LASIK with intraLASE also has a higher success rate than conventional LASIK, but is more expensive. Custom or wavefront LASIK takes a computerized map of your eye to produce a more "custom" LASIK experience. Custom/wavefront LASIK decreases your chances of permanent dry eye or visual aberrations.
About 5% of LASIK patients experience glare, starbursts, haloes, decrease in visual contrast, and double vision (permanently) after LASIK. About 95% achieve 20/40 vision, meaning that they can see well enough after LASIK to drive without glasses or contacts. 75-85% reach 20/20. These numbers are higher for LASIK with intraLASE than conventional LASIK.
Pros: better appearance, no more hassle and cost of glasses, easier to participate in sports
Cons: possible side effects like glare, haloes, etc. (discussed above) and cost
The doctor is the MOST important factor in making a decision about LASIK, because it's the doctor's experience that counts. Choose a reputable doctor who has performed numerous LASIK surgeries, specifically the type of LASIK you intend to get. Consult your doctor to determine whether or not you might be a good candidate, but in general to be a good candidate you should be over 18, have a stable prescription for at least 2 years before the surgery, and not have any autoimmune diseases or be taking any medications that decrease your eyes' healing response.
Best of luck with your decision! Here are some links for further information:
FDA website - http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery website -
http://www.ascrs.org/
MedLine - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
National Eye Institute - http://www.nei.nih.gov/
How much does LASIK laser corrective eye surgery cost on average?
Q.
Answer
Overall traditional lasik procedures still cost roughly $1,000 to $3000 to complete. If you pay less than $1,000 per eye treated, you may want to question your surgeon and verify his or her credentials. You should also see if there are hidden fees you are not aware of you may have to pay for later. When it comes to your eyes, a first and then a second opinion is best. Don't choose your surgeon on cost alone.
Overall traditional lasik procedures still cost roughly $1,000 to $3000 to complete. If you pay less than $1,000 per eye treated, you may want to question your surgeon and verify his or her credentials. You should also see if there are hidden fees you are not aware of you may have to pay for later. When it comes to your eyes, a first and then a second opinion is best. Don't choose your surgeon on cost alone.
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