Why Does The Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery Vary?

As far as the cost of LASIK eye surgery is concerned, the only worldwide standard is that prices are quoted per eye. However, the cost depends on several factors and varies from one provider to another. A strong reason behind such a variation is that different providers perform different levels of pre-operative testing. A thorough pre-operative examination can avoid LASIK complications, and hence it's imperative to determine if appropriate pre-operative testing is included in the quoted price.

The cost of equipment used for pre-operative testing and surgery also varies, and this reflects in the overall procedure fee. Computer-controlled scanners to determine the exact shape of the cornea, eye tracking device, tear film analysis, the laser used to make incisions, and all other pertinent equipment vary in cost from one medical center to another.

A few unscrupulous practitioners may advertise their services at a discounted price. Don't be fooled if an ad says, "LASIK for $500 per eye". The truth is that not all patients are eligible for a discounted price. A particular patient may require an extensive refractive surgery in the first place, or frequent follow ups after the surgery. Furthermore, it is typically the case that a discounted price does not include the essential pre-operative testing. Hence, make sure what features are being offered for the quoted price. Cases have been reported where medical institutes have been found guilty of misrepresenting the actual cost of LASIK eye surgery.

As the popularity for LASIK eye surgery rises, so does the incurred cost. A leading refractive industry newsletter reported that the average cost for LASIK eye surgery in the second quarter of 2005 was 1,965 USD. The study was based on a comprehensive research of various medical facilities, ranging from regional practitioners to nationwide networks. Most insurance companies do not cover LASIK eye surgery, since they consider it as a cosmetic procedure.

People are tempted to choose a surgeon that offers a discounted price. But that may be an act of foolishness. The smarter thing is to choose the best surgeon available who has experience of this procedure. There is no point risking your vision for the sake of a petty few dollars.

If in doubt you should seek further information.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about theCost of Lasik Eye Surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info

Educate Yourself - LASIK Eye Surgery Could Be For You

It might be the case that you are tired of wearing glasses, or you believe that it cramps your style. You also don't want to use contact lenses, in order to avoid infection or inflammation due to overuse. In such a scenario, you are likely to consider LASIK eye surgery, which is one of the most prevalent vision correction procedures. And therefore, you require some basic LASIK education, in order to get a clear picture of what you can expect from LASIK if you want to know whether you should do eye laser surgery.

If the light rays don't focus on the retina (light-sensing cells), the image you see is blurry. This is termed as refractive error, and may be caused due to an irregularly shaped cornea. LASIK surgery involves carving of the cornea in order to give it the perfect shape, thereby making light rays focus on the retina. LASIK surgery employs a high-precision laser, named Excimer, which is an ultraviolet chemical laser.

Scads of people have undergone LASIK, and most procedures have been successful. But as with any surgery, LASIK has associated risks and complications. However, LASIK has a relatively low complication rate, between 1% and 5%, which is among the lowest in the eye surgery field. Another trivia from the chapter on LASIK education is that LASIK may not result in perfect vision. That is, not all patients achieve a 20/20 vision.

If you suffered from myopia and have undergone LASIK as a corrective procedure, you would still require reading glasses (for near vision) in your late 40s. LASIK is an irreversible procedure, and most insurance companies do not cover LASIK surgery. Therefore, make sure that your surgery is performed by an experienced ophthalmologist. Also note that only eye MDs (ophthalmologists) are permitted to perform LASIK surgery.

Now that you are aware of the ins and outs of LASIK surgery, decision making is much easier. Have a discussion with an experienced ophthalmologist. It might be the case that you could very well forego the surgery. But if need be, LASIK is a superlative option to correct your vision.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about whether you should do eye laser surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info

Clear Natural Vision Is Just One Of The Possible Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery

There are several LASIK benefits, which can be easily realized by going in for an experienced eye surgeon. It is necessary that you weigh the pros and cons before going in for an eye surgery. And much to your relief, as far as LASIK is concerned, the benefits far outweigh whatever minimal risk is involved. LASIK is by far the most preferred procedure when it comes to eye corrective surgery. LASIK benefits typically include:

- Clear natural vision - Need for glasses or contact lenses is eliminated - It simply widens the horizon for recreational opportunities - Quality of vision is better than that with glasses or contact lenses - Greater self-confidence - More career opportunities - Enhanced natural appearance - in many cases - No risk of infection or inflammation generally associated with contact lens overuse

The above are only a few major positives that come out of the LASIK procedure. LASIK has superlative scientific technology at its disposal. High-precision lasers, computer-controlled tracking devices, all enable the surgeon to perform the operation with ease and finesse. Furthermore, complication rates of a meager 1% to 5% strengthen the belief that LASIK is a completely safe procedure.

LASIK does not require the removal of the corneal surface tissue, and this substantially reduces the post-operative pain. In general, the visual acuity is restored within a day or two. Other procedures like PRK may require a week or so for sharpness of vision to be restored. LASIK surgery also possesses a greater stability. That is, the corrected vision lasts permanently, provided a complication does not arise during the procedure. Moreover, most patients are able to pass the driver's license test without the aid of glasses or contact lenses.

If you are in quest for a corrective eye surgery, LASIK is sure to satisfy your needs. All you need to do is look for an eye surgeon who is highly skillful and qualified.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about the Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info

How Does LASIK Eye Surgery Work? Keratomileusis - The Carving Of The Cornea

At present, LASIK or "Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis" is the only commonly performed keratomileusis procedure. Keratomileusis involves an altering of the shape of the corneal tissue with the aid of an excimer laser, which is a powerful ultraviolet laser. This laser eye surgery is performed by ophthalmologists in order to correct different types of vision impairment. LASIK is the preferred treatment for patients with refractive error, since the procedure entails rapid recovery and minimal pain overall.

LASIK surgery leverages technology to its fullest. For instance, a computer system tracks the patient's eye position 4,000 times per second, while the lasers make the desired incisions. It might sound like a dangerous procedure, but it's time to debunk this myth. LASIK surgery is a completely safe procedure performed with high precision. That is, the laser carves the corneal tissue in a finely controlled manner. LASIK surgery is not that cumbersome when compared with other types of eye surgery, and has a relatively low frequency of complications.

Though LASIK surgery is performed with the patient awake and functional, the eye surgeon typically administers a mild sedative and anesthetic eye drops. No matter what the type of vision impairment, altering the shape of the cornea is a viable solution. In general, the procedure has very few side effects and offers instant results. However, a few complications may arise depending on the extent of the patient's refractive error and other irregularities in the corneal tissue.

LASIK eye surgery, with excellent technology at its disposal, is improving at a rapid rate. However, there is no conclusive evidence as to the chances of long-term complications owing to the surgery. Although relatively uncommon, a few complications may arise, namely corneal infection, slipped flap, haziness, halo or glare. An important point to note is that this laser-assisted procedure is irreversible.

LASIK has gained popularity due its efficacy and improved precision. The procedure also boasts of the smallest complication statistics relative to other eye surgeries. With only a 5% complication rate, LASIK sounds like a safe enough procedure to rectify your vision impairment.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, information and views about the Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery at Your Lasik Information. http://www.Your-LASIK.info

What Is Lasik Eye Surgery?

In the last decade or so, LASIK eye surgery has witnessed a phenomenal growth in its popularity. As of now, millions of people are choosing LASIK to meet their eye surgery needs. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that LASIK eye surgery is still a relatively new process about which a lot still needs to be known. In this article, we will tell you what LASIK eye surgery is and why you must ensure that the LASIK eye surgery you are getting is of high quality conducted by professionals.

First, a few basic facts:

- LASIK eye surgery (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a procedure that is used to modify the cornea and allow a patient to see without the use of glasses or other visual aids. It can correct problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (misshapen cornea). While not all patients may experience a complete restoration of vision, they can certainly see much better than before

- LASIK eye surgery involves minimal or no pain and requires much less recovery time than other eye surgery procedures like photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

- Dr Lucio Buratto and Dr. Ionnis Pallikaris jointly developed the LASIK eye surgery procedure in 1990. They based their technique on two older eye surgery procedures ? keratomileusis and PRK. These surgical procedures involved more complications and brought about less than perfect results, so when LASIK offered fewer risks and better results, it proved an immediate success. In 1991, LASIK was twice performed officially by Dr. Stephen Slade, in Europe and later in the US

THE PROCESS

- Before you undergo LASIK eye surgery, you will be instructed to discontinue the use of contact lenses for 1 to 4 weeks prior to surgery to allow the cornea to return to its original shape

- At the start of the surgery, you will be administered a mild anesthetic, usually orally, and numbing eye drops, which will eliminate pain in most cases, though some patients still complain of some discomfort

- A device called a microkeratome is attached to a suction ring placed on your eye, the blade of which is used to cut a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. The flap is folded back, exposing a layer of tissue called the stroma, which is inspected for debris and dried

- You will then be asked to focus on a fixed spot as your doctor begins the laser, cutting and removing corneal tissue based on the measurements taken at the initial examination. The flap is then repositioned and left to heal. Because no stitches are used, you will be required to wear an eye patch to prevent rubbing, irritation, and pressure that might disturb the healing process

- Both eyes can be operated on at the same time if you are healthy enough and have enough recovery time. In some cases, a surgeon will recommend that the patient receive monovision treatment, which is the correction of only one eye. LASIK eye surgery typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye

WAVEFRONT LASIK: NEW TECHNOLOGY ON THE BLOCK

The newest technology in LASIK is the wavefront laser. The first of these types of lasers received FDA approval in 2002. Wavefront technology sends a wave of light to the retina. The light then bounces back to a sensor, which measures the irregularities of the cornea and produces a 3-D map of the eye?s visual system.
The data from the sensor is then translated into a mathematical formula that the doctor uses to program the computer that controls the refractive laser. After wavefront LASIK, 90-94% of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better as opposed to 80% with traditional LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK COMPLICATIONS

During surgery, complications related to the cutting or hinging of the flap occur in less than 0.5% of patients. Other complications occurring at less than a 1% rate include the development of irregular astigmatism owing to scarring, healing, or beam problems, infection, or other vision problems (halos around lights, blurry night vision), surgery performed off the center of the pupil owing to surgeon error or the inability of the patient to focus on a fixed point.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE?

This can vary depending on your doctor and the type of laser used. The minimum requirements are that a patient must be at least 18 years old and has had no drastic change in vision over the past year. For patients with severe refractive errors LASIK eye surgery may not be an option, but almost anyone with stable and healthy eyes can be treated with some type of surgery.

COST OF LASIK

Plenty has been said about the cost of LASIK eye surgery. Some clinics, for example, may claim that they can perform the surgery at a starting cost of $299 per eye. But you should realize at once that the amount is far too low and that no one actually gets the surgery at that cost. On average, the cost of LASIK eye surgery is about $1,700.

Marcus Grant http://www.health-articles.net http://www.custom-lasik.org

How To Choose A Lasik Eye Surgeon

All in all, LASIK eye surgery is relatively less complicated than other kinds of surgery. However, if carried out in an imprudent fashion, LASIK eye surgery may cause an irreversible damage that would make you repent for the rest of your life. Therefore it is gravely necessary to choose the best surgeon available. There are various ways that help you locate and choose the best surgeon in your vicinity.

Advertisements can be a viable source for finding a LASIK surgeon. However, there is a caveat. Some ads provide a detailed explanation of the inclusive features of their package, while some tout discounted prices but don’t give out the details. Not all people are eligible for discounts, and hence an ad should not be the only criterion for choosing a LASIK surgeon. Experience is what counts the most, so choose a surgeon with plentiful experience.

Leading LASIK surgeons recommend that you should choose a doctor who is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Asking for a referral from your regular optometrist is also a viable option.

It is imperative that experience be the number one factor governing your choice for a LASIK surgeon. Having, acquired a list of available surgeons, you can narrow down on the basis of experience. There is no dearth of LASIK surgeons, but the point is that you want the best surgeon for your eye surgery. Just go through the recommended resources and you will surely find what you need.

You will find the LASIK Surgeon Directory useful. Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about how to choose a LASIK surgeon at Your Lasik Information.