|
 |
Advertisement
LASIK Eye Surgery Cost & Profile
- Avg. Cost: $1700
- Candidate: Over 18 with healthy corneas
- Length: 10 minutes
- Treatments: Usually one
- Results: Permanent
- Back to work: 1-3 days
Common Questions & Answers about LASIK Eye Surgery
"I am 50 yrs old, have been wearing eyeglasses since I was 7 yrs. old for myopia. I now also have bifocals. I've also been told I have severe astigmatism and also congenital cataracts. Could I possilby be a candidate for lasik surgery?"
Latest LASIK Eye Surgery Doctors
 | LASIK Eye Surgery Fishkill, New York David Steinberg, |
 | LASIK Eye Surgery Toronto, Ontario The Bochner Eye Institute, |
 | LASIK Eye Surgery Plantation, Florida Raananah Katz, MD |
 | LASIK Eye Surgery Wellington, Florida Salvatore DeCanio, Jr., OD, FAAO |
 | LASIK Eye Surgery Silver Spring, Maryland Capital Eye Physicians & Surgeons, LLC, |
Get the Beautiful Living Newsletter
LASIK Basics
Advertisement
What is LASIK?
The most well known name in refractive eye surgery, LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) provides vision correction through the use of a laser by reshaping the cornea and changing its focusing power. Since 1993, LASIK has been performed in the United States on millions of patients with the use of a wide variety of different lasers. This procedure can be used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (misshapen cornea).
How It's Done
Before you undergo LASIK surgery, or any refractive surgery, you will be instructed to discontinue the use of contacts for 1 to 4 weeks prior to surgery to allow the cornea to return to its original shape. The day of surgery, you will go to your ophthalmologist's office or surgical center where the procedure will be performed. A mild anesthetic will be given, usually orally, before surgery, and numbing eye drops will be administered, which eliminate the element of pain, although some patients do experience some discomfort.
A small 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.
Flap is created
exposing cornea tissue
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.
Laser is used to
reshape cornea
Both eyes can be operated on at the same time if you are healthy enough and have ample recovery time. In some cases, however, doctors will recommend that their patient receive monovision treatment, which is the correction of only one eye for near or far vision. LASIK surgery typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes per eye.
Technology
There are now several different lasers that have received FDA approval for LASIK surgery. There are different lasers for use in myopic and hyperopic patients, but most allow for correction of astigmatism. Because the lasers are capable of vision correction within a specified refractive range, patients with uncommonly poor vision may not be a candidate for LASIK, but may benefit from other refractive procedures such as IOL implants.
Wavefront LASIK
The newest technology in LASIK is the wavefront laser. The first of these types of lasers were FDA approved 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.
Recovery / Post Op Expectations
After surgery your doctor will schedule you for a follow up exam within one or two days in order to remove the eye patch and gauge recovery, and he or she may also wish to see you at periodic intervals throughout the next six months. Soreness, a burning or itching sensation, and the feeling that something is in your eye are all typical for the first several hours to few days following surgery. Vision is usually hazy or blurry for the same period of time, and tearing or watering is not uncommon.
It is important to remember to not rub your eyes as this might interfere with the healing process of the flap. Strenuous activity, contact sports, and swimming should be discontinued for the first one or two months following surgery, although you may feel comfortable enough to return to work as early as three days after surgery. Your doctor may place additional restrictions on your activity and return to work based on your individual case. If pain becomes intolerable you should see your doctor immediately.
Complications
During surgery, complications related to the cutting or hinging of the flap occur in less 0.5% of patients. Other complications occurring at less than a 1% rate include the development of an irregular astigmatism due to scarring, healing, or beam problems, infection, or other vision problems (halos around lights, blurry night vision) due to decentration, surgery performed off the center of the pupil due to surgeon error or the inability of the patient to focus on a fixed point.
Am I A Candidate?
Candidacy for LASIK surgery can vary depending on your doctor and the type of laser that is 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 may not be an option, but with the advancements in refractive surgery, almost anyone with stable and healthy eyes can be treated with some type of surgery.
Cost
There has been a lot of hype and attention about the cost of LASIK surgery. Some firms claim that they can perform the surgery at a starting cost of $299 per eye. Of course, no one actually gets the surgery at that cost, and patients should beware of such advertisements; you get what you pay for. On average, the cost of LASIK is about $1,700.
By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers
Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.
LASIK Eye Surgery Surgery Information Guide
-
Basics of LASIK Eye Surgery"I've heard about the surgery and I'm looking to learn a bit more about things like cost, whether it's right for me, and what options I have."
-
- LASIK Basics
What you should know about LASIK surgery, including information about the latest technology. - LASIK and Refractive Surgery Timeline
Get a brief history of refractive surgery and see how technology has advanced. - Information on LASEK
A slight variation on the traditional LASIK procedure is becoming available, LASEK. This procedure may be an option for patients who are not good candidates for the traditional procedure. We have put together some information LASEK for your review. - Vision Problems: Which one do you have? What does it mean?
Learn about common vision problems, how they form, how they're measured, and how they can be corrected. - LASIK Joins the Military
LASIK, along with PRK, is being used to help active soldiers become independent from glasses and contacts. - Online Video Presentation About LASIK Procedure
Watch an online video presentation about the LASIK procedure. It covers the basics of LASIK: what to expect, how long the procedure takes, recovery time, etc. - Another Commercial Laser Labeled for LASIK
On May 11, 2000 Summit Autonomous received FDA approval to market its LadarVision System laser in the United States. The new approval allows surgeons to treat up to -9.0 D of myopia and up to 3.0D of astigmatism. - Excimer Laser Procedures (LASIK, PRK, PARK)
Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) uses the excimer laser to correct low to moderate amounts of refractive errors. - From Contact Lenses to LASIK – When to Make the Switch
If you’re one of the millions of people hoping to switch from contact lenses to LASIK this year, the first step is setting up a consultation with your local eye doctor. Knowing when to make the switch will depend on your overall eye health, as well as how stable your eyes currently are.
- LASIK Basics
-
Details of LASIK Eye Surgery"I already know some basic things about the surgery and I'm ready to research some of the details and maybe ask some questions."
- Comparing the LASIK Lasers
With all the different lasers available for use in LASIK eye surgery, how do you know which one is right for you? Does it matter? To help answer these questions we called upon some of the country's leading ophthalmologists to present a better vision of today's laser market. - Is IntraLase a Safer Alternative for Your Eyes?
Touted as "all-laser" LASIK, IntraLase promises better vision with fewer complications, but is it really true? Read how the procedure works, the pros and cons, and what type of patients benefit most. - New Technology Increasing the Chance of 20/20 Vision to 99%
Have you heard of the newest advancement in LASIK technology that offers a 99% chance of 20/20 vision without the use of glasses or contacts? Iris registration is the name of the special eye tracking tool that makes LASIK more precise than ever. Find out how it works, who's a candidate, and all the other advantages and limitations you need to make an informed decision. - Covering the Cost of LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery
If you are like most patients, the price of LASIK is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to undergo surgery. Learn about the different options that can help you make LASIK more affordable. - LASIK Complications: Definitions and treatment options
Learn about the possible complications of LASIK surgery, how they can be prevented, and how they are treated. - Presbyopia Surgery: Decreasing Dependence on Reading Glasses...
Monovision eye surgery can decrease dependence on reading glasses. Learn what it is and the options available - Tired of Wearing Glasses for Seeing at a Distance? Why LASIK...
It seems that LASIK has been all the rage in vision correction surgery since it was approved for use in 1998, generally accounting for somewhere around 95% of all refractive surgeries. But now a new procedure, using the technology that has been successful during cataract surgery, may offer a more desirable option for severely nearsighted patients. - Study Recommends Longer than Previously Suggested Discontinuance...
Discontinuing use of conctat lenses before LASIK surgery is an important step to reducing surgical risks. A new study finds that the use of some lenses shoulod be stopped earlier than previously advised. - FDA-Approved lasers
FDA-Approved lasers for LASIK, PRK and other refractive surgeries - LASIK Surgery Considerations
Considerations outlines the criteria you will need to weigh in order to make a well-informed decision. - LASIK Glossary
Glossary of technical words related to LASIK - U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Policy on LASIK
According to the Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin, Fall 1998, the FAA accepts LASIK for its pilots, as long as... - LocateADoc.com pays for Nashville, TN father's surgery
Winning LocateADoc.com's November $2k contest, Anthony Edwards, a firefighter from Nashville, Tennessee won a chance to rid his life of the inconvenience of wearing glasses. - The Excimer Laser
The Excimer Laser has added a tremendous amount of precision, control and safety to treating nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. - The Future of LASIK – What to Expect
Is now the best time to pursue LASIK surgery, or should you wait a few more years until technology gets even better? Learn about your future options with LASIK and corrective eye surgery.
- Comparing the LASIK Lasers
-
Ready for LASIK Eye Surgery"I've pretty much finished by research on the surgery and I think I'm ready to find and meet with a doctor to get started."
-
- Is Lasik Really the Answer to Vision Problems? Complications...
LASIK surgery accounts for over 2 million services for vision correction each year and has quickly become one of the most effective ways to maintain good eye health while correcting common vision problems. Still, many people are walking away from the doctor’s office with less than perfect results. Learn about the potential complications to make an informed decision for corrective eye surgery. - Find Laser Eye Surgery Doctors In Other Cities
- Patient Financing
Think you'll need help paying for your surgery? Almost anyone is a candidate for easy financing of up to 100% of the surgery costs.
- Is Lasik Really the Answer to Vision Problems? Complications...
-
After LASIK Eye Surgery
-
Featured Articles & News Related to LASIK Eye Surgery"What other related things might I like to know?"
-
- FDA Approves First LASIK Device for Monovision
Patients who suffer from monovision can now receive LASIK surgery so that they will never have to wear bifocals again. - Are You Paying Too Much for LASIK? The Real Costs of Corrective...
Have you ever wondered why LASIK costs more in some cities and states than others? If you’re considering LASIK eye surgery, make sure you’re not paying too much by considering the following factors: - Six Foods That Improve Your Vision
Poor eyesight is often associated with aging and genetics, but experts suggest that eyesight damage can be prevented with everyday foods. Are you eating enough of these six important foods? - Eight Signs You May Need Cataract Surgery
Cell degeneration begins as early as your late 20s and vision impairment is just one of the major health problems associated with aging. Are you showing signs of cataracts?
- FDA Approves First LASIK Device for Monovision
Related Subjects and Keywords: LASIK wavefront LASIK IOL refractive surgery
Dissatisfied with our Health Articles? Have a health article suggestion?
Tell us how we can improve.